Download your free Craft show checklist and have a read of my best tips for being prepared for your craft event.

A Craft show checklist is a great place to start if you haven’t undertaken an event with your handmade items before.  As you attend more fairs and shows you will be able to adapt this list to include more specific items to your business.  It can be difficult to try and foresee all that you will need for a craft event however I have compiled a checklist for you to try and help you be prepared for your first event.

Many crafters turn to craft fairs in order to sell their items to a wider audience.  Craft shows can be a great opportunity to raise awareness of your crafts and what you can do.  Many people use craft fairs as an advertising opportunity and if they sell of their items they see that as an added bonus.  If you need some help in finding craft fair events please have a read of my blog post https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/find-craft-fairs/

So here is the Craft show checklist of everything that your should need for your event:

Stock

Obviously the most important item on your list should be stock.  Take plenty of stock with you however this doesn’t all necessarily need to be put on the table.  It is often good to have extras of items that you can store under the table or behind the stall.  This can then be put out to replace sold items or is available if a customer would like more than one of an item. 

I would strongly recommend a wheeled trolley or crate to help you transport your items to and from your stall location.  At times the parking area can be quite a walk from where you are setting up.  Carrying stock to and from your table can be very tiring before you have even started.

Float & Card Machine

Next up is having the ability to take payment from customers.  Have a reasonable mix of change to be able to provide change for customers.  It may also be beneficial to invest in a card payment reader for you to be able to take card payments at your booth.  I personally use iZettle and have for a number of years now please see their site for more information https://www.izettle.com/gb

Bags & Wrapping

Next up is bags and wrapping if needed for the items that your customers have purchased from you.  It is a good idea to have these branded if at all possible.  Add a sticker to the bag, or stamp it with your business name.  Alternatively you could place a business card in the bag along with the purchase of the customer.  This will remind them of who they purchased from and will enable them to contact you if they wish to make purchases in the future.

Business Cards

I have already mentioned putting the business cards in the bag however it is always a good idea to have a stack of cards to give out.  Many people will see your products however may not purchase at that time.  Customers like to be able to take a business card and contact you at a later date to make a purchase.  It helps to have a small pile on the table somewhere where customers can help themselves to a card.

Custom Order Forms

Very important particularly if you do personalised items!  By having a pre-made order form you will be able to jot down all the necessary order details.  This will put all this information in one place for you to refer to later.  It also makes you look more professional to the customer.

Lunch, snacks & drinks

Events can be long and you can often find yourself chained to your stall.  It is important to take care of yourself with food and drink to keep you going.  At the same time if your table is located any where near the food court your are less likely to spend all your profits on the burger van!

Table coverings and displays

You need to try and make your items look appealing rather than just all sat on a table.  Have a think before hand how you would like your stall to look.  It is always suggested to take a table cloth or covering of some type for a base on which to build your stall.  I would often do a mock up at home and take a picture to enable me to set up quicker. 

You may need models or hangers to display your items.  Baskets can often make a stall look a bit tidier while still showing off your items.  Height is often suggested by many people for adding interest so have a think about how you could display your items in a way to add height to your stall.  If you are looking for some inspiration of how to dress your stall have a look at my blog post on window dressing for ideas of attracting the customer’s eye https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/window-dressing-how-to/

Stationery

I would take a whole selection of stationery from pens to tape and everything in between.  You will find that there will be instances where you might need a pair of scissors or some tape to get your display looking just right.  In addition safety pins are always a useful extra to take along for unforeseen problems.  I often take a tape measure with me as well just incase customers ask about the size of things, it can be easy to just use a tape measure to demonstrate sizes to them.

First Aid Kit & Tissues

Just in case, you should be prepared!  A pack of tissues, wet wipes and pain killers can be the cure to most things.  A box of plasters would also come in handy.  You can guarantee that if you forgot to take these items with you that you would end up needing them.  With any luck if you have them with you they may not be needed.

Phone & charger 

Take your phone, it can come in handy for a variety of reasons.  If a customer wants to see what an item would look like personalised it is easy for you to pull up pictures or your business social media to show them an example.  It is always a good idea to publicise on your social media accounts where you are and what is available for the event.  This will raise awareness of your crafts.

Layers of clothing & Comfy shoes

Events can be exhausting and you will no doubt spend most of the day standing.  If you are uncomfortable the day will feel endless and you will not be your most approachable for customers.  Try to dress for every eventuality, layers will remedy if the weather goes too hot or cold.  Sensible and comfortable footwear will help you to cope with being on your feet all day.

Work to do

Customers love to see what you do.  Take some work with you that you can be doing while sat on the stall.  You will be productive while there and customers will feel like you are more approachable.  Many customers will interact and ask questions if they can see what process is involved in creating your products.

Enjoy your free Craft show checklist!

There will always be something that you wish you had taken no matter how many events you have done.  Take a note and you will remember next time.  Attending fairs is a learning process that you will improve as you gain more experience.  Let me know if there is anything else that is a must on your checklist that should be added.  Let me know if you have found the Craft show checklist helpful. If you are going to be attending a fair you may need some craft insurance in place to attend. Have a look at our post to help you get insurance cover https://www.claireyatfairycrafters.com/business-craft-insurance

Click here to download your free PDF Craft show checklist