My Craft Central

The requirements for your booth will be spelled out in your contract for each show. This includes set up and break down times and policies to which you must adhere. In order to avoid having to have different displays for different shows, it makes sense to create a moveable display that will work well in the majority of situations—both for indoor and outdoor events. Even if the promoter supplies a backdrop, a rug or tables, you can bring your whole set-up and use it instead. Your display is your portable store, and since it reflects you and your product, you want it to be outstanding! A display that creates the best presentation for your crafts can make a huge difference in how well you sell your crafts.

Because you and your booth will be constant traveling companions, make sure it’s light yet sturdy, easily collapsible and just as easy to erect. You need to be prepared for wind, rain and bratty children running around knocking into display poles! Your booth may continuously evolve, and it may take years to find the best set up, only to find colors and trends changing, or your products developing and the whole look of your booth needing a facelift. As a creative person, have fun with your booth and allow your skills as a craftsperson to spill over into booth creation and display. If you need help with the construction, ask male friends or family members for assistance—and ask female friends for help with display ideas. (Or vice versa as the case may be.)

A professional display marks you as a professional and enhances your products to promote optimum sales. Basically you want the space to be comfortable for you and customers. You want it to be inviting, making customers feel welcome enough to cross over the threshold that separates the lookers from the buyers. It should be comfortable for you too, as you will be in it for days on end. It also needs to be attractive, yet well organized for a 10 X 10 space (or slightly larger in some cases). Use of colorful signs, banners and accessories attract people and enhance your craft items, hopefully encouraging visitors to pick them up.

Use colors that follow a theme or complement the predominant colors or style of your products. Red, white and blue would be a good theme for country items, while black and silver would be a more contemporary look. Each craft style will dictate the best overall look for your display. You also need to have an area for doing business—taking money, wrapping and writing receipts—as well as a space for storage. If that sounds like a tall order, it is! That’s why it may take a while to get it right. Observe other booths and record what you like and don’t like. Then take the best of the best and incorporate those ideas into your booth.

The entrance to the booth is critical. It’s the make or break point for drawing a potential customer in. Experiment until you find the best mix of color, signage, banners, spacing and product display that works best to get people in “the door.” Booth openings should be wide enough to allow several people in, and you should never stand out front or in the entry obstructing the flow. Have your bestsellers, lowest priced or most striking products closest to the entrance so you can optimize the five seconds you have to capture the potential buyer’s attention!

Your booth sets a mood that is immediately picked up by shoppers passing by. Make sure it sets the right mood to interest people in stopping to take a look at your amazing crafts. Have the products in as natural setting as possible, that is, if you have home décor items, create a homey environment. If you create baskets, fill them with what people would naturally fill them with—and vary this throughout the year based on seasons and holidays. If you produce jewelry items, have earrings and necklaces on mannequins to see how they would look, and have plenty of mirrors for customers to try things on.

Display objects at eye level or slightly higher, but not on the ground. Have multiple levels of display for greater visual appeal. Hanging products should not obstruct views or be a hazard to a customer walking through your space. Place your crafts so they are easily accessible and so customers will feel comfortable picking them up—and not afraid they will break something or mess up a “perfect” display. Statistics reveal people are four times more likely to make a purchase when they have touched the item.

Booth design, product display and merchandising must all be carefully planned out as part of your overall sales strategy. Once you commit to taking your craft from pastime to profits, you become a professional businessperson and creating a quality booth and stunning display will be worth the effort in increased profits.
About the Author
Natalie Goyette shows you how to make your craft show business profitable in her best-selling e-book: Craft Show Success Secrets. Visit her site at http://www.craftshowsuccess.com

This is where you can really make or break your craft show career. Being able to produce quality crafts as efficiently and affordably as possible is the key to making a tidy profit from craft shows.

How Production Evolves

How you handle production of your craft show items will evolve over time. Initially you may produce all your craft items alone. This will likely be the most cost effective way to start your craft show creations. As your business grows, you may decide it is best to find employees who can recreate your artistic flair – so you can build more products and increase your overall revenue.

Time and experience will help you streamline your production cycle for maximum efficiency. You’ll learn as you go how long it takes to produce your craft show items, how long to allow for drying, setting or baking, what quantity of supplies you need for a certain amount of inventory and how much inventory you’ll need for a one-day craft show. Basically, you are going to get better and smarter about how to build your craft show items – so you can maximize the profit!

