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Crafters' Etiquette

by Karen Booy
 as published in  CRAFTLINK Newsletter

Ever wondered if you knew all the "unwritten rules" of being a craft exhibitor?

The idea for this article came from show promoter Eva Hansen of The Happening, held at Thomas Haney Secondary in maple ridge, BC. Eva runs this successful craft show as part of the school program.  Students are involved with organizing, promoting and running the show - right down to being parking lot attendants for the busy event!  The craft show becomes a school event and its popularity translates into great sales for its craft exhibitors. 

After contacting several show promoters, the feedback started to roll in on the fax machine and over the e-mail - I must admit that I was a little surprised when I read the top tips for craft show etiquette.  Most of the tips I thought were, well kind of obvious, however when all the tips where in I noticed that not only were the tips simple and rather obvious - they were repeated by several show promoters! This got me to thinking that the simple manners that so many of us take for granted are not so obvious to many!  So I hope that you will read over the tips of do's and don'ts and perhaps it just might be an eye-opener for you as well!

The Happening Crafters "Do" List - Eva Hansen

• DO read all the information you are sent regarding times, set-up procedures, policies and be prepared to abide by them.  Then file the information so that you can refer to it just prior to the craft fair.  If you do this, you won't have to phone the week before the craft fair when organizers are so busy they are often difficult to reach. 
• DO be on time for jurying and set-up for the craft fair.
• DO stay open until the advertised times.  Packing up early sends a negative message to customers that shopping is over for the day and they should stop shopping and leave the craft fair.
• DO demonstrate a positive attitude at all times.  this is in consideration of people around you.  Customers respond to the tone in the room - a pleasant atmosphere increases everyone's sales.
• DO be clear about the space and facilities you have paid for and respect the parameters of your rental space.  Organizers must be concerned with fire regulations, safety and traffic flow in the building.  Official inspections by the Fire Marshals are common at popular public events.
• DO focus on the task at hand. If you have friends or relatives dropping by to visit with you, take a break and socialize in the "coffee" area instead of behind your table.  Food should be eaten elsewhere or as discreetly as possible.  Customers might feel they are intruding on your personal time if they need your attention, it is also very distracting for neighboring crafters who are trying to conduct business.
• DO make use of childcare facilities (if available) or make alternate arrangements.
• DO present a professional appearance.  Dress professionally and be well groomed.  Be mindful that members of the public may take offense to clothing with certain advertising or questionable humor.
• DO make your craft space an inviting environment. Standing up, making eye contact, smiling and greeting customers in a friendly manner goes a long way towards increasing your sales.
• DO keep your display and workspace clean and tidy.  Storage boxes and garbage should be well out of sight.
• DO make yourself aware of other products available at the fair so that you can refer customers who are looking for a product you don't carry.  This helps everyone's sales and creates goodwill.
• DO make a special effort to distribute as many flyers and posters that you can increase in numbers mean increased sales!
• DO thank organizers if you ere pleased with the fair.  If you feel there were problems, offer suggestions to the organizers for improvements.  Also be sensitive to their point of view if they don't agree with you. Sometimes changes cannot be made because of conditions beyond their control.
• DO resolve conflicts with craft fair organizers or  others away from the sales floor.  Customers and other crafters are uncomfortable when tension is evident and everyone's sales suffer.
• DO learn from the jurying process.  Remember that the objective of the jurying process is to ensure that a good selection of saleable and compatible products that are fairly priced will be available for the show.  Overall selection will vary from year to year, as may the jury panel.  If you weren't selected on year, do apply again the next year.

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Colleen MacKinnon, of Rag-a-Muffin Collectibles Inc., has been selling her dolls, Santas and ornaments at local craft shows and gift shops since 1990.  In addition Colleen promotes 'Twas the Month Before Christmas.' This year will mark the fourth anniversary of what she calls "our show" or 'Twas' for short.  It is a blended display of antiques, crafts and food items.  The show runs at Tynhead Community Hall, Surrey BC. Colleen hopes to have a website up and running later this year.

Tips for a Blended Craft Show - Colleen MacKinnon

• Be willing and prepared to work as much as possible 
• Do bring a display that fits the size allotted.
• do smile and interact with customers in a casual & friendly, yet business - like manner.
• Keep jokes and casual conversations with other vendors to a minimum.
• Pay attention to customers' needs. wants.  Upselling should be kept to a minimum.
• Deep an accurate inventory list.
• Have an item to donate for gift basket/door prize.
• Have all items clearly marked with price.
• Bring lots of business cards.
• "Fluffing" and tidying of displays is important.  Keep dolls and ornaments facing the customer.
• Never criticize or demean another vendor's product or personality.
• Make a point of getting to know the other vendors and their products. does it complement yours?  You never know where a new client or friend might come from.
• Don't openly solicit vendors for "you" craft show. There is a time and place for everything.
• Learn how to use a cash register. 
• Don't bring a product that was not juried.
• Remember, be willing to "go with the flow" ... the show and season are short!

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Barb St. Laurent is the organizer of another blended show in Cloverdale BC. Here are Barb's suggestions for maximizing your time and effort at a home show.

How to Maximize your Time & Effort - Barb St. Laurent

• Dress up. Let your customers know they are buying quality crafts from classy people.

• If you have a problem go directly to the source - don't undermine the show by grumbling to each other.

• Teamwork - build each other up.

• Hand out flyers - they are costly so don't waste them by not distributing them, only to have to throw them out after the show.

• Come to the show happy. A smile is very contagious.

• Treat every single customer with courtesy and respect. Without them there would be no show!

