After you have been to a few craft shows, you'll probably be able to figure out which one are worth it, and which aren't. But, you can eliminate this trial and error experience just by doing a little homework ahead of time. Here are four things you can do before you spend money on a craft show booth:
Go as a spectator first ? If you are looking for new shows to sell your crafts at, you might want to be a spectator for the first year. You can make notes on traffic, traffic patterns, most popular items at the craft show, among other things. The value of seeing what you are getting into to start is going to help you filter out the crafts shows that aren't worth the price of admission.
Talk to booth owners ? You can do this as a part of your spectator visit, or if you are a first timer. Take a few moments to talk to the other booths at the show and find out what they can tell you about the craft show. This gives you an opportunity to learn a few things about that particular show, and maybe make a few business friends along the way.
Talk to organizers ? If a craft show has been run for a long time, there are probably statistics of some sort kept on how many people pay to get into the show. This is a vital statistic, and can provide you with an idea on the volume of potential visits you might have to your booth.
Keep a notebook ? I am going to expand on this in a future article, however, I think it bears mentioning right now. Keeping a craft show notebook is a great way to keep track of the different elements of each craft show so you can make an educated decision on the potential success for that show. It is going to help you avoid the shows that cost you more than you can make.
No crafter wants to go to a show with poor attendance, tight wallets, and the potential for losing money instead of making a good profit. With a little bit of work beforehand, you can virtually eliminate the chance of anything like this happening, and you can ensure that the craft shows you attend help you make the profit you deserve!
Art & Craft Shows
In response to several queries I have had over the past few months, I have compiled a list of places where you can find a craft show near you. This information is only as accurate as the last updates made to the websites I have listed, so it is always a good idea to make a phone call or two to see if the shows in your area are still up and running.
Following are a variety of directories and listings for craft shows across North America:
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/craftshows/index.html - This directory is filled with links to regional and specialized craft shows across the country.
http://www.craftlister.com/ - This site boasts over 13,000 listing for craft shows from all over. Once again it has regional shows and also provides a description of many of the craft shows available. A login to view detailed information is required.
http://www.craftsfairguide.com/ - This listing not only provides craft shows, but for a fee you can get detailed information and reviews on the craft shows that are on this site.
http://www.artfairsource.com/ - With listings of juried art and craft shows, this site provides statistics on top-selling events along with sales statistics that can help you decide if you are choosing a qualified event for your craft.
http://www.craftshowsusa.com/ - This site provides listing information for craft shows in all of the 50 states, and also has crafting resources and even a craft show promoter's page for reference.
If you are just starting your craft show business, keep in mind the cost of a craft show, how far it is to travel, as well as things like the traffic at the event, the types of crafts that are sold at the show, and what sort of amenities it has (computer access for payment, electricity outlets, booth size, etc).
Choosing the right craft show for your operation is important to making a good profit in this business. If you are selecting shows that aren't giving you a good return on your investment, then you might need to do a little more research to get the best bang for your buck!
Don't forget to bookmark the sites you like. This handy feature available in all browsers will save you lots of time searching for scraps of paper with all the urls you have collected. You can even organize your "favorites" into folders to truly organize your online life. Hint: often times pressing the ctrl key plus the letter d will bookmark a site.
Natalie Goyette has sinced written about articles on various topics from All Rights Reserved Copyright, Crafts and Crafts. Natalie Goyette shows you how to make your craft show business profitable in her best selling ebook: Craft Show Success Secrets. Visit her site: . Natalie Goyette's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.
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