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101 Things You'll Need for Every Craft Show (TCR 8/99)101 Things You'll
Need for Every Craft Show
DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF BORROWING ITEMS YOU FORGOT TO PACK FOR A SHOW?
by Barbara Brabec
CRAFT FAIR CHECKLIST
Tools: wrench, hammer, pliers, nails, screwdriver, tape measure
Setup/put-it-together items: thumbtacks, pins and twist ties; wire, duct
or masking tape; tape gun and glue gun; fishing line (invisible hangers),
clamps and brackets; tie down ropes; boards or wood blocks for leveling;
backdrop weights; dolly to cart stuff in/out; extra box for re-packing
Display equipment: booth signs, special displays, wall units, shelving,
pegboards and hooks; folding screens and backdrops; risers, tables, chairs
or stools
Lighting: clamp lights, extra bulbs and extension cords (one short, one
long); plug converter (three-prong to two-prong), multi-plug adapter or
power strip
Coverings: table drapes, extra cloth or curtain (to cover/block something
from view), plastic drop cloths (opaque to hide displays overnight); floor
coverings
Craft demonstration items: (as necessary for your art or craft); free
samples, candy or cookies for shoppers
Promotional/sale materials: business cards, brochures, flyers, catalogs,
other printed materials; portfolio or photos of your work; media packages
(in case a reporter or columnist interviews you at a show)
Sale/order essentials: cash box or money apron (with plenty of change);
calculator; invoice/order pads and purchase orders; extra price tags;
sales tax chart; mailing list sign-up sheet; credit card swipe machine and
extra charge slips; cellular phone; laptop computer
Office supply items: pencils and pens; paper clips; rubber bands;
scissors; scratch pad; Scotch tape; stapler; clipboard and writing pad or
notebook
Wrapping/packing supplies: sacks; bags; tissue paper; padding material;
tape or string
Booth cleaning supplies: glass cleaner and paper towels; waste basket and
garbage bags
Personal items: appropriate clothing; ice chest for food, water, juices
and "neck cooler scarf"; thermal mug; tissues, towelettes and baby wipes;
sun screen; hand lotion and first-aid kit (prescription drugs, bandages,
headache remedy, etc.); bug spray; sewing kit; list of family members'
phone numbers in case of emergency.
It's common to borrow from other vendors the things you forget to bring to a
show, but wouldn't you rather go with everything you need? Depending on your
craft or the type of shows you do, some things on my craft fair checklist (see
sidebar, below) may not be applicable to you, but even experienced sellers will
get some good ideas from the following tips shared by other veteran
craftspeople.
Food and water
Several people emphasized the importance of taking water. "You never know what
the quality and availability of drinking water is going to be," one warned.
"Take one gallon water jugs with caps that you can fill at a show and take back
to your booth," advises Gail Platts of InCalico. "The full jugs are also useful
as tie-down weights."
To save money or avoid concession-stand food, most sellers take snacks or their
lunch to a show in a small ice chest, which is especially important for outdoor
shows in the summer. Sue Johnson of Gramma's Graphics recommends high-energy
foods and juices. Lynne Smythe suggests taking simple things like crackers and
cut-up vegetables that won't cause a mess or be difficult to finish quickly.
"Murphy's law states the best way to attract customers to your booth is to take
a bite of food," she quips.
Personal comfort items
Take clothing appropriate to the season, everyone urges, since you can freeze at
an outdoor fair or get a chill if the air conditioning is too high indoors.
"Take a hat to keep the hot sun off your head at summer shows," advises Bob
Gerdts. You need comfortable shoes, of course, but take an extra pair, suggests
Tom Cooper. Phillippa Lack suggests taking inner soles for your shoes, a change
of clothes in case of a disaster (spills or rain), and a makeup kit so you can
freshen up.