Always have some form of quality control if you’re working alone, such as a friend or family member checking your crafts for sturdiness, appearance, etc. If you make jewelry, have someone else try on a necklace to make sure the clasp works, it doesn’t fall apart while putting it on and that you are pleased with the appearance. If you have put a frame around a small painting, ensure the frame’s sturdiness, so your craft customer isn’t disappointed when it falls apart. Think about how you will transport your products during the production process, making them sturdy enough to travel or finding strong packing materials through your suppliers.

Over the years, your products will evolve as you make modifications to existing designs and add new products. With feedback from customers and keeping abreast of current trends, as well as developing new skills and interests, you’ll probably add new products and remove slower-moving ones. As soon as you see a steady decline in sales, consider dropping the product—don’t get attached, this is business. You can always use slower products as bonuses, gift items or for raffle drawings or donations.

Pricing

The crucial question about pricing is: How do I price my craft show products for the best results—good sales and good profit? Can I have both? You may fear that if your prices are too low, you could incur the wrath of your competitors or make less profit. If your prices are too high, your sales will drop. The right price is one of the most significant factors in contributing to your success or failure—and one of the most difficult factors to decide upon.

There are several schools of thought on how to arrive at the best price for your work. Again, time and experience will be your best guides. It is easy enough to raise or lower your price with each craft show you attend and eventually find the best fit. You may even find yourself changing prices at different craft shows as you learn the shopping patterns of your customers. If someone seems interested then walks away, ask them why they didn’t buy and if they say price, ask what they would be willing to pay. If you get the same information repeated several times, it’s an indication of what customers are willing to pay—at least at that craft show!

Although you need to test your prices, don’t make drastic price adjustments in the same weekend, as customers may complain. Make smaller adjustments in different towns based on craft show results and customer feedback. Sometimes the difference in improving your sales can be as small as $1.00, such as lowering a $12.00 item to $10.99. And sometimes selling fewer items at higher prices can be more profitable in the long run.

Take time to consider your price carefully. Consider cost of supplies and labor, craft show fees, transportation and other expenses involved. The efficiency of your production will also have an impact on how much profit you can make from your craft show items, and ultimately both will determine your success on the craft show circuit!
About the Author
Natalie Goyette shows you how to make your craft show business profitable in her best selling ebook: Craft Show Success Secrets. Visit her site: http://www.craftshowsuccess.com

What kinds of things do you for enjoyment? Do you paint on canvas? Do you paint on furniture? Do you knit, carve, make scrapbooks or jewelry, or make any other creative item? Any kind of craft or art can become a business. Turning your craft into a business can make it affordable to do more of what you enjoy. It can make your materials more affordable. You may have also been needing or wanting to earn more cash. Sometimes these side businesses become very profitable over time. You might have the option to quit your job one day and do your craft full time.

To explore this idea of having your own craft business, list the things you can make on the left hand side of a piece of paper. In a middle column beside each craft or item, put 1 - 5 stars to represent any positive response you have received for them, or a question mark if you don’t know what people think of it. Which items received a positive or enthusiastic response? Could any of those items be sold for profit? In a third column put a number of dollar signs that you would guess is the potential for profit. Even though an item is admired, it may take too much time to make or cost too much in materials to make it profitable. This is just a preliminary assessment based on what you know or can guess now. You can test your items in detail later.

There are many ways to market your crafts. Some people sell them to friends and co-workers. Some crafts, like painting murals, might be done when someone asks you to do it for them. But many crafts today are sold in galleries, at art shows, and online. So explore all your options and think about what you can do to start earning money from things that interest you. Good luck.
About the Author
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The latest rage sweeping the country is to have jewelry made from different types of beads in assorted sizes, colors and textures. The more beaded jewelry the better as you can change the appearance of your outfits to be more dress-up or causal.

You can purchase beaded jewelry from local stores or you can make your own by using craft beads. Local craft shops such as Michaels, AC Moore and others offer a wide selection, superb quality and low prices for the beads they sell. Whether you are a novice or experienced working with beads, you will find the beads, findings, wires, threads, tools and everything else you need to create stunning jewelry and decor pieces for your home.

Craft beads can be plastic pony beads, fabric beads, paper beads, pearl, glass, to Swarovski crystals and everything in between. Stores that carry beads usually carry a wide selection of literally thousands of different types and sizes of beads.

