craft fair inventory

[huot99]

I have a 3 day festival/craft fair I will be doing. It is the first one ever and I was wondering what amount of bows everyone takes with them to the craft sales they do. Just wanted a rough estimate of what I need for my inventory.

[woodkath]

I agree.. I did a 3 day fair back in October, and by Sunday I was having to make bows. The attendance for the entire festival was 45,000, so not bad, but I still needed more bows. I am going to do one in Atlanta that is 5 times that big, so I am starting now..

[huot99]

Thanks, I have quite awhile before the festival. I am skipping this years (first of april) and I am going to be doing next years, so I have awhile to get things together. what selld better, basic or boutique, or layered. and what are the average prices you sell them for? just starting out.

[woodkath]

Unfortunately for me...the korkers (my least fav to make) sold better as they are kind of hard to find around here. The patterned bows sold well too.. You of course have the old faithful solids that always go at some point. Anything unique I found also was a big hit.. You just have to feel out the area you are in I think...

[Amber427]

The critter bows sell the best for me. My best clips always sell the fastest- so I make sure I have ALOT of them. (for instance.. turkeys in Nov)

Also- have a wide range of colors- maybe even a sign that says you can do custom orders. I fill large rubbermaid totes with my bows- and as soon as I sell a few- put more out. People will walk by your booth several times- it's alot to take in. So they will make several loops around the tables.

[Angels]

Thanks for posting this information!

I have a 2 day craft fair that I am thinking about doing and this info helps me!! I am trying to not chicken out

Thanks!

Wendi

[ldelzer]

I did a booth at the beginning of the month and I sold 200-ish crochet headbands. It was the craziest thing I ever saw! I didn't know they were sell so well. Plus, it's almost no work on my part to put them out!

You definately want to have as many bows as possible. Unfortunately, it's very hot/cold as to what actually sells. Also, you'll find that more attention you draw, the more you'll sell. I'm sure there's a psychological explanation for it (like...the more people there, makes people buy more. It's a feeding frenzy, you hope. LOL)

Also, make darn sure you have good traffic flow. Some (most?) people have to feel like they are left alone to look in peace and quiet. They need to feel like they can get in and out of your space easily. That's one reason why you see vendors with "two wide" spaces (or 3 wide or 4 wide).

[Amber427]

Don't chicken out! You will become addicted! LOL My first love is hairbows.. my second is BBQ. First week of March is a HUGE BBQ cookoff/craft fair. I made the decision.. doing the BBQ this year. But I want to go do the craft show just as much!

Also- this is a sort of quirky thing. When I stand up and talk to my customers- they seem to stay longer. Stay longer = buy more. If I sit- they tend to walk by. I dunno- weird.. but it works! Also like somone said- make the booth open- easy to get in and out. ALOT of the shoppers will have small girls with them- who will want to touch everything. So the booth needs to be semi-kid friendly.

[ldelzer]

Yeah, maybe it's the Southern hospitality thing, but definately be UP and friendly. Don't SELL, just be nice and talk to their kids (or whatever). People definately pass by folks who are sitting down! (yes, I know you will get tired and sit sometimes. It's too darn hard to do it for 12 hours).

[Amber427]

This is funny- My first craft show ever- my mouth and face hurt SO bad after the show. I smiled the entire time. I wore my face out!