What do I need for my first craft show checklist - Craft fair tips for beginners

If you are preparing for your first craft show or even your hundredth a checklist of what to bring is important. When we first started we needed a first time craft show check list, this check list is for all of you who want to test out your hobby at a craft fair to see if it is something you would like to do!
Amazon links to craft show items!
4 foot adjustable height table (important if you want to raise your work closer to eye level)
- amzn.to/2s0Lj7C
6 foot adjustable height table
- amzn.to/2OraV5e
6 foot table non-adjustable height
amzn.to/2CZNDOr
Affordable shopping bags (you can add your sticker or stamp to these for branding)
amzn.to/2OslZPp
Cash box
amzn.to/2O0h7ls
Square Reader - to accept credit cards
amzn.to/2qkvdp2
Square terminal (prints receipts)
amzn.to/334kmgb
Small clip on lights
amzn.to/2O3OOCU
Table cloths for 6 ft table
amzn.to/2XtIUOt
Tissue paper-
amzn.to/331z5Zk
Order form booklet
amzn.to/2r49y4h
Receipt book -
amzn.to/2pywVCB
Amy and Tanner Skrocki are full-time artists, parents, who work together selling their handmade items and photography.
Please visit our website at www.skrocki.ca/
Instagram---- / skrockidesign
Facebook---- / skrockidesign

[@frrapp2366]

my wife and i are into our 15th year doing craft shows and always learn more things! a couple of things you might need also are Weights - weights for your outdoor canopy (we use 5 gal buckets when on hard surfaces or cant stake) weights for your props or displays (especially outdoors in the wind) .also make sure you give yourself enough time to set up dont show up 5 min before the show starts and Dont Leave Early unless its an emergency we find we often make sales after the show (officially closes) and it is rude to other vendors and makes the show look bad (yes sometimes it is a bad show) it is funny it seems to us that the people in the biggest hurry to leave are the locals with only a few miles to home while we are up to 4 hours sometimes( i think the farthest we went was about 500 miles and we stayed with family friends) great tips for beginners ps pool noodles stucked into the frame help keep the corners of some canopies from building up water good luck from Oklahoma

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

I'm going to pin this to the top in case people don't see my video on doing outdoor markets! We always find that we make sales right up to the final minute of when the show closes or 2-3 mins after. I did notice that it's true the people from in town are always in the biggest hurry to get out of the show the quickest. We used to do shows fairly often 6 -14 hours away and we always took the time to help the final customer and pack our work carefully away and get back on time for Tanner's old day job that started at 8:30 am the next morning. We are so thankful he doesn't have to do that anymore 😅

[@wefamily4429]

I think people leaving early is becoming a big problem! The first market we ever did we were told if we left early we would be removed from all future invites, which I really liked. Why put in all that work to leave out on the sales you didn't get because you aren't there?? 🤷🤣

[@KatieDarden]

I use the large, empty liquid detergent cartons with tie-downs (or simply rope) through the metal at the top as my weights. I fill them with water, if available (or bring them full) and then I usually empty the water on plants (if available) afterwards. Also, very often the last customer or two are what make my sales soar - or put me up in my average area if it's been a slow show.

[@jas8815]

Another thing that you may not think about if it's your first time...pricing. Customers do not like to ask how much an item costs, so have easily visible pricing on everything, or a sign listing all the prices. Also, I've found that granola bars are the easiest snack to deal with, not messy and easy to put down without making a mess. Also, practice setting up at home and when you have everything the way you like it, take a picture that you can refer to when you're setting up. And have fun!

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

Great ideas! :)

[@helenguilford3136]

Very good. I still don’t have enough courage to do it. I just keep crocheting.

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

It can be helpful to try a small community based craft show and that way it's just like sharing your work with friends :)

[@betssteenkamp1773]

Thank you for being so brutally honest about anxiety levels ☺

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

I had anxiety for the first 20-30 shows tbh :) I overcame it by reminding myself of all the great things about doing a show like meeting new people and vendors, selling items, having my work seen etc. Eventually it just sort of went away. Tanner on the other hand worked retail since he was 16 so he never had too much anxiety at the booth. -Amy

[@zee7906]

Great advice! Thank you!