Some of the more popular types of craft beads include Bead Heaven, Elegance Collections, Crystal Innovations, Better Beads, Elite Better Beads, Fancy Finery, Westrim, Blue Moon and Bead Gallery assortments. There is also a wide selection of Bead and Jewelry Making Kits that are perfect for people just starting to work with craft beads. These kits provide everything you need along with detailed instructions to get help you start and complete your project.

As with any craft, you will need to purchase the proper tools and equipment. These can be purchased individually or in sets. If you are not sure you want to invest this much money on a craft that you are not sure you will want to continue doing, you may want to take a special training class offered at your local craft store. They will have tools available for you to use and if you decide to continue working with craft beads, you can then purchase the extra supplies needed for your new hobby.

Your craft store will also be able to provide you with great ideas on bead projects. Whether you take their in-store classes, work independently with a prearranged kit, or if you buy a book, the ideas for your own craft bead jewelry will be unlimited. You can make sets that include your necklace, bracelet, earrings, and pin and each set will be uniquely yours, which is a one-of-a-kind jewelry set.

You may think that you do not have the talent to create your own jewelry or home décor items using craft beads, but you will never know unless you try. Sign up for a class and start out small. As your skills develop, you can advance to more complicated projects.

Before you know it, you will be an expert at making your own jewelry using craft beads and your friends and family will be asking you where you bought your jewelry. And, who knows, you may want to start your own home business making jewelry for other people to purchase. The opportunities are endless and you are only limited by your own imagination when it comes to using craft beads.
About the Author
For more information on crafts, try visiting http://www.craftguidance.com - a website that specializes in providing craft related tips, advice and resources to include information on craft beads.

No matter whether you’re looking for a craft table for your kids or one to display all your latest creations at the local Craft Fair, purchasing the right kind and size of table for your needs takes just a little forethought.

A craft table can be an invaluable tool for any home, whether children are going to create monsters out of clay on It or you need something to work on for your own craft designs and needs. Some people use these tables only occasionally, while others use them daily. The best kind table to get is something that can be easily stored when not in use.

A folding table is your best bet, no matter what you need it for, and many can find inexpensive varieties at local Wal-Mart or Target stores. Buying a table at a craft supply store is also an option, though you may end up spending more than you want to. However, tables offered by craft stores are often geared toward specific needs, so if you’re particular, you may want to start looking at the craft store as opposed to the local retail stores.

While some may cringe at the original outlay of expense for a good, sturdy and practical craft table, the benefits of owning one will more than pay for its cost in ease of use, convenience and space. Easy storage offers an added bonus. Before you race out to purchase a crafting table however, know what you need it for before you start shopping.

Are you going to use the table only occasionally, and for non-crafty purposes? Do you need it for designing, sewing, artwork or drafting? Is your future craft table going to be used in the basement or the kitchen, or will it be stored in your car for craft fairs and swap meet needs?

A narrow table will benefit kitchens and smaller rooms, such as children’s bedrooms, but a wider, longer table will work well for craft fairs and basement areas. Determining where you can store the table when it’s not in use is another key factor in the decision to purchase a particular width or length of craft table. Will your table be stored in the car, a broom closet or leaned up against a wall? Think about that before you buy.

Sometimes, a table will include pouches or compartments to store items that range from pens and pencils to yarns, knitting needles and bolts of fabric. Those types of tables won’t be able to fold and store as easily as a plain table, so take that into consideration when you’re shopping.

A craft table can be used for other things besides creating crafts, such as puzzle fitting, card playing and gift-wrapping. They are usually available in square shapes or rectangles and can come in wide or narrow widths. They can be super sturdy or a little wobbly, but determining who will most likely be using it most, in addition to the purpose of the table in the first place, will help you make the right decision when it comes to purchasing that craft table that you just can’t do without.
About the Author
For more information on crafts, try visiting http://www.craftguidance.com - a website that specializes in providing craft related tips, advice and resources to include information on craft table.

Ah, the joys of craft beads, big beads and little beads, made of glass, plastic or wood…no matter which, beading is a load of fun for both children and adults. Beadwork can be simple or extravagant, cheap or expensive, depending on what kind of supplies you purchase and what you’re intending to design. No doubt about it though, working with beads provides hours of enjoyment.

