5 Tips to help you stand out at Arts & Crafts Shows
5 TIps to Help You Stand Out at Arts & Craft Shows
Woodworkers, artists, and crafters often monetize their pursuits by displaying and selling their wares at arts and craft shows. As Arts Business Institute points out, this is a great way to get your name and work in front of a crowd and begin to cultivate a following. However, this entails a bit of advanced prep work – and here, KC Exotic Woodworks explains how to get it done right.
Get Established
Becoming a vendor at arts and crafts shows essentially means you’re the owner and operator of a small business venture. As such, you'll need some professional provisions, which, according to SCORE, includes a business plan. Also, open a business bank account and establish a DBA name (if you want to operate under a name that’s more creative than your business’s legal name), a process that ZenBusiness can help you navigate. Also consider setting up an LLC for your business. An LLC is a popular entity because it comes with pass-through taxation and personal asset protection, among other benefits. Plus, if you're looking to save money and time, then hiring an online LLC formation service can be pretty helpful.
Make a Starter Kit
A starter kit for an art show should include a simple white tent, display cases, branded materials with your company name, and display or design elements that are specific to your work. For example, if you’re a woodworker, make sure your wares are polished and well-lit so that the texture of woodgrain really shows. If you’re a quilter, you might develop lightweight yet sturdy quilt racks for displaying your work. If you’re a knitter, you may use mannequins for draping sweaters, tams, and scarves. According to Craft Professional, you want to ensure your display materials are easy to assemble, disassemble, and transport, particularly if you’re a one- or two-person show.
Create a Showcase Portfolio
Some high-end art shows are juried, meaning there is an application requirement, and often a competitive selection process. Potential vendors are typically asked to provide photos of their work and their display in advance of being considered for various shows. As such, you'll want to buy or create a setup that allows you to showcase yourself in a professional and compelling manner. High-quality, well-lit and detailed photos will be essential, and the more professional and unique your display, the better.
Determine Pricing and Payment Options
You may opt to price your wares in accordance with the level of show you're participating in, but to successfully monetize your arts and crafts, it's important to ensure you're not selling yourself short, and instead, are pricing yourself competitively. You'll want to have several ways for your customers to pay, which could include cash and electronic options like Venmo, PayPal or Zell, or a credit card processing system you can use on your phone or other electronic device. Use caution with taking personal checks, and if you do accept them, ask for ID.
Plan for Show Days
It's always wise to have at least one other set of hands on site for show days, both to set up and tear down, answer questions, provide customer service, and allow for efficient checkout. Long show days can also be tiring, so it's good to have somebody who can spell you while you take a walk or get something to eat and drink. Anyone who helps you on show days should be familiar with your products and your payment systems, and be a good overall representative of your work.
Getting into the arts and craft vending circuit is a great way to earn an income, meet interesting people, and do what you love for a living. Putting together essential supplies in a “go kit” will help keep you organized, provide a professional presentation, and make for a smoother process come show time.
Here at KC Exotic Woodworks, we pride ourselves in having the best people in the craft come and put their skills to the test in making your remodel beautiful, one-of-a-kind, special like you and no one else kind style come to life. Call (816) 508-0133.