How to Organize a Craft Show

Hosting a craft show is a lot of fun and can be quite profitable. Organize a craft show as a fundraiser for your local little league team or scouting group or start a business hosting craft shows on a regular basis.

Instructions

1. Choose a date and time for the craft show. You may want to choose a Saturday prior to a big holiday, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. Gifts are always needed on these days and people generally love to give homemade gifts.

2. Find a location that is suitable for hosting a craft show. You will need to look for a place with high traffic. People are more likely to stop at a craft show they have come upon unexpectedly rather than one they've seen advertised. Do not pay for the location at this time, but do speak with the person responsible for the space. Explain your plans to organize a craft show, and let him know when you plan to do the show. Find out if the location is available for your chosen date, how much it will cost to rent, how much space you will have and whether they can provide tables or other items for your use.

3. Decide what you will charge each vendor to sell at your craft show. Prices can range anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars per show, depending on costs to organize the craft show and estimated profit range for the show.

4. Place an advertisement in your local newspaper and penny saver four to six weeks prior to the date of the craft show to request vendors. In order to produce a large enough variety for interest, you need to have at least 20 vendors at your craft show.

5. Call back the location you've chosen, and schedule your rental once you have received enough calls from vendors to continue organizing the craft show.

6. Advertise the craft show each day or week, depending on the advertising format, starting approximately one to two weeks prior to the show.

7. Develop a floor plan for the location. Figure out where you will place each vendor, considering doorways, floor space and table sizes.

8. The day of the show, arrive a couple of hours early, set up tables and prepare for vendors. Allow vendors at least one hour to set up their displays before opening the door to customers.