You’ve mastered your craft and made enough items that you want to sell. Now what? Joining a craft fair for the first time can be intimidating–and, to be honest, I had to ask myself a hundred times if I was ready before I actually signed up for one. But there’s nothing more satisfying for a crafter than to have her items purchased and appreciated by others. The key here is to be prepared. Here are some things that may help you if you’re a fair rookie:
- Choose which event will best suit your craft. Some events purely showcase art works, some sell handmade wearables like accessories and clothes, while some may even have food booths in them. Study which fair will showcase your items the most and will be attended by your target market.
- Gather your materials. Your products are a given, but what else do you need? Make a list of equipment that you need for the event. I always make sure to create two lists: 1) Things to bring and, 2) Things to buy. Don’t forget to make a note of the little things you need like thumb tacks, frame holders, table cloth, non-skid mats and bubble wrap for fragile items, pen, paper, receipt booklet, scissors, etc. Most of all, never forget the bags to put your sold products in. It is also a good practice to take note of the booth inclusions offered by the organizer to avoid bringing unnecessary and bulky items. For instance, some will provide tables, while some will not — which leads us to the next item.
- Read the event guidelines. This should include the size of your booth, inclusions, and ingress and egress details. Your booth size will determine how your display will look. From that, everything else will follow. Some examples of booth inclusions are electricity, tables and chairs, racks, etc. The ingress and egress details will help you plan your schedule including the time you need to leave your house to set up your booth.
- Think of a fun gimmick to sell your items. Remember, you are just one of the many booths showcasing their products. You need to stand out–or at least be inviting enough for potential buyers. Aside from the aesthetics of your booth, think of quirky things you can offer like free gift wrapping for a minimum purchase, small freebies, discounts when they follow your social media page, etc. The list is endless. You just have to get creative.
For the specific event in the photo above, I added Christmas design elements since it was held in December. Candies were also for free!
- Do a mock set-up on the day before your event. Set everything up, table, table cover, the works. This will ensure that you do not forget a small detail. It will also help you pack things efficiently, i.e., the first items you need to unpack on the event day have to be the most accessible.
- Finally, have fun and relax! This is your first craft fair and it will always be a memorable moment. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet other makers, as well as create a bigger market for your products.
Good luck! 🙂
The following day, March 20th, I held a small papercutting workshop at Spectrum Lifestyle Store in Alabang. Spectrum was also where I had been a consignee since late last year. Unfortunately, the store ended its run in October. It was a good experience for me, though. It’s healthy to explore and take risks from time to time. 
Papel de Pinay 