Protect Against Theft at CRAFT FAIRS | The Ultimate Beginners Guide

[@elianamckee]

One more reason to love Tuesdays!

[@howtocraftfair]

Taco Tuesday Tips & Tutorials 🌮📚🎓

[@elianamckee]

@@howtocraftfair 😂😂😂😂

[@kristinahuddle4946]

keeping smaller items near you is good for theft of course but putting those items with the checkout stand or check out helper can also encourage last minute add on "impulse" purchases too.

[@howtocraftfair]

Good thinking! 😃👍

[@elianamckee]

This is going to be good! I had someone who left without paying a couple of weeks ago, but I honestly think it was just because the kid was acting up. I am more worried about online scammers and trolling in social media.

[@howtocraftfair]

I feel like there’s some quality tips in this one - but yes, the social media struggles are rough right now.

[@HeyManifesto]

This is a super helpful video… I’ve had several thefts of smaller items that were out of my eye line

[@howtocraftfair]

Yeah shoplifting might not ever fully disappear from shows, but there’s definitely ways that vendors can make it a lot tougher, maybe limiting the number of occurrences.

[@sowinglight1960]

Suggestions about what to do if you do actually catch someone in the act? How could it be handled discreetly as to not make a scene? thank you your vids have been helpful to me- a newbie 😊

[@howtocraftfair]

It’s not easy, but stay calm. It’s natural to feel upset, but just remain professional. You could approach them and ask them if they need help with anything. That gives them a chance to reconsider and gives them an “out” - maybe they have the item and then pull it out and say “oh how much is this?” If that resolves it, great. If it doesn’t, I would be careful about pushing people too hard. You just never know and your safety is what’s most important. If it’s unresolved, report the incident to the event organizer asap. Immediately. Let them handle the situation with the individual if they didn’t leave the facility yet. They’ll also likely let your fellow vendors know to be on high alert for the person if they can’t be found. Hope this helps :) thanks for watching!

[@sowinglight1960]

​@@howtocraftfairThank you! The "may I help you" strategy sounds perfect 👌

[@elianamckee]

Notification on ✅ Press the like button ✅

[@howtocraftfair]

Thank you! 😃👍

[@donflowers8471]

I had not thought about this. Thanks for the information.

[@howtocraftfair]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@nah9954]

I feel like having enclosed display cases would do a lot to prevent theft. Also maybe press the venue owners to allow self-surveillance of the confines of your booth. Maybe even fake camera(s).

[@howtocraftfair]

There's definitely a lot of options for vendors to explore if theft is an issue at their booth. It's a balance between how far you want to safeguard your items with how restricting is it becoming for regular shoppers.

[@MrsSonyaKS]

Great tips! Thank you.

[@howtocraftfair]

You’re welcome! 😃

[@DaniAlexandria]

Get a director style camping chair it sits much higher so you can see over the tables and still be able to sit

[@kathleenbigsmoke-mitchell4898]

I like the fanny pack idea, instead of an open type apron.

[@howtocraftfair]

Yeah probably the most secure situation of them all! 😃

[@sowinglight1960]

Made myself a half-apron with a zippered pocket, and another, open pocket for my phone 🙂

[@elianamckee]

I noticed that since I added the lip balms to my booth, stealing started. I will put it close to me

[@howtocraftfair]

At least you made a good observation! Hopefully that awareness and adjustment pays off for you. Good job protecting those profits! 👍

[@TravelinMama73]

I was just thinking about that item myself. I was going to have a bowl of them at my table and now I'm second guessing that 🤔

[@dianemacfie-loucks6392]

I never thought of theft

[@howtocraftfair]

One of those unfortunate aspects of craft fairs that many vendors need to protect themselves from experiencing.

[@Barbwyre]

I had a helper and still some woman stole 3 towels. Seriously, I do not know where she put them. I was checking out her friend, had to turn around to make change and get a bag. When I went to give her her bag, I reached to the other woman who previously had 3 towels in her hand. I asked her didn't you have towels too? And she replied, no I put them back. I looked down and no she didn't, but she didn't have any bags so what was I supposed to do? But I will say, I did say to her "Really"? I did not feel I had the right to accuse her, but I knew she had them. Her friend's demeanor changed, she looked guilty and scared. I double checked when they left, and sure enough they were gone. I knew exactly which towels she had in her hand. The only thing I can think of is she stuffed them in her jacket in the back. I did let the coordinator know, we looked for them, but they disappeared. My request to you, and maybe you can do a short video on this is how do you handle a vendor neighbor that...well....just won't leave you alone. Chat and talk the entire time you are trying to set up and during the event. This is why I think this may have happened. My neighbor vendor was not having a busy day (but I sure was) and she just kept talking to my helper. Unfortunately, this was going on while the theft occurred. Personally, I will chat with other vendors/crafters, but when someone comes to either of the booths, you politely leave and let them conduct business. Oh I need to add, at the next event the same 2 girls came and were looking at towels. I told my helper (a different helper) to watch them very close, she knew what happened at the previous event. She stood right by the towels watching them with a close eye, which I approved, I lost money due to their actions at the previous events. They did not stick around long and didn't buy anything. I really wanted to tell them to leave my booth, but I did not want to cause a scene at the event. Once they left my booth, I did go to the coordinator of that event and let her know to keep an eye on them.

[@howtocraftfair]

Barb - thank you for your comment! I think you handled yourself very well on both occasions. During the first, you did the best you could to keep an eye on the situation and to check your inventory when they left. Also letting the organizer know was great. As far as how you handled the situation (both times), I don't think you could have done it any better. As far as chatty neighbors - I think it's best to kinda "set the tone" early in the morning before the doors open to the public and the place is full of shoppers. You can do it in a passive way if it makes you more comfortable - while you're chatting in the morning, getting set up, you could just say "by the way, forgive me if I cut a conversation short when shoppers are around" and even that one sentence should be enough to sort of drop the hint that your focus is on them. There's a few different ways to deliver that message to a fellow vendor, but like I mentioned, I think it's best to just set that message early that yes, if it's slow, sure we can chat a bit, but you only have 5-6 hours to make an impression on as many customers as possible and that's what has to take priority at the show.

[@elianamckee]

How common is theft at the booth?

[@howtocraftfair]

Difficult to say but I’m going to make a poll and see what people say. As an organizer, we probably had it happen at a minimum of 10 of our events (that we know of).

[@elianamckee]

@@howtocraftfair ten thefts per event? That’s a lot!

[@elianamckee]

@@howtocraftfair or ten times total?

[@howtocraftfair]

@@elianamckee 10 times total in our 10 years of hosting shows. It's very hard to say how many times it actually happens though. I'm sure there were times that it happened and a vendor never even realized it.

[@Cupcakesandcraftglue]

@@howtocraftfair I feel like this is a big reason why it’s important to have an inventory at the beginning and end of the day, and tracking sales by product. That way you can see exactly where you have any discrepancies.