One way to market your crafts and have total control over the situation is to hold a cooperative craft show. Get together with artists and crafters from a wide assortment of types and mediums and rent a location to hold your own show. It’s a lot of work the first time you do it so spread the set-up tasks among a few key participants.
Holding a cooperative craft show does take some advance prep work, especially if you’re not a member of a local craft guild because you have to have some sort of potential list of art and crafters to invite to participate. No local craft guild? Start one!
1. Line-Up the Cooperative Craft Show’s Exhibitors
Belonging to a local craft guild is an excellent way to networking with other artists and crafters. Lacking that, take out an ad in the local newspaper with a call for entries. If you belong to any online social networks, that’s another place to drum up some interest.
2. Make Sure Your Cooperative Craft Show Is Varied
To attract as wide an audience as possible, make sure you have exhibitors from many arts and crafts disciplines. As an observer I like going to any show that I think will be interesting. I’m more picky if I’m a buyer. If a show is focusing on depression glass (something I have no interest in buying) I’m not going to waste my time.
The whole point here to make sales. Attract as many customers as possible by having a wide selection from which to purchase.
3. Get Cash Upfront From Your Craft Show Exhibitors
As the show’s organizer, the best way to protect yourself is to get a non-refundable deposit from each artist or crafter interested in participating in the show. I recommend a deposit of half the total cost to rent a location early in the game. You’ll need cash to give the owners of the craft show location a deposit, but equally as important, paying a deposit indicates serious interest on the part of your participants.
Keep in contact with the exhibitors throughout the process to make sure they are still interested in participating. A couple of weeks prior to the show, get payment in full. Don’t, don’t, don’t let exhibitors pay you from the show’s proceeds.
4. Find Free Advertising for Your Craft Show
5. Pursue Other Advertising Media for Your Craft Show
Contact all the free-to-the-public magazines and newspapers in your area and inquire about the possibility of an article being written about your show. A good example of this type of magazine that I’ve seen in quite a few cities is Skirt. If you’re not a Skirt city, seek out a local equivalent.
Regardless if this pans out, check on their advertising rates and take out a display ad a couple of weeks before—as well as during the week of—the show. Make sure you emphasize the fact that free parking is available (if this is indeed the case).
6. Charge for Admission?
A hard question to answer is if you should charge admission to the show. Charging a nominal admission does build a perceived value for the show. My best advice, do some research to see what the standard is in your area.
A good idea might be to offer free admission if the attendee brings in your magazine advertisement. Or advertise that the admission fee benefits a local charity. Just remember that if you charge admission, you’ll also have to hire someone to watch the door and collect the money.
7. Prep Work Before the Craft Show
Line up your location. You’ll need to draw up a chart showing where each exhibitor will be located on the floor. This should also be included in brochures available at the show. Make sure each exhibitor knows exactly how much space they’ll have. Rent any needed furniture or equipment. Have signs made for the front of the building to advertise the show to those who just happen to be driving by.
8. The Day of the Craft Show
Make sure each exhibitor knows they need to be at the location and set-up by a certain time – ideally two hours before the show starts. If charging admission, get that space set-up and operating - make sure you have enough coinage and small bills to make change.
Practice good booth etiquette and sell, sell, sell! Your last step will be to make sure you leave the location in the condition specified in your lease.