[@letty4558]

Great tips, thanks.

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

You're welcome!

[@venusazaboy]

Fantastic advice! My town is hosting a town-wide craft fair in a couple weeks and over 50 vendors will be setting up booths in their front yards. This will be my first try at a craft fair. I was really hoping to get the courage this year, last year, but that changed. I am not letting that stop me and this will be a great test of my courage. These tips REALLY made me feel more secure in making sure I have what I will need. I have searched for good info all over but haven't quite found the right info until now. THANK YOU for this!! I appreciate your time in making this for us :)

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

Hi! Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story with us! I am humbled that our video provided you with exactly the information you needed to try out your first show. We hope your show went well and you keep putting yourself out there for more shows. Thank you for checking out our channel!

[@deborahgwathmey3107]

Thank you so much. Great info ❤️

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

You are so welcome!

[@wefamily4429]

Wow! I just found this page, and both videos I've watched have been SO helpful. Looking forward to watching more in preparation for an upcoming very big show next month for our business! Thanks!

[@morgannwilliams967]

Helpful!

[@Dwinn10055]

Thanks 🙏🏽

[@mysticmama740]

really helpful! hadnt even thought about lighting. appreciate this experienced perspective!

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

I am glad to hear it was helpful! Thank you for letting us know :) Best of luck with your show!

[@VispronetUSA]

Great information!

[@AdeleCosgrove-Bray]

That was a genuinely useful, totally practical list. Thanks for sharing!

[@toniwade4204]

Very useful....and to the point! The best kind of video. Thank you!!

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

Thank you, Toni! I am glad you found the video helpful :). Good luck with your shows!

[@zaynkataw83]

right to the point. thank you

[@lindsaywhit]

Thank you so much!

[@kbee1572]

A very helpful video!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@zmzmzmr2]

Very helpful! I love all your videos

[@criminalgenealogyGwenKub]

Thank you so much for the tips

[@EDiva-oc6xj]

Really great list! Thanks you.!

[@SueC56]

Thanks. Very helpful

[@ashleyskrocki1157]

Always good to bring extra coffee 🙃

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

😃

[@nanloots2530]

Great video

[@bitofbeach9338]

So glad I tuned in. Hoping to do my first craft show in a few months time and thanks for the tips

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

Good luck! I hope you have a great time and there is lots of interest in your work!

[@GraceyStitches]

Merci beaucoup 👏

[@caitreed01]

In doimg my first cract show this weekend and im so nervous!! I feel like I'm going to get there and not know what im doing

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

The first show is always the most nerve wracking! If you have anxiety introduce yourself to the vendors around you, have a bit of a conversation before the show opens, then you will be warmed up for when customers come in :) The most important thing to do is just greet everyone who stops at your booth and tell them a bit about your work :) I wish you the best of luck and I hope you have a great show!

[@caitreed01]

@@AmyTannerSkrocki thank you so much!!

[@elenahowcroft7240]

What POS system is easy to use, reliable and affordable for a small vendor like me?

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

The Square system is the easiest and fastest to use. It's also customizable, but works great with the default settings :) Good luck with your first POS system!

[@cademeier8457]

watched the first 4 minutes before i realized this wasn’t for bands lol

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

Hahaha!

[@tommi.bowers]

I've heard that sellers need to collect sales tax off of their products? Is this true? I live in California if that makes a difference!

[@bizygirl1]

Yes it is… Through the CDTFA, you can create a Sales and Use Permit online. If you don’t have one of these permits you can be removed from a show/event. I keep all of my permits throughout the year and write my gross sales from each event on the permit that created online for that show. It helps me at the end of the year when I file and pay my Sales Taxes.

[@AengusPaintingsandMusic]

Very useful - thank you!

[@AmyTannerSkrocki]

Glad it was helpful!