Tips for First Time Vendors

Are you thinking about signing up to sell your arts and crafts at an event? Did you just sign up and are not sure what to do next? I am sure everyone will have advice based of their own experiences, but here is what I can share with you.

Here are tips if it is your first time at any arts and crafts event:

Since it is your first show, you may want to practice set up a table to increase your confidence and ease your mind. The tables sometimes are 6 feet or 8 feet, sometimes they run skinny, so you’ll need to find a longer or table clothe or scrap clothe to cover it all up. You can also bring your own table instead of using a venue table, if the event allows it. Sometimes venue tables are well worn in with a roughed up surface or wobbly. If you do buy your own table, make sure it can fold in half to fit into your car, unless you have a truck/van.
I also recommend having either business cards, and/or a sign with your business name, phone number, email, Etsy shop link, and social media links that you know you’ll actively maintain. If you run out of business cards, keep the last one and ask people to take a photograph of it, or have your sign ready for people to photograph.
You may want to have a newsletter sign-up sheet, if people want emails about your business updates (not everyone uses social media). You may not have a newsletter plan yet, but collect the emails now, so you have the option. If you are just starting, you don’t need a fancy third party newsletter service, you can just send BCC emails from your own email when the list is short. If you have a WordPress website, you can also use the free Newsletters plug-in to send fancy emails from your website (with or without HTML knowledge).
Make sure to practice using your chip reader for credit cards, and get familiar with the app’s user interface. Make sure you know how to turn on blue tooth or your location/GPS on the phone, if your app requires it. Don’t rely on WiFi, plan on using mobile data. Some chip readers require charging too, unless they plug into your phone. If you are super worried, you can bring a phone charger and/or chip charger with you, but not all events have a power supply.
If possible, try to have some petty cash, like some $1 bills, and maybe a few $5s, maybe some $10s (depending on your pricing and how much cash you have in your bank), and coins. I do realize having cash on hand can be expensive. Keep an eye on your cash box/bag. Don’t write “cash bag” on it; keep it secret, if possible. Not everyone takes cash, but that is your call as the vendor. Cash is useful for older people, and teens, they tend to be cash-people; it can also vary by event crowd/city. You can increase or decrease your petty cash supply as you get into your groove and risk levels. You could conceivably change your prices up or down a few pennies so the final taxed price is an even dollar amount, (or 50 cent amount), so you can close a sale faster. Count your cash before and after the event. I recommend rounding up, because rounding down is less money in your wallet; you aren’t a charity.
If you do choose to do outdoor events at some point, think of a way to lock down your paper. My prints used to fly around with a gust of wind (kind of a reason why I made an indoor event). Also, be careful for rain and have a plan for what to do if it does start to rain. Will you cover up with tarps? put up side walls to your tent? Rush everything into the car?
When you do check out other events, make sure they look legit. And even when the event is legit, make sure the point of contact is legit. There are quite a few of scammers on Facebook groups from Kenya that try to direct PayPal gift payments to their pockets. If the event does not list the time, place, cost, or other basic data consistently and clearly, it may be a scam, or poorly run. I once snooped a scammer who said the were hosting MY OWN event, and they sent a PayPal invoice to me, with the address as Kenya. (Read more about that here.)
Depending on the duration of the event, bring small snacks or have a friend bring you food. If the friend can help mind the booth while you eat, even better. Just caution, as sometimes guests won’t want to bother you in the middle of a meal, so eat quick, but do keep your body taken care of so you don’t pass out!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I go to my events alone many times, and some of my stuff is heavy, like the tables and canopy. Yes, I CAN lift these things alone if I have to, but if someone offers help, I take it. Typically, once I ask for help in my head, a kind stranger comes and offers it. You can ask for help too, and don’t be mad if they say no; you don’t know their reasons and it probably is not personal. I have never seen anyone not help a fellow vendor out myself; the crowd is pretty nice.
I am not sure if it is true, but I have heard when you stand you make more sales. It may vary by event and crowd. It may also vary by your booth set up, and where the chair is. I used to religiously stand at events, but now I am not afraid to sit if my feet really need it… my health is important too!
Be open to changing your set up on the fly. Things happen that you can’t plan for, like the glaring sunset, rain, being propped near a wall, or whatever. Be nimble and flexible to move around your set up so people can best see your wares and access it.
Make sure your booth setup is safe. Don’t have loose cords, or things people may knock into or hit their head with. Your guest don’t want to get hurt and you don’t want your stuff messed up.
Get a good night’s sleep and wake up with the intention of having fun. You did everything you could to prepare, so your mind should be at ease. You are selling your arts and crafts, because it beings you joy, so the day should be awesome.