Most types of beadwork today are incorporated into jewelry designs, such as earrings, bracelets and necklaces, but craft beads are also used in a variety of home décor designs and sculptures that are created with macramé, yarns or Native American crafts such as dream catchers and medicine wheels.

Throughout the history of mankind, beads have been used as a form of personal adornment, as money, as trading goods and as a way to decorate possessions and homes. Beads can be utilized in more crafts that most people imagine, and the number of ways beads can enhance a project is only limited as to their size and materials.

To work with craft beads, most people need a few simple tools, including round and flat nosed pliers, wire cutters and various types and sizes of tweezers. To attach beads to one another or to other surfaces, a crafter will need some type of wire, usually called jeweler’s wire, in addition to a crimping tool.

If you don’t care to use wire for your craft beads projects, many people like to use silk threads that come in a variety of colors and thicknesses. Nylon or synthetic threads are also commonly found in the tool kits of those working with beads, as does a product called French wire.

If you’re interested in making jewelry, the best thing to do is to pick up a book at your local library or bookstore and learn the lingo, the tools and the methods of creating beautiful and useful designs that people will be proud to wear.

You may also need to purchase design and layout boards for working with jewelry, as well as a variety of clasps, hooks, earring studs and backings as well as various kinds of wire. Drawers to organize your craft beads and tools are also handy to have, and can make your bead designing endeavors a lot more organized and orderly.

For others, working with beads isn’t so involved. Creating Native American crafts requires small glass beads, if you’re going to create designs on a loom, which then can be sewn to moccasins or clothing, but larger, plastic or glass beads are also used in the creating of beautiful dream catchers and medicine wheels that are extremely popular in the Midwestern and southern United States.

Craft beads can be cheap or expensive, depending on the materials the beads themselves are made out of, as well as the quantity that you are purchasing. Some more expensive beads are made out of pearls, bone and horns, while others are made of gemstones or organic materials. Craft beads are definitely loads of fun to work with, no matter what you’re designing.
About the Author
For more information on crafts, try visiting http://www.craftguidance.com - a website that specializes in providing craft related tips, advice and resources to include information on craft beads.

These days, more and more people are opting to create one-of-a-kind gifts and home decorations by themselves. This is great, as anything made from the heart is special, but knowing what kinds of craft supply offerings are out there gets the creative juices flowing and the hands busy creating!

While craft supply stores contain just about everything a handy home crafter needs for their projects, don’t overlook nature as a cheap craft source. Just walking outside will bring a wealth of possibilities, from twigs and branches to flowers, rocks, leaves, seashells and sand, just to name a few.

Using your creativity to produce unique and beautiful crafts doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, and picking stuff up off the ground will save you hundreds of dollars and allow you to literally branch out when it comes to creating floral arrangements, terrariums, wall decor and more.

If you’re not interested in picking up rocks or stones or seashells, go ahead and venture to your local craft supply store and choose from thousands of possible ideas and supplies to turn your ideas into gifts, decorations and home décor. A craft supply can be anything from silk flowers to yarn to little buttons to use on your scrapbooking pages. It can be a basket or a frame for a collection of family photos or arms for the doll you’re making.

There is nothing quite so much fun as taking multiple components of something and creating something beautiful out of it, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to imagination and design. Most craft stores offer reasonably priced items in great quantities of sizes, colors, shapes and textures. Buying at wholesale cost is also an option if you need large quantities of a particular craft supply, especially if what you make is fairly consistent, like dolls or scrapbook pages.

When it comes to craft supply possibilities, don’t forget to consider recycling objects found in your home, yard and garage either. This goes hand in hand with using what nature provides and can also help to save lots of money in the long run. Newspapers, plastic, wood and other textiles can be used to produce unique and beautiful objects that you may never have considered before.

Depending on your needs and whether you are creating a craft for a specific holiday or season, you may have to venture out of your neighborhood for supplies. Make sure that you comparison price items on your list of needs and do your best to find the low-cost supplier that will be able to fill your orders every time you need something.

Whether you shop at a craft supply store, or gather items from nature or your garage, only your imagination is the limit to what you can create. Crafting doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby, and if you’re creating items for sale at craft fairs, you have to keep an eye on your overhead. Before producing any craft item, make sure that the supplies needed for your projects inspire the best you have to give.
About the Author
For more information on crafts, try visiting http://www.craftguidance.com - a website that specializes in providing craft related tips, advice and resources to include information on craft supply.