Fall of 2012 marked our first experience as an art vendor, at Cooper Young Festival in Memphis, TN. Over the years, we’ve padded our resume with quite a few more shows and experimented with a LOT of trial and error on our vendor booth layout and setup. We’ve learned a lot, both from our own experiences and from looking to other vendors for inspiration. Today, we’re going to share with you our top 16 ideas for selling at art festivals, craft fairs and indie markets. These tips can be summed up into three key categories: Booth Display, Signage/Décor and—the most important—Branding. FIRST, LET'S DIVE INTO VENDOR BOOTH DISPLAY. 1. Plan out your booth space BEFORE the day of your festival. Before we set foot at an art festival, our vendor booth is completely laid out. We measure all our display pieces (shelves, tables, etc.) and configure the space to help speed up the set up time. Plus, not all shows have the same options for booth sizes (because that would just be too easy). This year, our Cooper Young booth featured a 10’ x 15’ space, while some of our holiday shows ranged from a 6’ x 8’ space to a 10’ x 20’ double booth. It helps to lay everything out beforehand to know what will or will not fit in the allotted space. Once everything is measured, we use Adobe Illustrator to plan out the booth space, with everything to scale. We print out copies to take with us during set up, as well as email a copy to ourselves in case we lose the paper copies (it happens). Here's a look at my Adobe Illustrator artboard for our most recent Cooper Young Festival vendor booth: And here is our finished vendor booth, based on that original mock up: 2. Display vertically. When potential buyers pass your vendor booth, they’re not seeing product that is flat on tables. At least some of your work needs to be in their line of sight. One way we add height to our booth display is with these adjustable white metal shelf units we found at IKEA (shop them here). The shelves are completely adjustable and IKEA sells individual shelves, so you can add to the original four included. We switch it up depending on what art we need to display at each festival or market. In the past, we've used these custom built white-washed wood displays on rollers, which our brother built for us. We love how they look in our booth, as they mimic a more retail-style setting. However, these are rather heavy and bulky to transport. Looking for something a little more transport friendly, this year we commissioned a custom white wood peg wall. The unit breaks down into four separate pieces, so it's easy and convenient for traveling. Everything hooks together via large bolts and wing nuts, with the shelves and pegs packed separately. It's also completely adjustable, as the pegs can be configured in various ways. This wall unit is great for displaying our larger 5 panel wood pieces, which serve as great eye catchers for potential buyers walking by our vendor booth. For smaller shows, we take just two of the four wall panels, usually paired with one of the white IKEA shelf units. Bonus: extra pegs are great for hanging ornaments! Clear acrylic risers are also a great way to subtly add height and levels when displaying artwork on a table. Because they're clear, they don't take away from your displayed art. We use combinations of this 5 piece set from Displays2Go. 3. Choose display colors that will make your work pop. As you can see, for our larger display pieces (shelves, walls), we incorporate as much white as possible. Because all sides of our wood art is stained in a dark finish, the white background helps it pop. We also prefer how clean the white and neutral hues look. 4. Store and display multiple art prints. We have ALL-CAPS-STRUGGLED with how to display and store our art prints, other than stuffing them in baskets for browsing. We recently discovered these gold wire baskets from IKEA that slide on perfectly to our white IKEA shelves. They are great at storing stacks of prints! To actually display the prints, we chopped up a 4” x 4” piece of lumber and sawed angled grooves down the top. We stained them to match the color of our wood art. The art prints stand up perfectly in the grooves of the wood, which we then prop up above the wire baskets. It’s easy for buyers to see the print displayed and simply pick it up from the basket underneath for purchase. 5. Use slim Christmas trees to display holiday ornaments. During our holiday shows, our Christmas ornaments are HUGE sellers. While we use our peg wall for some ornament overflow, ornaments look best hanging on an actual Christmas tree. This also better demonstrates to potential buyers how it will look on their own tree. However, for those smaller booth spaces, a full Christmas tree takes up too much valuable real estate and just isn't practical. And some of the smaller, table-top trees aren’t known for being sturdy. Because our ornaments are on the heavier side, we've had issues with the smaller trees tipping over ... especially when buyers are trying to take the ornaments off the trees to purchase. We found a great slim Christmas tree from our local At Home. It measures only 18” in diameter but can still can hold quite a few ornaments. We re-stock throughout the show to keep the tree looking full. NEXT UP, WE HAVE BOOTH SIGNAGE/DÉCOR. 6. Emphasize your business name for potential buyers with branded signage. We have our friends over at Ella Jude to thank for this easy DIY pop-out booth sign idea. For this sign, we painted a thin piece of wood white, then transferred our logo (with our image transfer process) to both sides, though we've seen others hand paint their logo. We bought two pieces of copper pipe and an elbow joint and glued them all together to form an L-shaped corner. To hang the wood sign from the copper pipe, we spray-painted loose-leaf rings to match the copper pipe. We then use clear zip ties to attach the sign to our booth or tent. We're hoping to make an even larger version this year. For additional branded signage, we bought a large white vinyl banner with grommets and designed it to include our logo, website and social media handles. We use this when we have space available. For our outdoor art shows, such as Cooper Young, we hang the banner on the back of our tent so buyers walking down the sidewalks behind the booths can see our name. 7. Tell your story with signage. We sell handmade image transfers on wood and marble tile. The most common question we receive from customers during festivals and shows is,
These are the top 5 mistakes handmade vendors commonly make at craft shows. If you're wondering why sales aren't higher, take a look through the list.
