First, consider the price of your crafts. If your selling low ticket items ($5-$20), you will have to sell quite a bit, just to make the cost of the show. If you have larger ticket items, you may just need to sell a few, but will this show make it for you? And if you only sell a few, will it be worth your time and effort?

Let's look for a moment at the time angle. It may take some vendors all year to build up enough of their craft for a show. If you try to rush it all at the last minute, it usually shows up in the quality of your work. Keeping that in mind, you want to make sure the show is going to sell your items, so you have to be prepared. In other words, there are a lot of other things you need to consider.

Display First, you want your display to be attractive, and not just lay everything flat on a table. Remember, customers are caught at EYE LEVEL. In other words, you need to build up your display, as the first thing customers see is going to be at eye level. If you don't have something there, it's most likely they will pass your table by. Appearance, color and theme will all add up to an attractive display. Try adding flowers, vines, or items that might be decorative for the time of year. Themes like "country", "patriotic", and so on, can be quite overused. Maybe you can come up with something fresh and different.

Time Another factor about shows is that they can be quite time consuming. Not only in length of the show, but setting up, sometimes late the night before, and then your up early the next morning, so you'd better be bright and cheery for those customers. Some people spend a better part of the year preparing for that "special" show, and it shows. Trying to rush to get into a show, will likely show up in the quality of your work. Be prepared to sell a lot, but don't make so much that you get stuck with it all, either.

CostsIf you have a lot of low end items (lower prices) are you going to sell enough to pay for your booth? Consider a few lower prices to get their attention, but try to have a range, leading to higher, more complicated items that will bring you a little more, being carful not to overprice your items. But how do you tell if your items are overpriced. It's called research. Look for other vendors, attend craft shows, look in stores, on the internet, and so on, to compare what similar craft items are selling for. Price can sometimes keep you in the show or discourage you from trying it again, unless you have done some research. And remember, unless you already have a name for yourself, it's not likely you will get near enough money for an item for all the time you put into making it. Don't worry, though, as you get better, you can raise your prices to include the time it takes you to make it. Although there are some items that are so much work, you'll never get your money for your time. That's when the love of doing your craft kicks in, and you're happy to see it sell rather than sit and get dusty on your shelf.

Credit CardsOne thing beginners always have to consier is whether or not to take credit cards. Just a little hint here might help. If you're doing higher end work (higher prices) you almost have to carry the ability of accepting credit cards as most people don't carry a lot of cash with them, and sometimes they are more reliable than taking a check. If you are making less expensive items, you may lose a sale or two, if people are buying a large quantity, but at least you've saved by not carrying the costs of being a merchant who carries credit cards, as the fees can be quite expensive unless you have larger ticket items that sell. Another thing to keep in mind about accepting checks, though, is be sure to get some i.d. especially if it's for a large amount. If they walk off in a huff, then it's most likely their check wouldn't have been any good anyway, so you've saved yourself some money in the long run, rather than lost a sale.

Other considerations Of course, there are many other things to consider, as to whether or not a craft show is right for you and what you have to sell. Things like your location in the show, can make a big difference in whether people will notice your booth. Weather, other events going on in the community (Is there another show or form of entertainment happening that's likely to attract the crowds away from your show?), and popularity and costs of the show itself.

Doing craft shows can be both time consuming and lucrative if you've taken the time to research the show, and consider what people are buying. What may be popular one year might not sell the next. The trick here is CHANGE. Get people to keep coming back to see what new and different things you have along with your standard best sellers. That way, if your item that sold well last year doesn't sell at all this year, maybe you can grab them with something new and different! To say the least, craft shows are a lot of work, but for some, it's worth the effort and work, for others, there are other options which I will discuss in a future blog.