Displaying product at art fairs
What I’ve figured out selling at fairs, and this is regarding MY ITEMS in MY MARKET!!!!! I cannot stress enough every market area is gonna respond differently.
I’m in Asheville, NC and have decent enough sales to pay $125 for a space at a one-day show 10am - 5pm. This is the third show where I de-cluttered, I did not display everything, I kept things spaced and allowed each item to be framed by a neutral backdrop, no more waterfalls with 5 different colors of the same item, every item stands alone. My per fair sales increased by 50% and my average ticket increased by 75% once I shit-canned the waterfall displays and spread out the display. I'm learning waterfall displays are for a “Target” or “Dollar Store” attitude. When I sell a wallet, I dig another out of back stock and fill the space, same thing with the larger items. If I don’t have back stock then I simply rearrange existing items to balance out the display. By leaving room around an item it allows it to stand out. Horseshoeing a bunch of stuff together reminds me of Filene’s Basement and Auntie Mary wrestling with someone for a “blue something”. Early on if I made it I wanted it “available”, I wanted to offer it as another option or choice of a particular pattern, the thought being “well, if they don’t like it in blue maybe they’ll buy it in green”. That my friend is called a brain stall and it’s desperation thinking. Things I’ve done that helped increase sales and profits: 1) RAISE MY PRICES! Raise my prices so much that I can give a discount of 20% - 25% and be paid what I want after discount; 2) On the occasion when things are hopping and they walk up and pay retail list say a silent pray “thank you God” and pocket the money; 3) Never, never never do a blanket announcement or signage saying “Show Special 20% Off” - I do very quietly whisper in their ear “it’s been a slow show, would you buy it now if I knock 20% off?”. Every single sale made yesterday at Art In The Park was because I was having “a slow day” and knocked 20% oftf - not true, one buyer had her CC out and before handing it to me asked “do you offer special pricing for fellow vendors?”. Hell ya, girl, you can take 20% off! Keep sewing, keep selling and above all keep having fun!
Cluttered display I used to do, no background, nothing stands out, looks like any other aisle at Walmart or Target
More inviting, items are visible and not jumbled all over each other
