Posted by camille – September 2, 2008 3:45 PM
Once you're comfortable with retailing your crafts locally, you may want to branch out to the regional or national level by traveling to craft fairs.
There are several websites to get you started with craft show listings. I found this great list of "can't miss" craft shows on the American Style website.
For a more complete list, visit the 2008 Show Listings compiled by Sunshine Artist magazine, the art and craft show trade publication. This list is interactive, you can perform an advanced search to find only the craft fairs in your state or search by show dates or the category of crafts being shown.
It's a good idea to visit a few fairs before deciding if selling your crafts at the fair level will work for you. Do your homework. Stroll through the booths, compare other seller's prices to your own, get ideas for table displays and most importantly ask questions of other vendors like, "how are sales?" and "how does this fair compare to others?" Craft fair vendors are generally a friendly bunch of people, happy to chat and willing to give advice to another crafter just getting started on the show circuit.
Check out this blog post for advice on stretching your craft fair dollars by sharing the booth with another exhibitor and increasing sales through cross-promotion.
Got advice for the other crafty business owners? Where is your favorite craft fair?
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My favorite craft fair is Immacualte Conception Church's fall craft fair known as Granny's Cellar.
It is located in Spotswood NJ the week after Thanksgiving each year.
It is a great show.
Posted by Joann Bauer – March 5, 2007 11:15 AM
My favorite craft and art fair is Country folk Art Festival in St. Charles Illinois.
Wiliam
Posted by William giddings – April 27, 2007 9:20 PM
Wow Camille, thank you for featuring my article on sharing booth space at craft fairs. I am honored you found my site think my article was worthy of sharing.
Posted by Michele – May 18, 2007 2:42 PM
We have a craft fair coming up in Springfield, VT called the "Beyond the Unicorn Craft Fair." It usually has a great variety of crafts. I might have a booth this year.
Posted by Jo C – October 25, 2008 6:17 PM