Not everyone would think to take a fix-it kit with needles, thread and safety
pins, but Lack does this because she says there is always a crafter who has
something that needs fixing. Liz Murad says to take plenty of baby wipes. "I use
them to clean off my hands after setting up the tent and my shoes after the
duck-pond setting has revealed all its hidden charms. I wipe my neck on a
sweltering day and tactfully offer them to mothers whose dirty-handed children
are reaching to touch my merchandise."
"Forget a chair," says Johnson. "It's much better to stand and greet the public
face to face. If you're sitting looking bored, they'll walk right on by." If you
have a physical problem that makes it difficult for you to stand all the time, a
comfortable stool with a back on it may be a necessity. In that case, sitting
from time to time should not be a problem as long as you keep your eye level
close to that of the crowd.
Stay-busy-in-your-booth items
Don't bury your nose in a book when sales are slow. "Take a notebook and
mechanical pencil," says Murad. "When it's a dog of a show, and you still want
to look busy, scan through pages of your notebook and jot down reminder notes or
ideas for new products." The best "looking busy" idea I've heard yet is from
Michael Noyes, a calligrapher who says his next major purchase will be a
PowerBook computer. "During slow times, or when I just want to appear busy in my
booth, I will be able to do all kinds of work, including designing and entering
orders, updating my mailing list and e-mail database, writing letters, or
working on my Web site."
What a great way to attract attention at a craft show! To let your computer do
the selling, just pull up your Web site pages (stored on disk) and invite
browsers to take a look.
TIPS FROM EXPERIENCED SELLERS
"Take plenty of change. You can't count on other crafters to make change
for you." -- Vicky Stozich, Personal Designs
"Take a paperweight to hold down order slips, papers, business cards,
etc., which always seem to blow away at an outdoor show. While you're
chasing them, you lose customers." -- Joyce Roark, Loving Thoughts
"Take more invoice pads than you think you'll need. It's embarrassing to
have to write up sales on pieces of notebook paper when you run out. And
don't leave home without plenty of twist ties, which have 101
tie-down/holding uses. You can get a bucket of industrial strength ties
with locking teeth from The Home Depot." -- Lynne Smythe, Dolphin Crafts
"Always prepare for rain at an outdoor show. Huge plastic sheeting can be
purchased by the box. Be sure to have clamps to hold it onto the display
framework." -- Tom and Chris Noah Cooper, Paperways
"Take plastic drop cloths not only for rain at outdoor shows, but for
dust. At indoor shows where you leave your booth overnight, opaque drop
cloths will discourage theft. And don't forget aspirin. I love shows, but
all the noise and bright lights can give me a whopper of a headache." --
Karen Lyons, KJ Lyons Design Studio
"Don't forget the floor. For outdoor shows, you may want to bring a large
tarp or black plastic for unsightly ground. Indoors, you may want throw
rugs or a painted cardboard floor to make your booth special." -- Deb
Otto, Henri's
"For cold weather, a portable propane heater is wonderful; for summer
shows, take small battery-operated fans and one of those scarves you can
soak in cold water to wear around your neck. Keep it in your ice-filled
cooler along with your lunch and water." -- Jan McClellan, Heirloom
Jewelry
"Take a spray bottle of water with a few drops of pure mint oil in it.
It's so refreshing to spray your face when you're hot and tired." --
Rochelle Beach, Cinna-Minnies Collectibles
"Take some free samples of your product and something you can hand to
kids, who will then bring the parents over. I usually have some free
samples of the soap I sell, plus a dish of candy." -- Linda Beattie Inlow,
Hidden Meadows
"Take an extra empty box. No matter how careful I am or how much
merchandise I've sold, I can never pack it up as neatly as I did the night
before, and I need that extra box to throw in all my
now-where-did-this-fit-before stuff." -- Liz Murad, Calligraphy, Ink
"To avoid having to use a checklist for each show, keep all show setup
stuff in one place at home, and keep it easily portable." -- Tom and Chris
Noah Cooper, Paperways
_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.
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