Going to your first craft fair show can be so exciting! But it can also be very overwhelming. How can you prepare for such a huge event? Where do you even begin? Well, there’s good news. We’ve gathered up the Top 12 Tips for First-Time Craft Fair Sellers to share with you! So relax, take a deep breath, and keep on reading.
Before the Show:
1. Educate Yourself – We’re serious! Read up on craft shows and learn all you can about them. Search for articles, join forum conversations, and talk to your friends. Learn as much as you can about the event so that you can properly prepare yourself.
2.Get Organized – You want to be as prepared as possible for this show. Do you have everything you need? Is your inventory ready? Do you have a booth and a sign to showcase your product? If not, then it’s time to get started!
3. Have a Dress Rehearsal – It’s a good idea to have a dress rehearsal about a week or two before the craft show. Set up your booth and go through your inventory. Set up your cash box and make sure your credit card reader works. Turn it into a fun game and have your kids or grandkids come shop at your booth! They’ll love playing at craft fair shopping, and it will honestly give you some great experience.
4. GET ORGANIZED – We’re so serious you guys. The night before, sit down and make a to-do list. What do you need to bring? Is there anything that still needs to be completed? Do you know what time you should leave in the morning? Is there enough gas in the car???
Take a deep breath. Write everything down, and check it off the list when it’s finished to reassure yourself. And don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep!
During the Show:
5. Get there Early – Give yourself plenty of time before the show starts to set up your booth and prepare for the day. You don’t want to be rushed when you’re setting up. And you don’t want to get there late and miss out on potential business!
6. Manage Your Expectations – Your first craft fair show can be so exciting! It’s hard to not get your hopes up. Most likely, the show will be a huge success for you. But it’s important to not get carried away. Set reasonable and manageable goals for yourself. Then, when you meet those goals, you’ll have something to celebrate!
7. Have Cash on Hand – This is SO IMPORTANT. Yes, people will want to pay with credit cards, but cash is still king. Have change on hand, and lots of it. It will only help you in the long run!
8. Be Prepared for Disasters – AKA Have a Back Up-Plan. What if the electricity at the event goes out? What if it rains? What if your inventory is damaged in some way? What if your booth breaks??
Calm down. Deep breaths. You have prepared for this! Put together an “In Case of Emergency” kit with all of the essentials that you might need in a disaster. You’ll be your own hero, and the hero of everyone else at the fair!
9. Be Friendly and Have Fun! – Put a smile on! Be friendly with the other sellers – you’re all here to have a good time and to show off your skills. No need to get competitive. And a smile is guaranteed to attract customers to your booth. Offer a friendly greeting and strike up a conversation!
And remember – have fun! We know you’re there to sell your product and your brand. And it’s important to focus on goals. But while you’re working your butt off, take a minute to sit back and enjoy the moment. You’ve earned it!
After the Show:
10. Reward Yourself – YOU DID IT. Congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back. And now go treat yourself to something sweet!
11. Reflect – Go over how the day went, how the whole process was for you. Were you satisfied with it? What went really well? What could have gone better? Evaluate the day and write down the pros and cons so that you can learn from this experience.
12. Start again! – After that first show, you’re basically a pro now! It’s time to get ready for the next show 
For more craft fair tips and tricks, check out these great posts!
10 Tips on Surviving Your First Craft Show from Catshy Crafts Blog
9 Things Etsy Sellers Learned at Their First Big Craft Fair from Etsy
6 Simple Ways to Avoid Dumb Mistakes at a Craft Show from The Crafts Report
Craft Fair Tips: Preparation is Key to a Successful Show from IndieMade.com
Comment below and let us know, do you have any craft show tips to share?
