Local Shows
Sunday February 3, 2008
Local craft shows are the easiest and the least expensive way to get your business off the ground. Not only will you learn
about show etiquette, but you will also save money on fuel costs and lodging expenses. If you are experienced in the craft
industry and are looking for more options of course, you will need to travel to make the most of your sales. However if you
are just starting out, or need to cut costs, local shows are the way to go.
Comments
Local craft shows are a great start. Often people buy just because they get a chance to meet the crafter or artist and get a feel for the products. Unfortunately you can attend more than one show at a time, and or the expense of many shows eats into profits. We designed a business solution to help. Gregg
I agree 100% on this. The funny thing that some also fail to realize is that when you do shows out side your area, say one state over, many don’t take the time to learn the demographics of the area. They may have heard from one jewelry artist that they sell “butt loads” at this one show, but never told the person inquiring (a basket weaver) that it is small, she is the only jewelry vendor, and her items are not more than $20 each.
On the other hand if a crafts person has exhausted all their resources (shows in this context) then maybe extending their travel/show radius is what is needed, especially those if very rural areas. The most important thing, no matter which category people fall in, research all the shows you go to first, don’t assume anything.