4 Things every seller needs before attending a craft fair

If you work in the art and crafts industry, it is fairly likely that you will have advertise and sell your products at local craft fairs. The fairs themselves have become big business, with seasonal markets in large cities offering spaces at their fairs for well into 4 figures. It’s thus important you go into the event well-prepared, so that you can maximise your success. Here are a few things to consider prior to attending.

A Unique Display

The most profitable craft fairs are often crowded and home to multiple unique and eye-catching stalls. Bright colour, or distinctive minimalist designs, can be useful ways of making your own stall more noticeable. It’s also often a good idea to have as much of your products visible and on display as possible. Consider using large images of your products to augment this. It’s also important you keep the stall clean so as to not disrupt the rest of your display.More concretely, you should also consider the dimensions and weight of your display prior to deciding on the design. Obviously, you will have to transport it to the craft fair, so it is important your measurements take this into account. The craft fair will also in all likelihood have its own size restrictions on stalls.

Insurance

Like with any other business transactions, it is important that you as a trader are insured against any future lawsuits buyers may take out against you for any reason. Employers’ liability insurance will cover you in most instances including craft fairs. Alternatively, you can purchase one-time purpose-built craft insurance cover for one-off fairs, or for all fairs attended by you and your business. Not only is this good common sense from a financial perspective, but almost all craft fairs now require proof the stallholder has an insurance policy in place prior to permitting them to sell there. Take a look at the options for craft stall insurance by Craftcover, to get an idea of what the average quotation price is for craft stall cover. 

Payment Options

There is nothing more frustrating than having to refuse payment on a purchase because you can’t process their desired payment method. You should thus ensure you are prepared for this in advance. Make sure you bring a pool of cash so you can process change for paper transactions. It is also worth investing in a card reader so that you can accept electronic payments, as well. You can also advertise your acceptance of other methods such as cheques, but if you just cover both electronic and paper transactions, you should be fine.

Varied Pricing

Craft fairs are attended by a wide array of customers and price ranges, so it is important you also prepare for this. Having a diverse range of prices is thus a good way of attracting different people to your stall, and catering to different demographics. Big ticket items can also lure people to your stall who may then leave with a more modestly priced item.