Advice for the Entrepreneurial Craftsperson

What a fantastic day! Today I went to a small craft show in La Mesa, CA. The weather was gorgeous, the view was beautiful, and the people were friendly.

This particular show was free to vend at as this was the organizer's first show. I didn't have very high hopes about how the day would go since new shows usually hit a few bumps in the road as the organizers figure things out. And, out of about 20 vendors signed up, only 9 showed up--the downside of not charging vendors for space is that they have less incentive to actually follow through. Then, for the first hour of this 4 hour show, there were no customers--not a good sign.

So things weren't going that well and moods weren't great, but I decided to be chipper as can be! Since I paid nothing for the space, there was no real pressure for me to make sales. So, I spent a lot of time talking to the other vendors. This turned out to be a great time! I even shared my canopy with a young girl from Thailand so that she could vend in the shade.

It was only her second time out selling her beautiful handmade cards. The woman in the next spot was also new to vending and so was another woman selling artwork.

I ended up spending most of my time chatting with the others and giving advice for those that were just starting out. A few things to keep in mind are:

Not every craft show or market is going to be successful.

It is difficult to predict what kinds of items will sell to what crowd or how busy an event is going to be. Therefore, it is important to do your best to advertise the event you will be working. Ask your friends and family to stop by, post it on your social media pages, and hand out promotional flyers if you were given any. At today's show I took the opportunity to advertise an upcoming show that I am in. I had the flyers for it my table and I told everyone who stopped by about the event. It is important to do your part to advertise in addition to hoping that the organizers will do theirs.

Also, don't get too down on yourself if a show doesn't go well. These things happen. Sometimes its not your fault, and sometimes you need to take the experience and just improve for next time.

Come prepared

Something I have learned the hard way is that there are going to be situations that you didn't plan for at events. Try to bring some basic items that help you adapt to whatever challenge comes your way. For example, I always bring packing tape, scissors, pen, paper and spare wire. These have been so useful in coping with wind, de-linting displays, taking notes for the next show, etc.

Use the internet!

Now, if you have a Steemit account I'm sure you are aware of how useful the internet is, but its important enough to mention still.

There has long been a trend of decreasing attendance at markets due to internet shopping and it seems that is still the case. Many people don't walk around with money in hand to make purchases face to face anymore, but many will ask if you have a website for future purchases. It also helps you look more professional when you have a website.

Online marketplaces such Etsy are also a way for you to reach customers that you would never be able to reach normally. People from all over the world will have access to your goods!

Social media

Now, I have been slow to get onboard with social media platforms, largely because I just don't want to spend that much time on the computer. I JUST made an Instagram because of the shocking number of people telling me that it would was a necessity for my business. I kicked and screamed and dragged my feet all the way to the app store but I must admit: it helped me a lot. I have been getting more traffic on my Etsy and more people contacting me directly about orders as a result and I've only had it for about 2 weeks. As much as it annoys me, people really are looking for a strong online presence in a business, and social media sites are platforms for free advertisement so take advantage of them.

Be confident, be friendly, and be happy

There are many more things to be said about selling your own crafts, but for now I will just emphasize the importance of your attitude.

Be confident in your work; it will show when you talk to your customers.

Be friendly with people; good customer service goes a very long way. And talk with your fellow vendors to get tips on how to make your display better, find out what credit card reader they recommend, how they inventory, etc. It is very useful.

Enjoy yourself. It can be a real challenge but try not to let the setbacks get you down. Have a good time with what you are doing because what's the point of being your own boss if you still don't enjoy your work?

Thanks for stopping by, it has been a pleasure. Also, I'm happy to report that I did end up making decent sales today so I am all smiles!

My jewelry is available Etsy.com/shop/ARInfiniteCreations if you would like to take a look.