How to be a Success at Selling Your Crafts at Fairs

You've made your choices in which sales to be a vendor with, have sent in your applications and vendor fees and are all ready to go out and sell your stuff! Or are you?

Here's a few 'must haves' as vendors at craft sales:

Pens
Lots of them! They'll disappear and you don't ever want to scurrying trying to find one. (If your budget allows, it's a great idea to get promotional pens with your contact information on them.)

Scratch Pads
Be prepared to take notes. If you see a set-up at the sale that you like, write down what you like about it. If a potential customer mentions that, for example, their daughter would really like such-n-such, but her birthday isn't for another 6 months, take their name and phone number and let them know you'd be happy to give them a call closer to the time they need your item (and then make sure to call!).

Business Cards
Make sure that anyone who shows even a semi-interest in your product receives your business card, as well as other vendors that are at participating in the sale.

Brochures or Flyers
Don't let anyone leave your area without taking a flyer or a brochure! Have your contact and business information clearly labeled, have a few nice photos of your products, pricing and a handy mail-in order form included.

Fish Bowl (or similar)
Here's where the scratch pads come in again. Everyone loves to receive something for free! Have people sign up for a drawing to win one of your products. Try to make the prize something that you do not have available that day for sale. If you sell hand-crafted dolls, have the prize doll dressed extra special, or have it commemorating a particular event. Send everyone who enters a note card after the drawing is held. Congratulate the winner, and to those who did not win, let them know when and where your next show is and make sure they receive a business card and brochure of yours.

Change Making Money
Go to the bank and get at a minimum 50 - $1.00 bills, 20 - $5.00 bills and a couple of $10.00 and $20.00 bills; a roll each of pennies, nickels and dimes, and two rolls of quarters.

Notebook
Have people sign their name and contact information to get on your mailing list. Don't have a mailing list? Well, now's a great time to start one! Send those who sign up a notecard (hand written!) to thank them for stopping by your display. Send them postcard mailings to let them know which shows you will be attending throughout the year. Keep track of people on this list! See if they repeatedly stop by your booth/table to browse your products, take note of what they purchase and what they show special interest in, then follow up at the show's end with a hand written note.

You've seen them in retail stores - have your own gift registry! If I stop by and really love one of your items, but can not justify spending the money for it on myself, give me the opportunity to give you the name and address of someone who may need an idea for a gift for my birthday!

Tablecloth, Scrap Material and Thumbtacks
Always create a nice display area. Don't leave a bare table top to show - it just diminishes the look of your product. Use the boxes you packed your product in for display - set them on the table and layer scrap material over them - this will give you more room to show your products and having various heights in your display not only allows for easier product viewing, it also makes your product look more appealing.

Samples (if appropriate)
If your product is food, have samples ready to give out. Cut them in small pieces and make sure to keep the sample plate near your drawing/mailing list information. Always, always, always cover food samples with plastic wrap! Nothing will turn away potential food customers more quickly than a plate filled with fly-covered samples! If you make candles, if it's acceptable, have one burning (make sure to check with the show coordinators regarding this, as some may not allow this).

Crafting Supplies
If your talent does not require you to pull out a huge load of crafting material, take some projects along to work on during the slow times.

Healthy Munchies
We just have to have something to munch on! Make sure your choices are healthy though. Don't bring anything 'heavy' - the last thing you want to do is become tired and ready for a nap!

Small First Aid Kit
You just never know when it will come in handy... be prepared for anything to happen.

A Smile and a Wonderful Attitude!
Last, but certainly not least, smile throughout the day and show a positive attitude! If business is slow, go around to vendors near you and network with them! Take your business cards and hand them out, meet people, take interest in what other vendors are offering, pass out samples, have fun! Contacts you make today just may become tomorrow's customers!

This article is copyright Sarah Babbitt, all rights reserved, this article may not be reproduced without written consent of owner.