From Hobby to Hustle: Nailing Your First Craft Show

Hello, future craft show master! I'm Stella from SimplyStellaHandmade, and today, you're going to learn what it takes to master your very first craft show! In this blog post, I’m going to give you tips and tricks for doing craft shows based on my personal experience.

Tip #1: Be Prepared for Anything

When I went to my first craft show, I thought I was overpacking—I asked myself, “Who needs all these supplies, for goodness sake?”—but I learned that having more than what you need is better than not having enough. I am so glad I brought extra supplies, because if my inventory got low—violà!—new pair of earrings! 

Tip #2: Bling Out Your Stand

Make a sign for your stand with your brand, and bring business cards. People will remember you this way. If you don’t have a logo, business cards, or a sign, you can use online tools to help you. I was able to make all three of those things by going to canva.com.

Tip #3: Take Inspiration

Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from other vendors around you! By doing that, I was able to start doing a raffle, which was very successful. If you have somebody with you, ask them to run your stand while you take a look around. I was so inspired by other stands, and since I had extra materials, was able to take my inspiration and integrate it into my stall. 

Tip #4: Write it Down

Yes, I know this isn’t school and that you probably don’t love taking notes, but it will be helpful in the future! I’ve learned that if you can write down what you observe can help you be more successful in future shows. Note all sorts of things, such as what kind of customers you receive, things that other vendors are doing to get sales, things you can improve, etc. 

Tip #5: Track Your Customers and Sales

Make sure to keep track of your money! Write down all of your sales and how many you got, how much money you’re making, and if you spend any of it. (Example: if you buy a soft pretzel from a concession stand.) If you buy things, try not to use the money you just earned, though! Bring extra money for snacks and other things.

Tip #6: Be Confident

Be confident in yourself, especially when you are talking to your potential customers. If someone is admiring your items, be friendly by saying hi and tell them a little about the item. They might be more enticed and want to buy it if you do this. Don’t overthink it, and speak clearly and confidently.

Tip #7: Have Fun!

Last but not least, have fun! Have a good time, be in a good mood, and overall, just make the best of it.

I hope those tips were helpful and you can put them to use when you do your next craft show.