How to Create a Craft Show

Wares displayed for sale

Craft shows are extremely popular just before or during major holidays and as the seasons change. The friendships, camaraderie and memories associated with festive events can last a lifetime. Craft shows bring like-minded creative people together for financial benefits, for exchanging ideas and for learning new skills. A craft show can quickly become a craft festival if there are enough interested people. Even a small group of artists and crafters can create a successful craft show.

Instructions

1. 

   Open door to craft show

   Select a location to hold the craft show. A church hall or public facility where there will be a lot of foot traffic is ideal. Church halls tend to charge the least rent and may even accept a donation of 10 percent to 20 percent of the sales proceeds. Local craft shops also may provide space outside on their sidewalks, and may not charge a rental fee since the show will bring them extra traffic and sales. Other business facilities or community centers may charge a simple rental fee of 100 to $200.

2. 

   City hall may require a festival license.

   Check with your local government offices to see if you must have festival or vendors license. Each individual vendor may have to apply for a license.

3. 

   Create a flyer.

   Create a professional flyer announcing the craft show at least two to three months before the date of the show. You can create a flyer on your computer and take it to a copy shop to get additional copies. Put the date, location and times of the show on the flyer. Also explain how to sign up for the show and the criteria Send the flyer to craft clubs and groups in your area. Include instructions and an application for those who wish to sign up. The application should have a space for the vendor to indicate what product he has. You want a good mix of different crafts.

4. 

   Put ads in the local classifieds.

   Distribute the flyer to craft shops that have a public bulletin board and place classified ads in local newspapers.

5. 

   Each crafter should pay a set-up fee.

   Charge a set-up fee to each person who wants to set up a table. The fee should be sufficient to cover your costs for renting the location. Determine the number of crafter spaces that you can set up at the location and divide the rental fee for the location by the number of spaces to get your set-up fee per table or space. Include this table or space fee in the crafter application.

6. 

   Tape measure for marking spaces

   Measure out and mark each crafter space. Common space sizes are 6 foot by 6 foot, or 10 foot by 10 foot, or you can use your own measurement. Assign a number for each booth space. Numbering the spaces avoids the confusion of having names on them as there may be several crafters with similar names.

7. 

   Assign spaces to vendors.

   Assign each vendor to a numbered space or spaces and leave them to set up their wares. You may want to assign the spaces strategically so that vendors selling similar items are not grouped near each other and buyers will see something new at each space.

8. 

   Speaking with a vendor

   Speak with each vendor when the show is finished to determine if their sales were successful and if they want to register for the next show. Advise each vendor to leave their space clean.

9. Collect local or state sales taxes from each crafter after the show if you are responsible for them. State and local regulations may require you to collect the taxes.

10. 

    Dispose of trash left by vendors.

    Check the entire grounds and make sure the area looks exactly like you found it. Pick up any trash from the show and dispose of it.

Tips & Warnings

• A few days after the show, send the property owner a thank you note and indicate how successful your show was.

References

• "Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design;" Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl; 2008