Craft Show Mistakes - What NOT to Do at a Craft Show

There is a lot of good advice out there on how to make money at craft shows, but few people talk about the mistakes you should avoid that could actually wind up hurting your sales. Here are some of the top mistakes people make when selling at craft shows so you can avoid them and make as much money as possible at your next show.

Not Putting Thought Into Your Display

Simply setting your wares out on your table in a row doesn't create an inticing feeling that will draw customers in to your booth. Instead, make a plan for how best to display your pieces to really catch people's eyes and make your booth look exciting and interesting. For instance, if you sell vases, why not buy some fresh flowers to put in one or several of them to add some color and life to your booth? Or buy a pretty table runner to lay your items out on instead of using a plain old sheet or tablecloth. Whatever you do remember that first and foremost you want your items to stand out, so don't go overboard so your booth design distracts from your products. Instead, think of clever ways you can showcase your items to their best advantage.

Don't forget the area behind your booth as well since this can be a wonderful space to create an eye-catching display that draws customers in.

Leaving All Your Items Flat

It's a good idea to add some vertical interest to your booth even if you sell relatively small items that you normally lay out flat on a table. For instance, if you sell jewelery, get some stand up displays to hang necklaces on. For other flat items you may want to think about getting some simple shelves or risers to lift some of them up off the table. This gives people a chance to spot your items from further away and also keeps your booth from looking too flat and boring.

Not Being Prepared to Take Credit Cards

While most people expect to pay cash at craft shows, some will inevitably want to pay with a credit card. There are some great merchant solutions out there for low volume sellers that can allow you to take credit cards and thus reach more customers. You don't need a fancy system, but having something in place can help your sales.

Not Having Change on Hand

Make sure to come to your show prepared with a plenty of change - both bills and coins. Nothing is worse than having a customer wanting to buy something and not having change on hand to give them.

Ignoring or Smothering Customers

You should be friendly to your customers, but there is a fine line between being friendly, not being friendly enough and smothering your customers to the point they feel overwhelmed. Greet customers when they come into the booth and talk to them if they seem to want to talk. Don't over-do it though - be sure to back off and give them time to shop without feeling like you are watching them like a hawk. On the flip side, don't completely ignore people and sit with your face planted in a book, either. Find a good balance between the two and think about how you like to be treated at other people's booths.