Currently Stitching: Show Review

First things first, I would like to say - what fun and a what a great opportunity! I just attended my first craft/ vendors market! #cheerstome

There's a local event called Made Market. They host some 200+ booths with a variety of handcrafted products beyond imagination. There's quite a few themed boutiques, a variety of jewelry, and so much soap and candles. Let me just say it smelled very good in the huge warehouse.

Everyone was kind, helpful, and honestly really respectful of their space. Not that I thought it would be any different, but I think I got really lucky having this be my first show. I'll share with you a little about how I set up and some things I learned for next time!

I tried to create focal points within my booth. I dedicated an entire table to the bags I've been making. I brought a variety of sizes with me, and tried to group them and create some elevation. To tell you the truth, I am surprised what did and did not sell. I sold all but one of my totes, but the minis were slow moving. Which outside of an event like this, it's generally the opposite.

My next table transitioned into smaller sewing and embroidery projects. I brought quite a few scrunchies in a variety of colors, which also sold well (yay!). From there, were embroidered earrings, patches and greeting cards!

This whole section was hit or miss for me. Friday night, these smaller items were popular, and Saturday day, not so much! I will say, the guests were noticeably different each day. Saturday was more families and a lot of groups in a variety of ages. So I guess it makes sense that they would shop differently as well.

Either way, I'm just grateful people enjoyed my booth and decided to take some things home with them! There was a small, unkind voice in the back of my mind that made me worried no one would buy anything over the entire weekend. I am so glad I was wrong!

My last table was intended to be an advertisement for custom work. This display changed a lot between the first and second day. Initially, I put a lot more out the first day. I brought sample hats and clothing for guests to look at and touch so they could see what products were available to have customized. I think it was too much on the table and it wasn't clear what I was offering.

On the second day, I only brought samples of completed works. It got way more attention and excitement than the first day.

Another piece of my display that changed was this mobile hanging rack. Initially I was worried about remaining within my allotted space, which I did by the way. But I noticed almost all of the vendors had something that stuck out beyond their space into the isles where people could more easily see what they were selling.

At first, I tried to find a place within my display that this would fit, and I just couldn't. So I rolled it out just beyond my checkout/ bagging area. It really caught the eye of passers by, many of whom wanted to stop and stroke the quilts. I also showcased a variety of bags on the top shelf, which also brought people into my booth.

You can see how I sort of walled myself in with the checkout area. I had signage on the guest/ isle side of the rack and hung bags on the other side. My mom was gracious enough to stamp all of these bags individually for me. I think they turned out so nice! Elegant and clean, plus just being adorable.

I waffled a bit on the idea of bringing a rug, but I am really glad I brought it with me! it helped to tie things together and made the space feel much cozier. There were quite a few people who stopped in and said my booth was a comfort in all the chaos, which surprised me! They said it was happy and friendly.

I think having all three walls covered in hanging quilts helped to make it feel this way. Also being surrounded by fabric does usually bring joy! My boyfriend was so kind and helped me get them all set up and secured, and even built the double display rack in the back! I got so many compliments on it!

Overall, I am feeling very positive about the whole experience! Here we are getting things broken down and packed up. It was a lot of prep work and doing my best to stay organized! Shout out again to my mom for folding everything. She is the ultimate packer and made putting everything back in the car 100 times easier. 

Speaking of which, I would consider using a small trailer, or investing in more items that break down between uses. It was a lot of stuff to pack and not that much of it was product! Plus it was like a game of Tetris or Jenga trying to get it all in the car. But we managed it!

Here we are with the loot, driving through the downpour and dodging the insane potholes. It was so packed in there it was unreal. If you decide to do something like this, try a practice run at home loading/ unloading to see if it'll fit! I did not do that ahead of time and we had to take two cars on the way.

Some final thoughts:

- Don't be afraid to keep rearranging your booth until you love it! And as product goes out, just move it again! It will probably keep changing every time you do it. 

- Sometimes less is more. Put out a good selection, but also keep some things back behind the tables to refill as the day goes on. 

- I wore comfortable clothes and shoes and brought snacks. Super important to add those things to your list!

- Get there early, and don't be afraid to ask for help! 

- Test your point of sale ahead of time. Include signage about what kinds of payment you do and don't take. Put prices on everything. It really helps guests feel like they're in a "real store," and saves on awkward money conversations.

- Say thank you to all the people who helped you and the folks hosting the event. It's a gracious and classy thing to do after all the hard work is done. 

If you're thinking about trying to attend a craft show, do it! It was really fun! It totally took me out of my comfort zone, and don't get me wrong it was a lot of pressure and hard work. But I'm really proud of myself and can't wait for the next one. Good luck to you on your journey! Send me your show tips and tricks!