10 Tips On Selling Art At A Craft Show
Getting your art ( and yourself!) out there will no doubt involve selling at a craft show at some point throughout your career. During my early years of establishing myself as an Artist I spent many weekends at markets and craft shows. As with any new pursuit, after a few times of trying various things I discovered what contributed toward a positive selling experience.
I will share with you what I learnt selling at craft shows.
TIME MANAGEMENT - Allow yourself plenty of time to set up your space. There were events where I felt not quite ready for the event to begin, therefore starting off on an anxious foot, NOT what you want. Make sure in advance you are familiar with the parking, general event space and where your designated spot is.
VISUAL MERCHANDISING - Your stall must look its absolute best to attract visitors and buyers. Think about your stall in terms of a beautiful storefront, you want to entice people to hang around, browse and chat with you. Ask yourself these questions when designing your space;
Do I have height in my display?
Is it easy to look through my products?
Is the layout easy to navigate?
Is my visual branding looking its best?
Are all my products clearly labelled with info and pricing?
Is everything clean, tidy and all clutter out of sight?
Check out my Pinterest board HERE for more images and ideas for setting up a craft show stall.
PRICING AND RANGES - I quickly discovered you need a variation of products at different price points. I sold a lot of greeting cards at craft shows. Beyond that having a range of prints at mid price point and then just 1 or 2 large originals for showcasing (obviously this will depend on the type of show, If it's a dedicated art event with a larger proportion of buyers looking for original work I would adjust)
PAYMENT SYSTEMS - I use the portable Square reader for shows (obviously you need an internet signal) most people will use cards but it is also essential to have a cash box with a small float of change. I have a little book to write down my sales, a useful guide to determine what is popular at different events)
PACKAGING - Do you have ample bubble wrap, bags and envelopes? Consider adding branding and contact info (perhaps in form of a business card or flyer) is it aesthetically pleasing? You want your buyer's experience to be positive and beautiful from start to finish.
BODY LANGUAGE - I know it's hard! Speaking from experience there is nothing that encourages me to have a closer look at a maker's stall if they are looking closed off (or scrolling their phone!) Look up, smile, and be happy about sharing your beautiful work with the world! I consider myself to be a shy person and do find this challenging, however we don't have to go full on into a hard sell! Just a smile and 'ask me if you have any questions' is all you need to do. Which kind of leads me to my next point ;
DEMONSTRATE YOUR CRAFT - people love to see a maker in action. I would take along my art journals to sketch in times when I feel especially awkward (still remembering to look up and acknowledge customers though) It often leads to conversations about your work and creates a rapport with potential buyers.
TAKEAWAYS - Do you have business cards / flyers / postcards with contact information on for people to take away? Many of my sales came after the event itself as a result of having a conversation and handing out contact info.
EMAIL LIST SIGN UP - Do you have a designated board ready to catch potential email addresses? Often people don't like to leave your stall without spending money so will provide their email as a way to support you. Bonus points if the form clearly states what they will receive - how often you provide a newsletter, do they get a freebie when they sign up?
LIGHTING AND ATMOSPHERE - Is your booth well lit? If it is to be held at dusk/night hours then portable lighting is a must. I find my DIY stores have a good range of battery operated LED lights, combined with some string lighting for atmosphere. Some events will allow you to play music, obviously nothing intrusive, in the past I've played some chilled tunes on a little boom box to take the edge off being in a very quiet building !
In conclusion, to have a successful show takes a bit of planning, it really does take the stress out of the day if you are well prepared.
There will be some shows where you may not make a lot of sales, try not to be disheartened, I see these as a marketing exercise, as in, every time you attend an event you are raising your profile as a local Artist, potential buyers beginning their know, like and trust factor with you!
I hope these ten tips on selling at a craft show help encourage you in your art selling. Please leave a message with any more tips you may have, and thank you for reading !