One of my most popular articles details the types of products that sell best at craft shows; you can read that here: What Sells Best at a Craft Show? This article explores the other side: Types of products that don’t tend to sell well, or that can actually harm the sales of best-selling products. I’ve created...
Each year I create a list of crafts you can make and sell that are seeing an increase in consumer demand (you can check that out here). I also look over the previous year’s trend list and see if those trends are still growing, are plateauing or declining in popularity. To create these lists, I...
Craft shows are a unique way to shop and vendors can get creative with their setup. But there are certain things craft show shoppers shouldn't see.
There's a lot for craft show shoppers to take in and they likely won't stop at every booth. Here's how to ensure your space catches their eye.
Imagine walking into a store and a sales associate stays within two feet of you the entire time. Most people prefer space while they shop. It takes the pressure off and lets them be with their thoughts as they consider a purchase. But most craft show booths don’t allow for space. You may have as...
There’s an image on Pinterest that catches my eye every time I see it. I’ve probably seen it close to a hundred times. It’s a picture of a craft show table displaying greeting cards. The photo only captures a corner of the table, but you can tell it’s a clean, cohesive display. Today...
Discover 44 hot craft ideas to sell in 2023 that'll have your creativity soaring! Unleash your inner artist with these trendy and profitable crafts to make and sell, perfect for adults looking to cash in on their talents.
If you sell at enough craft shows, markets, and events, you’ll eventually run into shoppers who think your prices are too high. They’ll tell you they could make it themselves, get someone to make it cheaper, or find the item at the mall for less. Yet they still want the item and are asking for...
There's a lot for craft show shoppers to take in and they likely won't stop at every booth. Here's how to ensure your space catches their eye.
Unless you’re selling at a very small craft show, you’ll never get 100% of shoppers to stop at your table. Your products are not for everyone, nor should they be. However, some craft show vendors do a great job of grabbing the attention of more shoppers and drawing them in (giving them more opportunities to...
If you're selling at a farmers' market or outdoor event, you'll love these unconventional ideas to draw shoppers over to your market stall.
When I was making Christmas dinner for the first time, I had a lot of questions for my mom. I asked how much poultry seasoning she puts in the dressing and she said: “I don’t know…until it smells like dressing”. It’s an odd way to determine how much seasoning to use, but it works. If...
Craft shows are a unique way to shop and vendors can get creative with their setup. But there are certain things craft show shoppers shouldn't see.
There's a lot for craft show shoppers to take in and they likely won't stop at every booth. Here's how to ensure your space catches their eye.
Most popular easy portable display ideas for markets and craft fairs - save time and energy with these clever, eye-catching display ideas for vendors.
A list of current craft trends and trend predictions for 2024 that handmade business owners can make and sell on Etsy or at craft shows.
If you've wondered why people say "I love your work" but never buy, this article uncovers the answers and solutions to help you sell more handmade products.
Best dollar tree crafts to sell in 2024 for extra money. Try these dollar tree crafts to make and sell for extra cash.
Farmers markets and artisan fairs are great place to get your product in front of people. Here are 10 ideas for setting up your vendor booth.
Farmers markets and artisan fairs are great place to get your product in front of people. Here are 10 ideas for setting up your vendor booth.
There's a lot for craft show shoppers to take in and they likely won't stop at every booth. Here's how to ensure your space catches their eye.
When I was making Christmas dinner for the first time, I had a lot of questions for my mom. I asked how much poultry seasoning she puts in the dressing and she said: “I don’t know…until it smells like dressing”. It’s an odd way to determine how much seasoning to use, but it works. If...
Most handmade vendors ignore these 3 important perspectives when it comes to their craft show setup. Find out what they are and how to fix any issues.
Do you want to make money selling handmade items? Check out this list of the best sellers at craft fairs so you don't waste time or effort!
Craft booth design ideas and inspiration with 12 photos of great displays. Here's how to use portable folding craft tables in your 10x10 craft show booth space.
