Author: Laura Saravia Bott

November 26, 2018 10 Tips for Artists & Makers

10 TIPS FOR VENDORS AT FAIRS & SHOWS

Whether you are new to vending or a veteran, remembering all the little things that can make a great customer AND vending experience can be a lot to remember, especially during the busy holiday season. Using these tips and other adjustments that best fit your product, set you up for better chance of a sale.

And use our Square referral link and receive free processing on up to $1,000 in sales.

Sound off on the comments section about some of your favorite tips!

Consider the location of your table or booth.

Contact the organizer as soon as your spot is confirmed. Find out if you will be next to complimentary vendors, the type of lighting that will be available to you, and the proximity to an outlet or electrical source (if needed). It doesn’t hurt to ask the organizer BEFORE the show what is the best spot for you with regard to your items, especially if you have a display floor rack. Once the show has started it will be harder to move you and the organizer won’t be happy making last minute adjustments on the fly.

 

Make branding and styling a priority.

Make sure to have a banner with your logo, descriptive tagline, and website. All pricing signage should be clearly visible and legible for customers with consistent branding. Provide branded shopping bags, which can be just a sticker or stamp added to generic bags. You want to make sure people can tell it’s YOUR brand and can easily remember your store. Banners can get damaged, soiled or maybe the design is dated. Prep in advance to ensure your materials come in on time or to avoid rush fees. Usually October is a good time to access what you will need for the upcoming season.

 

Promote the Event

Although you often have to pay a fee to participate, it’s also your responsibility to let potential customers know about the fair. Invite people close to the venue know about it. Sharing the event invite and flyer on social media or around town. Let your customers know via newsletter about the upcoming fairs you are participating in. Post images and video during the event should others nearby see it and want to stop in, especially if it’s a multi-day event.

 

Maximize the full space available to you.

Just because you are limited by floor or table space you are usually not limited by height. It’s also sometimes an option to extend in front of your table. Use EVERY bit of space allowed--you pay for it! Make sure that everything is easy to grab and view. Showcasing options are great for customers to see, even if it means having duplicate items on your table. Invest in some display items. Getting a few quality displays really can help bring the whole look together. Try garage sales or second-hand stores for some cheaper alternatives. Or if you can’t purchase items, then make some of your own. Upcycle a wine box or fruit crate; they are usually free and incredibly versatile.

 

Bring items appropriate for the fair.

Choosing which items to bring can be daunting. Take a look at the roster of vendors or who may attend the fair. Ask the organizers if they can give you some insight into what the average price point is and what types of items are most popular in your category. Make sure to also bring enough stock and add items as they sell.

 

Be ready for all sales!

Cash is still King! So make sure that you have plenty of change. But don’t lose sales because you don’t take cards. Using Square or another mobile credit card payment system, make sure your items are in your system and to add in appropriate sales tax. If you only sell at craft markets, you don’t have to include prices in your item listing unless you make it available on the online store, that way you can adjust pricing on the fly but keep track of what items sold. Use our referral link, and receive free processing on up to $1,000 in sales.

 

Look attentive!

Sometimes the long days or slow sales zaps your energy to provide the same attentiveness to each person that walks by. You don’t have to necessarily stand the whole time but you want to make sure people know that you are ready for a sale. Just saying “hello” or Happy Holidays” can get the customer’s attention without you feeling like you’re coming on strong or desperate for a sale. Customers should feel welcome to touch your wares and engage in conversation with you.

 

Take a lap around the venue.

Besides meeting other vendors, study how things are laid out and what is and isn’t working for other vendors. Educate yourself with every fair to see what can work better for you next time. Usually at the beginning of the fair is the best time to go since it tends to be the slowest time. At the end of the fair, the tables may look different as the vendors sell off their wares.

 

Make sure potential buyers can find you after the fair.

Sometimes customers are gathering ideas and may not purchase right away from you. Have business cards or postcards with your contact info and website where they can buy from you later. Let them know that they can purchase from you online or maybe at another upcoming fair. And with every sale you make, include your card in the shopping bag. Having a newsletter sign-up sheet is also great way to follow up with potential customers! Using their email, you can potentially offer a special discount for those interested in your products and turn them into customers.

 

Have fun!

