Craft Fairs and How to Prepare for Them

Craft fairs and how to prepare for them!  Red Bridge Quilts goes through the following checklist when preparing for a craft fair.

Check Stock

Of course, a good inventory of products is essential for setting up a stall.  That goes without saying.  If there isn’t enough stock to set up a table, the stall won’t be attractive to prospective buyers. 

Preparation

Before heading to a craft fair, all items must be clean, organised, inventoried, and with prices clearly marked.  Good storage boxes, bags, etc. are needed to transport the items.  Prospective buyers will normally pay with cash or card, so a sufficient float (start-up cash) is needed, as well as a card reader to accept credit/debit cards. 

Necessary Extras 

Tables are not always provided, so a vendor must be able to supply a table (normally 6 ft. long), along with a nice clean cloth to cover it, making sure that it reaches to the floor in front.  If it’s an outdoor craft fair. a vendor may also need a gazebo for protection against inclement weather. 

Getting Everything There

So once all the above is taken care of and you’re ready to go to your first craft fair, you’ll need to pack up the car!  Since craft fairs usually open in the morning and the vendors must be on site at least an hour ahead of time to set up, packing up the car is usually done the night before.  If you need to take your own table (sometimes tables are provided), this will definitely need to go into the boot first.  The packing up of storage boxes, display cases, hanging rails, and other supplies follow.  

Setting Up

Once at the venue, all needs to be unpacked and set up.  The idea is to make the stall as attractive as possible.  Variety of display is important–display cases and small stands add height to the table and make it more attractive.  Hanging rails and tubs also add to the variety of the display.  Lights (LED lights are great) will attract a buyer.  If you need to be near an electrical socket, this should be requested ahead of time.  Laminated informational cards, business cards, and a notice that card payments are accepted are all additional helps.    

Footfall

At craft fairs, one never knows how many potential buyers will pass through the doors.  This is called the ‘footfall’.  It’s anyone’s guess what this will be on any given day. 

Closing Down

At the end of the hopefully successful day, everything needs to be taken down, packed up, and put back into the boot.  Ideally, the vendor returns home with less than he/she started with.  Once home again, all needs to be unpacked and stored again for the next time.  Exhausting but rewarding!