Optimize your Craft Show Space...

Optimize your craft show space..Setup is important at craft shows. You want to bring traffic to your spot.. you want potential customers to stop, look and enter your area... You need to get them off the beaten path they are shuffling along on at a craft show... so optimize your craft show space!

The following is an article I wrote, that was recently published on the article directories.. I thought you might find it interesting!... after all you do not get much space at craft shows, and you need to use every square inch!

Optimize your Craft Show Space!

If you plan on selling your arts and crafts in craft shows, then you will soon learn that you have to optimize your craft show space..

Most craft shows, will rent you a 10 x 10 or 8 x 10 foot spot, one table, and one chair.. they want everyone to look the same!.. If you can, try and rent 3 tables instead of one, and place one table at the back of your spot and 2 tables down the sides.. if they insist on renting you only one table, then maybe think of supplying your own extra 2, its worth it!

The idea is, you want to bring traffic into your spot. At craft shows, especially when they first open, you get lots of people shuffling along this skinny path, (as the show organizers try to fit many vendors in!) and they perhaps glimpse around, but keep moving as they try and take in all the vendors.. it can become a blur of the ONE table and vendors sitting behind it!.. Its hard for a customer to just stop, when they are shuffling on this path, and its your job to try and get them to stop!

By putting a table at the back of your spot and 2 up the side, you create a "store effect".. and this will entice people off of the track they are shuffling along on, and give them chance to look at your products. You can stand to one side, so they don't feel crowded, but you are still available if there are any questions... stay out of the open area you have created and by standing to one side, they will not feel closed in.

Put your best pieces near the path to catch the eye of the potential customer and invite them to come on in.. You now have 3 tables of products for them to look at, and make sure you have all your business cards, brochures, ballots, custom orders forms etc, neatly piled at one end, and offer them a card as they leave..

If you just put your table by the path, with most of your products behind you, or piled high on this one table, the customer will not feel that they can really have a good look, and may not feel comfortable picking up your products with you sitting staring at them from behind the table.. I know you will get tired, but I have always found it best to stand at shows when you can.... and to one side.. and let the customer get off that beaten path!...

optimize your craft show space...