| equirements for your booth will be spelled out in your | | | | have an area for doing business—taking money, |
| contract for each show. This includes set up and | | | | wrapping and writing receipts—as well as a |
| break down times and policies to which you must | | | | space for storage. If that sounds like a tall order, it is! |
| adhere. In order to avoid having to have different | | | | That's why it may take a while to get it right. Observe |
| displays for different shows, it makes sense to create | | | | other booths and record what you like and don't like. |
| a moveable display that will work well in the majority | | | | Then take the best of the best and incorporate those |
| of situations—both for indoor and outdoor events. | | | | ideas into your booth. |
| Even if the promoter supplies a backdrop, a rug or | | | | The entrance to the booth is critical. It's the make or |
| tables, you can bring your whole set-up and use it | | | | break point for drawing a potential customer in. |
| instead. Your display is your portable store, and since it | | | | Experiment until you find the best mix of color, signage, |
| reflects you and your product, you want it to be | | | | banners, spacing and product display that works best |
| outstanding! A display that creates the best | | | | to get people in "the door." Booth openings should be |
| presentation for your crafts can make a huge | | | | wide enough to allow several people in, and you should |
| difference in how well you sell your crafts. | | | | never stand out front or in the entry obstructing the |
| Because you and your booth will be constant traveling | | | | flow. Have your bestsellers, lowest priced or most |
| companions, make sure it's light yet sturdy, easily | | | | striking products closest to the entrance so you can |
| collapsible and just as easy to erect. You need to be | | | | optimize the five seconds you have to capture the |
| prepared for wind, rain and bratty children running | | | | potential buyer's attention! |
| around knocking into display poles! Your booth may | | | | Your booth sets a mood that is immediately picked up |
| continuously evolve, and it may take years to find the | | | | by shoppers passing by. Make sure it sets the right |
| best set up, only to find colors and trends changing, or | | | | mood to interest people in stopping to take a look at |
| your products developing and the whole look of your | | | | your amazing crafts. Have the products in as natural |
| booth needing a facelift. As a creative person, have | | | | setting as possible, that is, if you have home |
| fun with your booth and allow your skills as a | | | | décor items, create a homey environment. If |
| craftsperson to spill over into booth creation and | | | | you create baskets, fill them with what people would |
| display. If you need help with the construction, ask male | | | | naturally fill them with—and vary this throughout |
| friends or family members for assistance—and | | | | the year based on seasons and holidays. If you |
| ask female friends for help with display ideas. (Or vice | | | | produce jewelry items, have earrings and necklaces |
| versa as the case may be.) | | | | on mannequins to see how they would look, and have |
| A professional display marks you as a professional | | | | plenty of mirrors for customers to try things on. |
| and enhances your products to promote optimum | | | | Display objects at eye level or slightly higher, but not on |
| sales. Basically you want the space to be comfortable | | | | the ground. Have multiple levels of display for greater |
| for you and customers. You want it to be inviting, | | | | visual appeal. Hanging products should not obstruct |
| making customers feel welcome enough to cross | | | | views or be a hazard to a customer walking through |
| over the threshold that separates the lookers from the | | | | your space. Place your crafts so they are easily |
| buyers. It should be comfortable for you too, as you | | | | accessible and so customers will feel comfortable |
| will be in it for days on end. It also needs to be | | | | picking them up—and not afraid they will break |
| attractive, yet well organized for a 10 X 10 space (or | | | | something or mess up a "perfect" display. Statistics |
| slightly larger in some cases). Use of colorful signs, | | | | reveal people are four times more likely to make a |
| banners and accessories attract people and enhance | | | | purchase when they have touched the item. |
| your craft items, hopefully encouraging visitors to pick | | | | Booth design, product display and merchandising must |
| them up. | | | | all be carefully planned out as part of your overall |
| Use colors that follow a theme or complement the | | | | sales strategy. Once you commit to taking your craft |
| predominant colors or style of your products. Red, | | | | from pastime to profits, you become a professional |
| white and blue would be a good theme for country | | | | businessperson and creating a quality booth and |
| items, while black and silver would be a more | | | | stunning display will be worth the effort in increased |
| contemporary look. Each craft style will dictate the | | | | profits. |
| best overall look for your display. You also need to | | | | |