Tips for Making Money at Craft Fairs

A popular pastime for some people is to attend craft fairs. On any given weekend, you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of people enjoying themselves while browsing through the booths set up by creative individuals who are selling their handmade crafts. If you’d like to be a crafter and have a booth of your own, it’s not that hard to get started--there is money to be made at craft fairs, but you need to approach it in the right way. Following are a few tips for making money at craft fairs.

Find Out What You’re Getting Into

Before you try and get into a craft show, it would be a good idea to attend a few, just to get a feel for these events. It will give you the opportunity to take a close look at the type and variety of crafts that are on display. If your crafts are similar to others that are being sold, there may be too much competition--you may want to consider doing another type of craft. That’s because too much of a similar product will reduce each vendor’s sales. You will either have to lower your price and sell more, or choose a different product.

Collect Your Material

In order to make a profit as a crafter, you need to treat it as a business. Buy low and sell high. It doesn’t sound difficult, but working out the details so you can make money at a craft fair can be hard. You will need to collect the material you’ll need to make your craft. The less money it costs you to do so, the more profit you’ll make when you sell it.

Be Prepared

If you’d like to get started as a crafter, there are a number of things to keep in mind that will make it easier. Before sending in an application to a craft fair, it would be a good idea to have all your preparations made. That way you won’t have to be running around trying to find everything you need once you’re accepted as an exhibitor. Find out where and when craft fairs are being held, and request applications for one or two. To start, you should choose a show that is close to you and not too expensive to enter. You will need to decide how you’re going to display your crafts. Are you going to use tables or will you use shelving? Your booth should be as attractive as possible, so you may want to get coverings for the tables or shelves. You’ll also have to decide how you’re going to arrange your display. The booth sizes may vary depending on whether you’re doing an indoor or outdoor show. The average booth space at an outdoor show is 10 feet by 10 feet, to accommodate a standard-sized tent. Indoor shows can be unusual sizes, such as 6 feet by 12 feet, 8 feet by 8 feet, or 6 feet by 9 feet. Your display will need to be flexible to fit into whatever size you’re assigned.

Get Your Feet Wet

A lot of people decide they’re going to become a crafter because it seems like a good way to make a lot of money. Although it’s possible to do so, it is not an easy business. Before you spend a ton of money on display equipment, such as tables, shelves, tents, and so on, it might be a good idea to try a few shows using borrowed display equipment. If you don’t know anyone who has the type of display material you’d like to use, you could improvise by using your card table or something similar. The idea is to not spend too much money until you find out whether or not you like doing craft fairs, and if your product will sell fast enough, and in adequate volume, to make doing the shows worthwhile.

Keep Track of Expenses

Although it may be nice to make a few bucks from a craft you enjoy making, it can also be quite costly to do so. Keep in mind that you’ll need a van, truck, or trailer to get your crafts to the fair. If the show is a distance away, you may have to rent a motel room. Expenses can mount quickly for crafters, so don’t get in over your head.

Hazardous Weather Is Possible

If you do outdoor shows, you’ll need a tent to provide shade and protection from the rain. Wind is also a consideration, so your tent will have to be staked down. If the show is on cement or blacktop, you won’t be able to use stakes, so you’ll need to have weights to keep the tent from blowing away. High winds are dangerous. If your tent is not properly anchored it can not only cause damage to your tent and your product, but to your neighbor’s tents as well.

Guest post from Bailey Harris.