Taking the essentials to #art and craft shows is well… essential (excuse the pun).  Take these 10 things to art and craft shows and your experience will be much more pleasant.

1.  Enough merchandise-Take more merchandise than you plan on selling.  A booth that is not well stocked looks picked over.  Customers imagine that all the good stuff has already sold and won’t even stop to look.

2.  Tables and Chairs-Bring your own tables and chairs unless you’ve made arrangements with the show promoter to rent them (expect to pay for this service).  Choose sturdy displays, tables, and shelving you don’t want them to fall injuring customers or damaging your merchandise.

Cover tables with a table cloth or even  a sheet.  Make sure coverings fit tables properly and extend all the way to the floor.

3.  Professional Displays-I have seen displays ranging from totally uncovered falling down tables to artfully and carefully thought out booths.  Your booth should help your customer see themselves buying and using your items.  Help their imaginations by creating a theme that goes with your product.  Pack any tools you need to set up your display in a rubbermaid tote and keep them there at all times.

4.  Change-A secure coin box can be all it takes to discourage thieves at shows.  Have a jewelry artist make you a necklace/keychain that you can wear at all times.  Keep the key to your lock box and car on the necklace around your neck at all times.

Having enough change for your customers is really important.  Take at least $100 (maybe 2 or 3) in small bills and coins.  The exact amount needs to be determined by your prices and if you’ve included sales tax.  If you round your prices up to the next even number you will need less pennies or nickles.  If your prices are closer to $20 expect people to want to pay with bigger bills so include in your change box more 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills.  If you price your items at $19 instead of $20 so that customers perceive the item as being under $20 then you will probably need to take more $1 bills.

5.  Canopies/Awnings-For outdoor shows take a canopy or awning to protect yourself and your crafts from the weather.  All canopies will fly with enough wind, check the manufacturers recommendations for weight types and sizes.

Discuss with show promoters their philosophy on when to close up shop and take down canopies so that you know when it will be okay to close up early.  Use you common sense when it becomes dangerous to yourself or others it’s time to take down the canopy.

6.  Helpers-Take someone with you to shows who knows your product.  They can watch your merchandise while you unpack the car, watch your booth while you go potty or eat, run to get more change, etc.  If you can’t find someone to go with you offer to do these things for your neighbors and ask them if they will do it for you.  Offer them a small piece of merchandise as a thank you.

7.  Food and Water-Food at shows is often greasy, messy or expensive.  Take your own if this will upset your tummy or your pocket book.  You can still treat yourself if there is something you want in your price range.

8.  Emergency Phone Numbers and Cell Phone-Take a list of the places you might need to call in case you will be late, your car breaks down, or you have an emergency.

9.  Your Identification, credit cards, and wallet-These things might be necessary to check into and pay for hotels, gas, car repairs, extra tools or supplies, and food and water.

10.  Luggage and Medication-Take an extra pair of clothes even for local shows you never know when you might spill on yourself.  Take the clothing you need for each day plus a few extras.  Don’t forget your medications.

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The weather can really affect how your outdoor show goes. Wind, rain, and sun are all considerations.

Items that will help are a plastic cover and tarps to put on sides of canopy in case of rain. I don’t recommend counting on driving tent stakes into the ground at most shows so weights for all four corners are necessary. Considering the overall weight is important as you must be able to lift them.

Some examples of weights are: small buckets with a piece of PVC pipe in them then filled with concrete, a piece of PVC pipe filled with concrete, even a plastic milk jug filled with concrete, sand or water might work. With all weights safety must be considered so be sure weights are firmly attached to canopy not swinging in the wind and paint them a bright orange so they can be seen.  Make sure any container you use is sturdy enough to hold the weight you are placing inside before using.

How to make bucket canopy weights:

Put length of PVC pipe over bottom of canopy pipe. Drill holes in the PVC pipe and the canopy pipe at the same time (so holes will align). Mark canopy pole and PVC pipe with colored paint or electrical tape so each of the four corners is a different color. Repeat for each corner. Put PVC pipe (hole up) in small plastic bucket and fill the bucket with concrete being careful to keep the concrete outside the PVC pipe and below the holes. Let dry. Place these on the ground slide in canopy poles and line up holes, slide screws through and place a nut firmly on the end.

How to make PVC canopy weights:

A short length of PVC pipe filled with concrete can be made by drilling a hole through a pvc cap and threading through an eye loop.  Then glue the pvc caps on one end of the pipe.

Carefully fill the pipe with concrete, be sure the eye loop is secured into concrete. Let dry  then glue on pvc cap on other end.  String a sturdy rope through the holes and tie a secure knot. Hang these on the corners of your canopy.

You can also:

Fill an empty milk jug or brightly colored laundry detergent bottle with sand.  Thread a rope through the handle and tie knot tightly. Hang on the corners of your canopy.

Gallon jugs of water can be used as weights. Take empty jugs and fill with water at the event for ease of packing and carrying. The handle of the jug makes a natural place to tie to the canopy.
-Family Comforts

Do you have ideas for canopy weights or pictures of how to make them? We would like to see them.

Thanks,

Shasta McLaughlin

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