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Selling in person at art markets and craft fairs can be a great way to get your artwork and creative ideas out into the world. You get the opportunity to interact with potential buyers and showcase your work in an engaging and personal way. It also gives you the chance to meet other artists and share experiences. Selling art in person can be a great way of building relationships with customers and creating a deeper connection with your art. Knowing all of this I decided that 2022 was going to be the year I jumped back into selling in person with ANBE Designs.
As some of you know, prior to ANBE Designs, I had a jewelry brand called Holy Noley where I created bead and wire wrap jewelry. I had done craft fairs with Holy Noley so I had some experience going in and a lot of ideas about things I wanted to change. I did three fairs this year and these are the top tips I would give to anyone with a handmade business wanting to start selling in-person at craft fairs or art markets.
Tip #1: Know Your Audience
This one is major so that’s why it is the first. Being selective of the markets you choose is a MUST. With Holy Noley I signed up for pretty much any fair that had a low table fee. While this may work for some depending on what you make, this ultimately didn’t work for me as a jewelry artist because often I was competing with MLMs or vendors selling jewelry from Alibaba. When I decided to get into vending with ANBE, I knew I had to be more selective. Now, I will only select fairs that are only handmade vendors with a vetting process and I take the location of the fair into consideration. My jewelry runs at a higher price point so doing a fair that attracts young kids or people looking to get a bargain is just not going to be the vibe.
Tip #2: Invest in Your Setup
Tip #2 is to invest in your setup as much as possible. People shop with their eyes first - a booth that doesn’t look inviting isn’t going to attract them. I was a bit scrappier with Holy Noley so my setup was made up of lots of thrifted and repurposed things, like bed sheets and curtains for table coverings and a CD rack for earrings. Now, while there is something to be said about upcycling, I have to say that upgrading my table coverings to these and my jewelry displays to these and these gave the booth a more polished and professional look. Also honorable mention to these wall panels that I bought for the final fair in December. It was an outdoor event so I bought one panel to block some of the cold and it was CLUTCH. I will definitely be getting two more for the 2023 season!
Tip #3: Bring a Friend, (Or Don’t!)
If you’ve ever seen me at a fair, you’ll know that most of the time my sister-in-law is with me. That girl is my ride or die fair assistant and I’m so grateful! It’s so useful to have someone to help with all the setup and breakdown, watch the booth if I have to step away and to just keep me company. When asking someone to be your assistant at a fair, make sure you are choosing someone who is OK with not only working hard but also with sitting around for what is often a long day.
On the flip side, this year I also did my first solo fair. While the setup and breakdown were more challenging alone, I really enjoyed being pushed out of my comfort zone. It forced me to be a little more present with the other vendors, and I was proud AF when the day was over knowing that I did the whole thing by myself! I love knowing that going into 2023, if I have to do a market or fair alone, I totally can.
Tip #4: Keep it Simple
When I decided to get back into in person selling for ANBE Designs, I knew I had to change the way my overall setup was. With Holy Noley, I had several totes of display pieces and would use four tables. That felt like wayyy too much going into this year so I downsized significantly. I kept the setup interesting with levels and props but instead of having totes of displays, I simplified. I now have one tote and one crate of supplies (which also doubles as a display!). My props for the most part are things from around my house that I just collect for the day and then put back when I’m done. Keeping the booth simple allows for quick setup and breakdown and also makes storing it at home easier.
Tip #5: Don’t Get Stuck on Sales
This might be my most important piece of advice so let me repeat it - don’t get stuck on sales! Now obviously you do a fair or market or show with the intent of making some coin. Duh. But earlier in 2022 I read somewhere to treat these shows as marketing events instead of selling venues and that changed everything for me. Instead of going in thinking “I need to make this dollar amount, what if no one buys anything”, I now go in thinking about how I’m going to try to connect with each person that stops by. I make sure everyone grabs a business card. I also give out free stickers which we all know people love free shit and are great advertising. I mean if you really think about it - which is more valuable long term? One random sale or a new follower / email subscriber / avid collector?
Selling in person can be a daunting task, but with the right attitude and these helpful tips, you can be successful. Remember to focus on the customer and not the sale, be flexible and have a good attitude. With these tips, you will have a successful in-person selling experience.
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