5 Things I’ve Learned as a Craft Fair Vendor
Jumping into the craft fair game as an art vendor is a crazy and exciting experience. I made the decision to start selling my artwork and painted products at craft markets because I wanted the opportunity to interact with my customers face-to-face and make new connections. It can feel more personal when you can have those in-person interactions instead of their impersonal experience of shopping online (which I still love, but for other reasons). I know some of you are also starting your craft fair journey, so today I wanted to share with you 5 things I have learned from vending in my first few months of participating in craft markets.
#1: Do Your Research
This seems like a given, but when I started, I didn’t realize how many different elements I needed to research to ensure I was applying for a craft fair that would be the right fit for me and my business. When you are looking into applying for craft fairs, there are a few things you should consider. For my own business, I create landscape paintings and painted products inspired by American scenery, my travels, and my love for nature. My customer demographic typically falls into the category of women aged 18-35. Of course, there are outliers, but I do best when other vendors also serve that demographic. I look at what vendors typically participate in the craft fair I am interested in to see if I may be successful. When looking at vendors, I also like to see if they accept direct sales vendors. Typically, if there are direct sales vendors, the clientele does not show interest in my art. One more thing I look for is whether or not the craft market is juried. A juried craft fair means that vendors must submit an application and be accepted by the jury review who decides whether or not you will be the right fit for the event. It’s nice to have an event be juried because it feels like a more curated shopping experience overall.
#2: Be Prepared for Any Predicted Weather
Within my first few months of doing craft fairs, I have had several unsuccessful events because of the weather. Unfortunately, you can’t know what the weather will be like when you sign up for a craft fair months in advance. What you can do is anticipate that seasons weather and check the forecast a few days before the event.
One of my first indoor events took place in March and there was a huge snowstorm the day before the event. All the vendors took a hit on that first day as the customer turn out wasn’t where it should have been. In Missouri, snow is always a possibility in March. When I apply to vendor events next year, I might avoid the snowy months.
While you can try to avoid booking your craft fairs during the bad weather months, some weather can’t be predicted. During my most recent craft fair, the weather was a little all over the place. This was a three-day event and day one was super hot and scolding! Remember to bring a portable fan with you if it is supposed to be hot and dress accordingly. Always bring tons of water or make sure you will have access to some.
Closing up the tent while we wait out the storm.
While day one was super hot, days two and three were COLD. Saturday, which in the past has been the biggest day of the event, it rained and stormed almost the whole day. Here are my take-aways when it comes to a rainy outdoor event:
Make sure you have a tent that will be able to withstand stormy weather! My E-Z Up tent did a great job at protecting my space and keeping things dry. Make sure you purchase good weights to hold down your tent as well, I use sandbags and they work fantastic.
Pack clothes accordingly! I ended up feeling super cold sitting in my booth as it was raining and overcast and had to run to Walmart and purchase long socks, a hoodie, and a blanket. Buying extra items to keep yourself comfortable isn’t ideal, so do your best to pack accordingly, so you aren’t getting too hot or too cold while you are tending your craft fair booth.
A rainy day at an outdoor event may drastically impact your sales. This is just a reality and all you can do is brace yourself for how it may affect your sales goal. Build that possibility into your expectations for the outcome of your craft fair.
#3: Talk About Your Craft
Art print display in my craft booth.
This is the opportunity you don’t always have online! Yes, you can talk about your craft (and should) on social media, but online, you only have seconds to grab people’s attention before they scroll past. At craft fairs, you have the opportunity to tell interested parties about your art and have a conversation with them.
Let me give you an example. The biggest emphasis of my business is my acrylic landscape paintings. When people come into my craft fair booth and I see them looking at my art prints or original paintings, I tell them the story behind my art! I love to take the photos I capture on my travels and turn them into paintings. This is how I like to relive these special journeys I go on and people love to hear about it. Usually, whoever I am talking to will share with me their own travel experiences. At that point, I also like to let them know that if they ever want to turn their travel photos into a one-of-a-kind abstract landscape painting, I’m their girl.
Having valuable conversations like these can be a wonderful experience and can help you get your name out there. You might even be able to get new ideas and feedback as you have these interactions.
#4: Make Connections
Find opportunities to talk to the other vendors at the show. Especially vendors who might have a similar craft or demographic to your own! When you have these interactions, you might learn about other art show and vending opportunities or get valuable business advice. I often try to ask vendors who have a similar craft to my own, what craft fairs they recommend that have been most successful for their business. They might even give you advice on ones you want to avoid. Not only may you get valuable advice, you might make new customers in the process. Some craft vendors enjoy finding new businesses to patron while they are making their own money and that new business might be yours!
#5: Offer items in a variety of price ranges
Dogwoods in Bloom greeting cards.
Over time, I have expanded my craft fair booth to include products priced at just a few dollars to a couple hundred dollars. I like to include low dollar items that are easy for me to make, like greeting cards/mini art prints, as they are high sellers and people don’t typically overthink whether or not they want to buy them. A lot of people I see offer stickers, so if that is something you are able to make, it might be a great option for your craft fair booth!
I don’t often make sales on my high dollar items at craft fair events, but I always bring them so people know the full expanse of my business offerings! I love having my original paintings on display, because they are a great talking point and draw people’s attention. When people come into my booth, I am able to tell them about my art practice and inform them about the original paintings I sell and my art commission offerings.
I have learned some very valuable tips and tricks over my first few months of participating in craft fairs and I know this will help me build towards the future. I hope this information may help you in your craft fair vending journey.
If you have participated in craft fairs as an art vendor, tell me about it! What is your favorite part of vending at a craft fair? What is your least favorite part? Drop your comments below :).