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You Never Get A Second Chance. . . 

 By Karen Booy,  as published in  CRAFTLINK Newsletter  

Busy getting stock ready for a show? Don't overlook the importance of a good booth display. Use these points to do some creative brain storming when planning or updating your display. First impressions matter. A good booth display is important because it entices potential customers closer to your product.

Your booth should be:

• As unique as you can make it
• Easy to put up and take down
• Flexible set-up, can be used in different sizes of booths and at a variety of shows
• Light enough to carry yet strong enough to stand up to the wind or the press of the crowds
• Able to stand securely without falling over
• When planning your booth remember to consider the size of your vehicle, so that your booth will fit inside.

Display Features:

• Most common fixture is a 6ft. or 8ft. table
• Start with a solid coloured tablecloth which compliments your product
• Tablecloth should cover the table on all four sides and go all the way down to the floor, this gives you a place to discreetly hide extra stock under your table
• Dark colour usually allows your product to stand ut better
• Creatively add height to your display using wooden crafts, baskets, or chairs
• Think about creating a modular display:
  --- the display boxes can double as boxes to transport your product to the show
  --- the boxes turned upside down are very stable
  --- make boxes in a variety of sizes makes the possibilities for changing your display     endless
• Recycled paper cylinders can be painted and then used for packing, storing and displaying
• Different textures and dimensions add interest to your booth

Backdrops:

• Serves to frame your booth 
• Increases the area which you have to display your product
• Is an effective way to block out the visual distraction of all the other crafters
• Can be made with pegboard, lattice work, wicker, a quilt or fabric

Lighting:

• Good lighting sells product
• Always carry an extension cord with you
• Check that your lighting is not shining into your customers eyes as they walk to your booth
• Make sure accessory lighting is securely fastened 
• Is crucial for small items such as jewelry

Props:

• Antiques make great props---do you have antique trunks, cradles, washer boards, desks, armoires, chairs
• Adds interest to your booth and gives customers ideas of how to use or display your products
• Look for ideas for props and display in gift shops, furniture stores and magazines like Country Business from Country Sampler Group

Tools:

• Screwdriver& screws
• Hammer & nails
• Staple gun& staples
• Push pins
• Step stool
• Carpet tape
• Spare light bulbs
• Power bar
• Extension cords
• Clean up tools

Other Tips:

• Confirm the size of your booth well in advance of the show so that you can plan your display and maximize your selling space!
•  Confirm if booth includes a table, and if it is 6' or 8'
• Have a dry run of setting up your booth take notes or take a photo of the booth at your dry run this will save you time and money
• Know how much extra stock will fit under your table
• Have extra stock, sales begin to slow down when your booth starts to look empty
• Be prepared with tissue paper and bags
• Have business cards and brochures handy 
• Try to demonstrate your craft while in your booth
• Create a brief bio about you and your craft, place it with a photo in an acrylic frame and place in your booth
• Always introduce new items each year - give your repeat customers something new to buy!
• Never mark down prices in the last hours of the sale 
• Start a mailing list of customers 
• Rotate your stock constantly
• Think about security, place expensive items where they are more difficult to reach

Advantages of a Craft Fair:

• Paid in cash
• Meet customers face to face
• Great way to do market research for new products 
• Travel and make money
• Always make it a habit to stand back and look at your booth as a customer, better yet, take a picture of each show you attend and create a photo album of your progress as a craft business owner 
• When planning your original display or improving on an existing display always keep in mind your product as well as the image you wish to project to your potential customers. Everything must be consistent with your business image or your customers will get confused. Are you country? Victorian? Or High Tech? Be sure your image is cohesive, this includes the colour and texture of your display, the lettering and material of your signs and even down to the type of promotional material, your business cards and flyer.
• Remember the purpose of a great display is --- TO SELL PRODUCT! If a prop does nothing to enhance the product and encourage sales them don't spend the time, energy and money on it. 
• Use the KISS principle when creating your booth --- KEEP IT SIMPLE SILLY! The amount of time and money you spend on your booth should be in direct proportion to the number of shows you plan to do in a year.

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