So the first craft show of the fall season has come and gone. Not the best, but not the worst show I have ever done. I actually did better than expected. As always my jellyfish, and seahorse plushies were among my best sellers. The mini pumpkins (these were a first time making them craft for me) flew off the shelf. Had requests for other veggies and fruits, so those will be on my to do list for the next show coming up in October. Sold several of the do-rag headbands I make and sell (the pattern is available here). I will definitely be making more of those.
Lots of compliments on the few hats and scarfs I took. I did not expect to sell any of these and took them only to get the responses as to what people thought of them. I did get a couple of baby blanket orders so those need to be completed in the next week or so.
And just for those who say they can't do a craft show because they don't have room in their vehicle for tables, displays, canopies, and finished crafts, I have a small 4-door Hyundai Elantra. granted my back seats do lay down (either right, or left, or both at the same time as needed), but the pictures below are of my packed car, and my booth set up on the day of the sale. So don't say never. Just practice loading your car, and if you can get the plastic crates that Walmart and Target sell this time of year for back to school/college, pack your merchandise in them, and use the empty crates to display merchandise on or in.
So even if you have a small vehicle you can still do craft shows. The things I took were 5 small 20 inch x 40 inch folding tables (they fold in half, and the legs extend), a 10 x 10 canopy, a 6 foot ladder shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings and painted with a coral color stain), a folding metal table type shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings) a banner (purchased from vista print, and framed in a cheap plastic poster frame purchased at Jo Ann's, and embellished with patterned duct tape from Dollar Tree), 12 crates of product, 1 crate of bags, tape, tissue paper, price stickers,) A small ice chest with water and snacks, a folding wood laundry rack (purchased at an antique show years ago), 8 mannequin heads (I look for them at yard sales and swap meets because they are cheaper there than buying new), and some cheap 48 inch curtain rods and large 3 - 4 inch S-hooks (I got the curtain rods at Walmart, but you can probably get them cheaper at thrift shops and the S-hooks I got at Home Depot), and a folding plant stand the kind that folds out with 2 stands on each end that stand from 8 - 12 inches tall with one in the center that stands about 18 inches to 24 inches tall (for a total of 5) (I set my mannequin heads on these with one sitting on the table just in front of the plant stand.) And a garment rack that is quick and easy to put together (also purchased at Walmart)
There are some good you tube videos on setting up spaces and thinking outside the box as far as displays go.
I hope to check in later this week or next to give you a preview of some of the items I am making for the next show.