Craft shows are a unique way to shop and vendors can get creative with their setup. But there are certain things craft show shoppers shouldn't see.
Don't miss these easy crafts to make and sell if you want to start making extra cash from home. They're all cheap to make but look unbelieveably stunning!
7 art booth display photos show you how to display paintings, prints, and photographs in your craft show booth.
Numbers 10, 11 and 15 will change EVERYTHING! Tips and tricks YOU need to know as a beginner craft fair vendor.
This autumn season, dig into these simple Fall crafts to sell and make some extra money – all from the comfort of home! These creative fall crafts are easy and inexpensive to make while presenting stunning results. Fall time is a great time of year to get crafting! Something about all the beautiful autumnal colors makes Fall the decorating season of dreams. To take advantage of this time of year, I have 25 of the best Fall crafts to sell, so you can earn some extra money from home. This list includes how to make tasteful Halloween crafts, thanksgiving
When you hand your business card out at a craft fair, 80% of them end up in the trash. Here's how to make your business cards more effective.
Unless you’re selling at a very small craft show, you’ll never get 100% of shoppers to stop at your table. Your products are not for everyone, nor should they be. However, some craft show vendors do a great job of grabbing the attention of more shoppers and drawing them in (giving them more opportunities to...
Not all of these points are red flags telling you not to sell at a particular craft show. However, they may be signs to proceed with caution. Craft shows can be labor intensive and come with several expenses. So you want to be sure a craft show is the right fit for you and your...
Flat packing display stand - ideal for craft fairs or shop displays. NOW AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS SHELF LENGTHS! This stand was designed to display glass coasters & signs but could be used for a variety of items, including cards, jewellery, pictures, ceramics or books. The stand consists of FOUR shelves, two ends & one back support making it very compact for transportation and also very quick and easy to assemble. Everything is precisely slotted together - no glue, screws or other fixings required. The four shelves each have a 1.25cm raised edge to prevent items from sliding. This also acts as a strengthening device to prevent the shelves from sagging. It is also possible to turn the shelves upside down for additional width if the front rail isn't needed to hold items in place. The display stand shown has a total height of 48cm (19") and the depth is 25cm (10"). The shelves are each 7.5cm wide (with 6.5cm behind the front rail). Please note that the lower shelves have a usable depth of 4cm due to the overhang of the other shelves. The vertical spacing of the shelves is 11.5cm. All material is 6mm thick MDF & suitable for painting (please ensure that all slots are protected from paint if you do decorate your stand, otherwise assembly will be affected). Unpackaged weight of 4 Shelf display stands: 30cm - 1.2kgs 50cm - 1.7kgs 75cm - 2.2kgs Delivery of all stands are via a Courier, due to parcel length. This display stand is offered in three shelf lengths of 30cm, 50cm and 75cm (usable shelf lengths). Please note that the longest shelf lengths are best suited for light weight items to prevent the shelves from sagging. If your items are heavy please contact me to discuss alternative designs. I can make larger / smaller / taller / wider versions of this stand, so if this one doesn't quite match your requirements then please just let me know & I'll give a quote for a customised version! Please also take a look at my other shelf display stands (listed separately). My 5th photo shows my THREE shelf version of this display stand. If you need MORE THAN ONE stand then please message me as I'll combine the postage cost. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. OVERSEAS DELIVERY POSSIBLE - BUT PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR A SHIPPING COST.
Vendor Based (or vendor booth) Businesses are the perfect solution for small business owners who don’t have the ability to manage a brick-and-mortar storefront.
When I was making Christmas dinner for the first time, I had a lot of questions for my mom. I asked how much poultry seasoning she puts in the dressing and she said: “I don’t know…until it smells like dressing”. It’s an odd way to determine how much seasoning to use, but it works. If...
Not all of these points are red flags telling you not to sell at a particular craft show. However, they may be signs to proceed with caution. Craft shows can be labor intensive and come with several expenses. So you want to be sure a craft show is the right fit for you and your...
There are craft show tables that simply display products, and there are those that go above and beyond. They create a full experience for shoppers. As a shopper, you feel like you’re shopping with a legit business; you’re not just browsing a crafter’s creations. Everything feels polished and thoughtful. I...
I know many moms who making extra money every weekend selling handmade items at craft fairs, flea markets, and even on local Facebook buy/sell/trade pages. You can make DIY projects at home (at night, on the weekend, as you have time) and sell them for profit! The best part about doing crafts for profit is that the time from idea to production to sale is very fast - I'd say you can start earning extra cash from these simple projects within a month if you start today and get your supplies then choose a selling avenue. I thought it would
Most handmade vendors ignore these 3 important perspectives when it comes to their craft show setup. Find out what they are and how to fix any issues.