Try not to constantly ask how are sales for other vendors and compare yourself. Constant complaining creates a negative vibe and customers can feel it. Making it a fun experience leaves a good impression on the customer, even if they don’t buy from you. And the other vendors will appreciate your encouragement too! Sometimes encouragement comes in a bottle of red wine that you sneak in 😉

 

October 8, 2018 Q&A

Q&A: Richela Fabian Morgan

Richela Fabian Morgan

Duct tape artist and fine crafter specializing in paper, adhesives, and found materials. To date, Ms. Morgan has written seven books and is also a contributing writer for two books.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

At first, I wanted to be a dancer! But I never had the chance to take dance lessons. And then I wanted to be a writer.

 

What sparked your initial interest in art?

I was always a crafty kid, but I never considered myself artistic until I was in my early twenties. At some point in college, I thought that I wanted to be a writer. So after graduating from NYU with a history degree,  I landed a job as an assistant in the production/design department of Knopf Publishing Group. But instead of learning the ins and out of editorial, I learned about color and design from the people that worked there. I also learned about photography and art from the artists that were getting their work published. Everyone was happy to answer questions and let you look over his or her shoulder.  Because of that work environment, I began investigating my intuitive, creative side.

 

How has moving to the suburbs changed the way that you pursue your craft?

The move to the suburbs from Brooklyn made me drive more. I’m lucky that I have a car, though. If I didn’t, then it would be incredibly different to network.

 

What experiences have inspired you recently?

I was recently in LA for 3 weeks. I spent a lot of time in Venice Beach, especially the skate park with my teen daughter. We watched the skateboarders for hours, and the sunsets were otherworldly. The mix of people, both onlookers and skateboarders, plus the location--I’m still sorting through the emotions and memories.

 

What would you say has been one the most defining moments of your artistic journey?

It was the decision to go back to school to study art. I was 42 going on 43 when I applied to Hunter College. I had success as a crafter, but I wanted to be in a structured environment while investigating my artistic abilities. I wanted to know if I could translate my skills as a crafter into fine art. Most of all, I wanted to know if there was a difference between craft and art.

 

What have been the some of the challenges of running your own business?

It’s hard to do the administrative stuff when all I want to do is the creative stuff. That’s the biggest challenge. Also, the creative side of me will sometimes come up with some crazy ideas, and the administrative side has to talk some sense into me.

 

What was the best advice you have received? (or a bit of advice for the reader)

The best advice I received is to never give up on something you truly believe in. Just keep working on it. Rejection is a big part of life, and you can’t take it personally.

 

What made you decide to focus on Duct Tape?

When my kids were little, I often took them to our local hardware store. You have to understand that our local hardware store sells a lot of things other than hammers and nails to stay in business. They have quite a variety of candy for sale at the check-out counter--which was the big draw for my kids. But the idea of going to the hardware store simply for the candy...it felt a little wrong. So we always pretended to shop for something other than the candy. It was during one of these sojourns that we discovered a rack of colored duct tape: red, blue, yellow, green, white, and black. All three of us were drawn to it and that day we bought one roll of each color...plus 4 packs of Hi-Chews (yum). When we got home, we covered tin cans with it. Weeks later, I was still playing around with it. And over a decade later, I’m still playing around with it.

 

You’ve written several books. How is the process of writing, creating and selling your own craft book?

I am constantly coming up with ideas for craft books, and not all of them are winners. I thankfully have a literary agent who can advise me when I have a crap idea. She also tells me when I have a golden one. When I have a solid premise, I usually have 15 projects already made and photographed. So then I will put together an outline and write a sample chapter. I’ll run it by my agent, and then put together a full book proposal that contains the outline, sample chapter, and photos of the finished projects. She then sends it out to various publishers.

When I do have a newly published book, I work with a publicist for the bigger things like public appearances and interviews. I hate the sound of my voice and am awkward on camera, so I’m grateful when it’s a written Q&A (like this). The stuff that I do on my own is more social media-related. I’ll make little how-to videos on YouTube (just my hands!) and post photos from the book. I’ll do a give-away contest.

 

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years?

I’d love to write children’s books. That’s been a dream of mine. I would also like to have a barn where I can make art, teach art/craft, and host parties for all of my artsy and not-so-artsy friends.