• Please understand that the promoter of the show is under a great deal of stress during the craft show. She is working on your behalf so help where you can.

• Have fun!

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The following tips come from the promoter of one of Western Canada's most successful craft shows.  The Coquitlam Craft sale just celebrated its 22nd year for the Christmas Sale and its 11th year for the Fall Sale.  Show organizer Becky McDonald is now doing the show with her daughter! Since Becky always has more crafters than booths, she can afford to be selective when choosing exhibitors.  What does becky recommend when it comes to craft show etiquette?

 Craft Show Etiquette - Becky McDonald

• Respect - Respect other crafters around you - don't plan your display so large that it infringes on the people on either side. Don't cover the entire floor area with boxes during set up.

• Respect the organizers. If there is a problem, discuss it with the show organizer (who can do something about it), not the people on either side of your display.

• Product Line - Check with the organizers before adding any new crafts to your display.  The crafters have been well placed and anything new may be the same as someone next to you.

• Promotion - Do what's asked of you regarding the advertising and let the organizers know what you've done.

• Presentation - Dress well. No jeans. The more effort you make to look good, the better your sales will be. if you don't make the effort to look good the customers will think your craft was thrown together as well.

• Display - Use the space you paid for.  Rarely will a sale allow electrical cords running across the floor, so if you need to use electricity make sure you pay for and request a wall space.

• Don't change your display at the last minute and expect the organizers to remove a table from your spot on the day of the sale. It interferes with the other crafts people setting up their displays.

• Only use the space you paid for. The table have been carefully laid out to pre-show requirements. If you see extra footage not being used, it may be that the person who has paid for it has not yet arrived.

• Paperwork - Check to make sure your cheque has been cashed so you know you're registered. One year, we had three people show up for their tables who we did not have registered. It was embarrassing at the time thinking we were to blame and then the next week they sent cheques in with an apology.

• Harassment - Don't phone the organizers repeatedly with questions.  Save them all up and make one call. Better yet - read your show material - chances are the answers are there! The organizers are dealing with a lot of other crafters and if they all called three or four times, it amounts to a lot of time on the phone! Wouldn't you rather have your show organizer spending her time promoting the show to improve your sales????

• Complaints - Don't complain out loud how the sale would be better if only the weather were better, or in some cases, worse. Customers overhear these remarks and get a negative spin on the sale.

• Bridges - Don't burn your bridges with the organizers. Even if you haven't done well at that particular sale, always seek out the organizers and say thank you.  Believe me, it's remembered and may make a difference the following year when the tables are being allocated.

• Preparation - Make a checklist of things you'll need to take to the sale. Sometimes the obvious things like a float, extension cord, power bar or table covering get overlooked and the organizers may not have an emergency supply to cover your forgotten items.

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Keeping It Positive - Trudy Ferguson an Judy Meixner

• Be customer friendly, focus on selling, talk to people, and stand up.

• Be positive and encouraging - even when you aren't doing as well as you would like.

• Smile be enthusiastic, and approachable. Consider the needs of the other people around you.

• Bring any problems to the promoters first, don't spread problems, it creates a negative atmosphere that no one needs.

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Our tips from eastern Canada come from show promoter Leslie Bailey of Celebration Exposition of the Arts, her show runs in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Leslie Bailey works in wood and fabric to design whimsical/folkart country collectables.

Tips for Eastern Canada - Leslie Bailey

• Display-Display-Display - I can't stress enough the importance of display. It gives a show a professional look when all artisans have creative displays. It keeps the customers coming back year after year, and most important it improves your sales. Nothing looks more like a flea market as when crafters lay everything on a table in front of them.  I would almost go as far as banning tables all together except some people do use a table creatively. 

• Be courteous of your booth neighbours. Stay within your space.

• Dress - Dress professionally! You are representing your work - if you were selling at a department store you would have a dress code.  Here you are selling your work, show some pride and dress accordingly (never old jeans or sweats).

• If possible man our own booth at all times. People like to talk with the artist. No one knows your work like you do. If you are unable, be sure the person you have is knowledgeable about your work.

• Set Up and Tear Down - Be sure to be set up on time. Nothing is more unprofessional than opening the doors to the public and you are still unpacking stock or rearranging displays. when the doors open you should be ready at your booth with a smile to greet your customer.

• Never start to dismantle your display before closing. If the show is over at 5pm, then at 5:01 is when you should start tearing down. Although it is often slow during the last hour of a show, there are still customers who might hurry out without buying if they think you just want to get out of there. Even if you don't have a sale your neighbour might - so be respectful of that.

• Paperwork -  Submit all forms, contracts and payments to show management on time. Organizing a quality show is a lot of work and when we have to waste hours calling exhibitors for paperwork of payments - we could be lining up more promotions etc.  it is very frustrating.

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The following tips come from show promoter, Paul Yard of the prestigious Circle craft show held at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre in Vancouver BC.

A Promoter's Pointers - Paul Yard

• Stay our of other people's booths if you don't have an invitation... particularly booths with similar products to your own.

• Wear your identification even if most of the staff know you. Keep your booth open and looking sharp al the hours that the show is open. Don't start packing up an hour before closing!

• Follow up promptly  with orders and commitments that you make at a show. failure to do so not only reflects on you but on the show as well. 

• Be neatly dressed and clean! wear deodorant - comb your hair!

• Try and have relief for lunch and coffee breaks if at all possible. don't eat in your booth....and certainly do not drink (alcohol).

I am sure that you found these tips to be extremely enlightening. You will now be off to the shows on your best behavior! Have a great show season.

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