It's the busiest time of the year for us makers. Prepping for craft hows and markets can be difficult. Especially when you don't know where to begin! I have asked around to several people and asked what they wanted to know if they are thinking about doing craft shows in the future and what veteran vendors wish they knew when they first started. there are a lot of things that newbie vendors want to know. And quite frankly, they are good things to wonder about when it comes to markets and craft shows. And I'm sure the same things go with veteran vendors as well! But let's start things off with the newbie vendors. Here are some of the popular things that I have been asked when it comes to being a vendor and looking for craft shows/markets.
How do I find fairs/markets? How do I actually become a vendor? Well, the answer to this is more simple than you may think. Let's start off with finding fairs and markets. One way of finding them is online. There are sites like Kijiji and Craigslist that you can easily find craft shows. I have had success last year and this year with finding craft shows by searching on Kijiji. I have several saved searches on my Kijiji app that will notify me when there are new postings searching for vendors for upcoming shows. I've saved things like "vendor" and "craft show" among other saved searches. You can also look on Facebook to see if there are any groups that share craft shows in your area that may be looking for vendors. You can also look on Facebook Marketplace. Facebook Marketplace works just like Kijiji and Craigslist and other similar sites. Once you find the shows you're interested in, message the person who posted the ad and introduce yourself. You could say something like "Hi. My name is Natalie (you'd insert your name here of course!) and I'm interested in your event. I crochet several items and I feel like I would be a good fit for the event. Feel free to send me some information in regards to your event and I will fill out your application." The next step after showing your interest is filling out the application. In this step, you'd be filling in your name, contact information, what you will be selling, how many tables you would need (some places will offer an option of a 6 foot table and an 8 foot table. In the applications that I have filled out, there as always been an option of 1 or 2 tables with 1 or 2 chairs), and, if you have one, a business name. You will also see the table fee on the application and the time/date of the event as well. The time/date would have also been included in the ad for the vendors. With that being said, that brings me to the next question for newbie vendors. How much should I spend on table fees? When you're first starting out, you don't want to spend to much on your table fee. For my first craft show last year, I spent $40 Canadian on my table. I didn't sell a lot of stuff. I made roughly $80. So I made back what I had spent on my table plus some of my supplies. Mind you, my table wan't displayed the best. Meaning, it was over crowded with my inventory. My brother's Godfather even came up to me a few weeks after I had done this show and we had a conversation about this very topic and I'm glad that he did! He sells his woodturnings at craft shows (and he's really good at it!) and he's done it for long enough that he is able to afford to go to the craft shows and markets that sell their tables at $100 EACH! He even told me that since I am just starting out, it wouldn't be worth my while to start out with shows and markets that sell their tables that much. I totally agree with what he said now that I have had a craft show under my belt. So my advice for those novice craft show/market vendors, don't go for the markets that charge an arm and a leg for their table fees. Start off with ones that are in the $30-$50 range and are one day events and don't be discouraged if you don't make that money back at your first market. How Big of a Space Should I Get? When you apply for craft shows, they typically give you two options. One six foot table or two six feet table. Normally they will say that one six foot table is $40 but if you get two, it will be $70 for example. There could also be an option where you could choose between a 6 foot or an 8 foot table. For your first couple of shows, you'll probably want to choose one table unless you are planning on selling things that take up a lot of room. Am I allowed to bring a garment rack? It will have to depend on what the host of the market says on the application or the ad for vendors. If it does not state something like "We kindly ask that you do not bring any additional displays for the show" (which means no garment racks or anything else), then you will need to ask the host what their policy is. It may be a matter of whoever typed it up forgetting to put that in the application or not. If it is the result of someone forgetting to mention that in the application, expect a mass email to all the vendors with them telling you that they don't want you to bring anything else and that everything must be on the table. If the host gets back to you saying that it is okay to bring a garment rack or any other display other than the table that you already bought, then it is up to you to bring the additional displays. How do I find out about the hours of the event? Typically, the hours of the event will be posted in the initial vendor call from the host(s). If it doesn't say in the initial vendor call, it will be on the application of the market when you apply along with when you are able to come in and set up. For an example, I had a market on November 4th from 11-3 EDT. I had to be there by 9:30 to set up my table. I knew the hours of the event before I applied, just not when I actually had to be there to set up. Do you bring your own table? To some markets, you do while other venues provide you with one. I brought my own table to my show on November 4th, although I could have rented a table at the location. However, if a venue gives you an option of renting a table for the event or not, they will typically give you a reduced rate if you bring your own table. For example, they may offer $40 for a 6 foot table OR $35 if you bring your own. Am I able to decorate the table any way that I want? YES! Yes you can. As long as you follow the guidelines presented to you by the host. If they allow you to have garment racks, that can be part of your display. If not, then go without. If it doesn't say one way or another, then email the host and ask. Will the provide security? In my experience, they never provided security. But it depends on what kind of craft show you are doing and how big it is. If you are doing an outdoor festival during the summer or if you are doing a large show like The One of A Kind show in Toronto, then chances are, there are some kind of security, via a private security company or police officers for crowd control. Target Market Research. Why is it important? Think of it this way. If you are in a population where there are plenty of young families and/or senior citizens, chances are, you're probably wanting to put in some children items like toys and children's hats. If you are doing a show somewhere that doesn't have young children or senior citizens looking to buy something for their grandkids/great-grandkids, you're probably wanting to forgo the children items. In order to know exactly what kind of market you are going for, go to other markets before you even apply for shows. If you are thinking of doing shows in the 2018/2019 season, you're probably to late for applying. But you can always go to the shows in the area and ask the vendors! Product Selection and Variety. The Make or Break for your booth! This goes hand in hand with the last point. After you are done with your market research, you will want to think about your product selection. This is EXTREMELY crucial for your brand as a maker when it comes to shows. Not that there isn't anything wrong with wanting to make everything you want to. But you need to be selective when it comes to your selection. When it comes to Christmas markets, you'll want to have it based in where you live. In Canada, you can find hats, scarves, and/or cowls at almost holiday market you go to as well as stocking stuffers! You don't want to go overboard with the selection of what you want to do. If you are planning on making hats, scarves, and cowls, maybe choose two patterns for each thing. Then you will want to choose about three different colours then make about three or four of the item in each colour. That way, you have a selection of the item AND a variety of colours for your customers to choose from. The same thing goes with stocking stuffers or anything else you want to make. Product Storage and Organization. Is this as important as I think it is? Oh, heck yes! It is important as you think it is plus more! You will want to make sure that you have big storage bins for your storage when you aren't at your craft shows and for transport to and from your shows. When it comes to storage, make sure that you are organized when it comes to what you put in the storage bins. If you are making hats, make sure that all of your hats are in the same storage bin so that you know where they are the next time you go and get the hats. You'll also want to make sure that you have an area in your home to store the storage bins when you aren't prepping for your shows. I hope all of this helps you in your journey of becoming vendors! Leave a comment below with what you wish you would have known when you were first starting out as a vendor!
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AuthorNatalie lives in southern Ontario in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). She loves to crochet, read, and spend time with friends and family. Archives
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