You love making soap, (lotion, creams, lip balms, scrubs etc).  You have more than your family and friends could ever use in their cumulative life times.  You can’t even think of more places to store it and you are starting to run out of money to keep this hobby afloat.  Maybe you are ready to do some craft fairs.  Does this sound familiar?

I started doing craft fairs a few years ago because I was tired of lugging around soap in boxes for people and I had to stop giving it away.  Well, I’m still lugging soap around and I still give away lots of soap but I have developed a little business mostly through craft fairs that provides me with some extra money and an outlet for  the items I enjoy making.

I started small and relatively local.  The first shows that I did were at the schools my kids went to.  They were relatively cheap, close and felt safe.  I still do some of them. In this article I’m going to talk about how to select a show, some display ideas, what to bring to a show and some thoughts to keep in mind while doing shows to maintain your sanity.

How to find a show?  Before you start doing shows , go to some local shows  and check them out.  Ask to be put on their mailing list.  Pick up the handouts that many people have listing up coming shows.  You can use these schedules to find out about future shows.  My local newspaper has a community calendar that lists shows seeking crafters.  I read it each week to find out about new shows coming up.  Call local schools, parks, and the local Chamber of Commerce.  Ask a crafter at a fair if she will share some of her good shows.  Don’t ask someone doing soaps!!!

 

There are many things to consider when selecting a show or a series of shows.  Is the show Juried or not?  Is it only crafters or also vendors?  How long has it been around?  Outdoor, indoor?  Need a table or  are tables supplied?  How much is the fee?  Will you need to take your stuff up steps?  How about parking?

From my experience, the best shows that I do are Juried craft fairs that discourage "buy and sell" vendors.  A juried show will usually require you to submit pictures of your products to  qualify.  They may also ask for a picture of your display.  Start getting these pictures ready.  I take a few pictures of sliced unwrapped soap or logs to demonstrate that I actually make the soap.  I also line up an assortment of my products on a nice background and take a few shots.  When you do your first fair take pictures of your set up.  Set up a table at home and take a picture of that to send in.

So now you have a few shows lined up - how are you going to set up your table or booth?  First find out how large your spot is.  Find out about the tables.  I taped this size out on my living room floor and played around with setting up my items.  For my first few shows I rented the table.  It just was easier for me. If you bring your own tables make sure that you don’t over crowd your spot.  I like to set my tables up in an L and stand in the space where they meet.  Make sure that you leave enough space for people to move around.  Women don’t shop where their butts are getting bumped.

 

I like to set my tables up with different levels.  I don’t have any expensive display stuff.  My first displays were shoe boxes turned upside down and covered with fabric.  Now I use lots of the wooden Clementine boxes either wrapper in fabric or covered.  I use baskets, wire racks from the kitchen department and spice shelves.  When you are scouting out shows look at other people’s displays. 

I select a color and keep all my table coverings that color.  Right now I’m using either black covered with cream colored lace or for outside shows blue covered with lace.  I display all my soaps in baskets on three levels made by my boxes covered with cloth.  Each basket has the name of the soap clipped on.  I group non scented soaps away from scented soaps and tend to put ones that appeal to men together.

I group all my lotions, creams, scrubs etc. on wire shelves that I got in the kitchen dept at  a local discount store.  If I have space I have a separate sample card table with testers.  If there is no space for that then I keep testers  of all lotions and creams on trays away from the ones I’m selling.  I put soap in the bathroom with a card taped to the mirror with my name and booth location.  Make sure that there is a little spot for people to put stuff down to try lotion or to go into their pocketbooks!

What should you bring to a show?  If you can arrange it have someone help you even if only for setting up and packing up. When I do a local show alone I usually ask a friend to give me a bathroom break.  If you are alone make friends with your neighbors FAST.  My mother does my shows with me.  She is better then my husband or daughter because she does not want me to buy her stuff all day and she has the patience to sit around without giving me her opinion all day.

So now you’ve got your space set up, you have some help, what else do you need for a day show?

Unless you know the show or like hot dogs and chicken fingers bring lunch and water to drink.  You will get thirsty talking up your products.  Bring change (bills and coins), pens, order forms, brochures, business cards, calculator, extra labels, clean bags to put everyone’s purchases in , an empty pad to write down what you need to do differently next time, markers and clips to make last minute labels, a hole punch, a spray bottle with alcohol to give something a quick clean, PAPER TOWELS, a plastic pouch with your sales tax papers, show confirmation, directions etc. and masking tape or  scotch tape.  Outdoor shows take more stuff then I have the energy to list.  I just keep all this stuff in a large plastic shoe box.  I NEVER take it out or I wind up at a show without those things I need.  Scissors, ribbon and tissue paper are also helpful when someone wants to use something as a quick gift.

How much stock to take is really a judgment call.  I tend to take everything that I can cram in my car.  I usually can’t sell what I have at home so I tend to over bring especially products which have a seasonal theme.  I don’t know why but for me soap seems to sell better from a full basket then just a few lonely looking pieces.

The most important thing to bring to a show is a good attitude.  You can learn something from every show.  If the show does not work for you try to notice exactly why and avoid that type of show in the future.  Don’t give the people running the show a hard time.  They tried and their aim was not for you to have slow sales.  I go to a few shows where I make more money from the other crafters and the people running  the show then I do from customers.

If there is someone else doing soap etc. at a show I go and introduce myself.  I invite them the come and check out my stuff.  I usually offer to swap a product. Some of the other nuts on this list and I have shared shows and it has been fine.

When I’m at a show I never sit, read or knit or quilt.  I offer samples, offer help and TRY not to ever get offended.  You will meet more people who "are allergic" to everything or "can make that themselves" then I ever thought existed.  Some people have prune faces and make faces and are obnoxious .  Just be glad that you are not related to them and that they go home to drive someone else crazy!

Well, to sum it up I have not gotten rich at my shows but I do enjoy them, make some money and they keep me from drowning in soap and lotion. So keep and eye on your money all the time, smile and enjoy your self.  Learning to do a good craft fair is a process just like learning how to make a perfect bar of OMH soap.  No one is ever perfect at first!