Craft fairs are fun places to while away a Saturday afternoon. Not only do you have beautiful handcrafted items to look at and buy, but you also have fantastic food and some uplifting people to help you enjoy your experience. So make sure you and your craft fair buddies have the best experience shopping at a craft fair next time you go.
While most people think shopping is easy, shopping at a craft fair takes some planning to maximize your experience. Artists who make crafts also love shopping for crafts. At the very least, they love browsing for ideas. Consider some of the following tips the next time you go to a craft show.
Have A Plan
First, have a plan. If you have access to a show map, study it before you go and figure out the best route to take when viewing the products for sale. If there is no map, take a few minutes to notice the layout and pick a path when you first get to the show.
Believe it or not, this can make a difference, especially at the more prominent craft fairs. You want to see everything when you’re there, so making an action plan can help assure that you will.
Know What You Are Looking For
Just like you have your path planned, you should also know what you are looking for. Many people shop at craft shows for Christmas presents. Make a list of people you are shopping for if you must. When you see that perfect gift, you’ll be able to cross that one off your list.
If you’re like me, you know whether or not you’re interested in what a crafter offers. You tend to walk away if it doesn’t spark your interest right away. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed up a booth only to be called back by my shopping partner and find something I can’t live without!
Remember that point as a craft seller, too. If your booth and products look boring, customers could pass you by, thinking there’s nothing special about what you have to offer. Make your booth attractive, and the people will come to you.
Have A Shopping Buddy
It’s no fun shopping alone – especially at a craft show. Take along someone close to you to maximize your experience. I usually have my husband along. He can show me what I can’t see as interesting or a good buy in ways the crafter can’t. He’s also great at suggesting a particular product for a gift when it would never occur to me.
If you have someone with you, have a way to contact them. That means either a cell phone or an inexpensive walkie-talkie. I can’t tell you how many craft fairs I’ve been to where I see women “paging” each other like kids playing cops and robbers. In reality, if you should get separated from the person you came with, these tools are lifesavers when it comes to reconnecting.
Pack Lightly
Don’t bring along a huge, bulky purse. Fanny packs or small purses are best to have because all you really need at a craft show are money, credit cards, identification card, cell phone or walkie-talkie, and maybe a tube of lipstick! You’ll regret having to lug around a huge bag – especially when it’s loaded with things that aren’t essential for your crafting adventure.
Try The Food
All crafters need to keep up their energy – whether buying or selling. Take full advantage of the fantastic food that is available. We liken the menu to what you might find at a county fair but with so much more.
Delicious fare includes:
- Apples with caramel dipping sauce.
- Huge gyros with all the fixings.
- Frito pie.
- Nachos.
- Bar-b-q shrimp skewers.
Browse the vendors and pick what you like. Try as many as your stomach can hold. You may find yourself craving fair food long after you’ve left!
Ask The Vendor To Hold Larger Purchased Items
When you purchase a large item, ask the vendor to hold it until you’re finished browsing the show. Nearly all sellers will do this happily (they’ve made a sale, after all!), and you won’t be stuck lugging around that 6-foot reindeer you got at an incredible price!
Don’t Be Afraid To Haggle On Prices
We love the adage – you never know unless you ask. Many vendors will be happy to consider an offer rather than have an item go unsold. Just be careful that you don’t put a price out there that is so ridiculously low that it might insult their work. If you’ve done your homework, you know what an item sells for and what to offer.
Haggling is part of the business. Vendors often expect it. Ask them if they can do better on the price or ask, “Will you take $______ for this? The worst they can do is tell you no. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
It’s Not All Handmade
Beware of mass-produced products that are being sold as homemade. They are out there, and it’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference. However, if a vendor has 15 hand-painted cookie jars with the same design, take a good look at that design.
Compare two jars together and look closely at the designs. Crafts that are truly hand-pained will have subtle differences in the painting. Perhaps one has a spot where the other has a stripe. If that’s the case, it’s probably hand painted. If the design is the same right down to the speckle marks, it was purchased wholesale for probably ¼ of the price the vendor is asking.
You can buy products like this if you want to, but remember that you will have a cheaply made mass-produced item instead of a lovingly handcrafted gem. Check out the LTD Commodities website or catalog and see what they have in stock that looks handmade. You’ll see what we’re talking about!
That’s Cute! I could Make That Myself!
As a buyer, you should not get roped into the whole “I can make that” way of thinking. We’re sure you could. The real question is, will you? I’ve seen so many crafts that I vowed I would create myself. I have yet to make one of them.
If you see something that looks easily crafted and priced reasonably, buy it if you want. Then you’ll have something you like, plus a model to work from if you decide to make them yourself.
Sniff The Candles
Candles are big sellers at craft shows. Many of them look very pretty but have no smell. Look for hand-poured candles with a strong smell when you open the lid. The ones with strong smell probably retain their aroma when being burned. Those who have a faint smell probably won’t.
Don’t Be A Crowd Follower Unless You Want To
There will always be one item that is a hot seller. The lines at the booth where these things are will be long, and you’ll see many, many people carrying around the same item. Most times, these items are personalized. If you like it, buy it. If you’re going along with the crowd, though, think twice. You may be paying for a fad that won’t be as great next year as it seems this year.
Don’t Overspend
Keep track of what you spend and what you’re willing to pay. Don’t go over your budget. You’ll regret it in the long run.
Crafting is a great way to connect with people you don’t know, spend time with those you do, and find some great gifts and accessories you can’t live without!
Want to know if you are ready to turn your craft hobby into a craft business? I’ve created a free checklist of the 5 Things to Have Before Starting A Craft Business so you can turn your hobby into a craft business. I created this checklist because I often see DIY Crafter and Handmade Crafters struggling with knowing how to get started as a business. If you can relate to this, my 5 Things To Have Before Starting A Craft Business is explicitly designed to help you know exactly what it takes to start a handmade business and get to do what you love, crafting. So if you’d like to take advantage of this free download.
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