"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin
You have taken your passion for creating beautiful jewelry to a point where you would like to start selling it to the public. At this juncture you decide to exhibit at some local craft shows to see what happens. No matter how well prepared you are for entering this sales venue, I can assure you that your learning curve will be an arrow going straight up. So prepare as much as possible, relax, and try to enjoy and learn from the experience.
Here are some easy things you can do to prepare for your first show:
- Walk the show ahead of time, if possible.
- Read and carefully follow all the instructions you receive from the show management. If you have any questions call them.
- Design a booth with good lighting, a place to write business and package sales, secure showcases, cohesive signage and jewelry displays and a booth that is easy to assemble and is light weight.
- If possible, put your booth together before the show in a garage or basement to see how things work, fit and look.
- If you are showing gold or precious metal jewelry make sure to have cases which can be secured, as well as check with show management about their security and if they provide a jewelry lock up for overnight.
- Prepare marketing and sales materials such a postcards (yes, they are still a strong marketing tool), business cards, sales order forms, and packaging that all support and enhance your brand.
- Have credit card capabilities, such as the Square.
- Try to find someone to work the booth with you who is familiar with your jewelry and your design philosophy.
- Dress for comfort.
- Try to get sleep the night before.
These are easy steps, but you would be surprised how many first-time exhibitors come to the show totally unprepared and in a state of exhaustion, confusion and anxiety. Once you have learned about pre-show smartness then you are ready to move on to actually doing the show and making the most of your show experience with post-show smartness. The better prepared you are the more professional you will be and that will reflect in sales. Which after all is the point!
Learn More:
Grow your business in 2015! Join Marlene at Metalwerx for Marketing 101 and You! (Jan 17) and Maximizing Craft Show Sales (Jan 18). Learn simple, inexpensive tricks of the trade and pick up essential skills needed to promote your craft business. Find out how to be a more effective salesperson, display strategies, create a cost-effective marketing plan, and much more.
Marlene Richey is a craft business consultant with over 30 years' experience in the jewelry industry and author of the award-winning book about running a small jewelry design/craft business, Profiting by Design. If you'd like to read more about Marlene, please visit her website www.marlenerichey.com.