5 Tips for Organisation

It’s the time many crafters have been waiting for – we’re now allowed out and about to display at craft fairs, shows and events again after a tough 18 months!

However, we are very aware that there will be a lot of newbies this time around due to the huge number of people who set up side businesses last year during lockdown, either as a side hobby or ‘full time’ whilst furloughed.

Therefore, our friends at CraftCover have rounded up five top tips that will help both first-timers and the more experienced crafters prepare for fairs ahead of time!

1) Make sure you are appropriately insured

Many first-time exhibitors, especially very small businesses, may not even be aware that they need craft fair insurance to cover them. Many craft fair organisers require proof of Public and Products Liability insurance before allowing you to secure your spot. The last thing you want is to find this out at the last minute and not have time to arrange cover!

2) Have business cards or social media signage sorted

Having nicely designed business cards or an A4 sign with your social media handles on will help you to potentially bring in repeat customers or anyone who was in a rush and didn’t have time to properly look at all of your products.

3) Prepare your stock in advance 

Make sure you bring plenty of extra stock just in case you do sell out! You should also consider what your best sellers are currently and bring plenty of those. A variety of products from different price ranges can also widen your market.

Also, do you need to supply bags to the customers for loose products? If you are selling fragile items, such as glass ornaments or cups, you should consider bringing spare protective wrapping to give to customers to help them get the product home safe.

4) Consider how you will take payment

Since the pandemic, most places have now turned to card only payments. If you don’t have a card machine set up already, make sure you have ordered one in time for the craft fair, and bear in mind that you may be charged a small fee for using them.

If you are planning on just using cash, make sure you have a wide variety of change available – all the notes and pennies – ready to give back to your customers. Also, think about how you will securely store this. A fastened-on belt bag is much more secure than a tub just sat on the table!

5) Review your transport options

If you drive, are you packaging your products securely? Will they be fastened into passenger/back seats or left to slide around in the boot of your car? Have you used appropriate protection, e.g. bubble wrap, around fragile products? 

It is worth checking whether there is parking on-site or if you would need to use a nearby car park. Parking further away can cause potential issues if you are selling heavy products, especially if you are alone. Perhaps there are loading bays or double yellow lines where you can temporarily park to load and unload before parking further away.

If you’re using public transport, definitely review your options ahead of time and how far you would have to walk from the stop. It may be worth considering using a taxi if possible, just for the convenience – especially if the bus/train/tram is likely to be busy with little space for your boxes and bags.