I haven't yet participated at a Craft Fair, but sure am planning to in the future. As I was looking through the Etsy forums I found this post by SoSheSews and thought it was pretty helpful and great things to keep in mind. Here is what she wrote (if you want to see the advice and comments of other Etsians please go to http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6149459):
A little about SoSheSews:
First she has adorable stuff! And!!! The clothes will actually fit me!! lol ok well here is a bit about her and her shop...All of her items are made by using recycled, repurposed, and upcycled materials. As you can tell I have fallen in love with this shop!!! Check her out I had to keep myself from posting too many pics ;)
A little about SoSheSews:
First she has adorable stuff! And!!! The clothes will actually fit me!! lol ok well here is a bit about her and her shop...All of her items are made by using recycled, repurposed, and upcycled materials. As you can tell I have fallen in love with this shop!!! Check her out I had to keep myself from posting too many pics ;)
Here are her tips:
1. Do NOT consider the other vendors "competition". In my fair opinion, this is just the worst way to go into it. Even if the other vendor sells the same type of stuff as you, customers are attracted to all kinds of different things. Consider them your "family" for the day and things will be way more positive for you.
2. Do NOT leave your table/booth for longer than is needed. Sure, the show may be slow. Sure, you haven't had a customer approach you for half an hour. But leaving your neighbor to mind your table is a luxury at most shows. Plus... I've personally witnessed lost sales due to this. Nobody likes to hear "oh... um... this isn't my table but I think they should be back in a little while."
3. Do NOT talk to other vendors about how much money you made or didn't make. Unless this is a relative or a best friend, there's no need to disclose that kind of information to someone. If someone asks you how it's been going for you just say "It's been going great! I'm having a lot of fun." Leave the dollar amount out of it... for the sake of embarrasing you or making the inquirer uncomfortable by comparison.
4. Do NOT talk bad about the organizers. End of story. Doesn't matter what's been done to you. Doesn't matter how they treated you. Unless they treated all the other vendors badly, people are going to be VERY uncomfortable with that. There's ways to handle bad situations with professionalism. Be discreet. Very discreet.
5. Do NOT ignore the folks who approach your booth... but do not hound them either. I'm gona tell you right now... a very simple "Hey there." can make a world of difference. I usually wait a few seconds after they approach. I say "Hey there" in my sweet, southern tone. Then after their response, I break my eye-contact and pretend to do something else until I sense that they need information or might be looking at me. I usually will sort-of half stand, with my knee in my chair so as to project a sense of casual-ness without the whole in-your-face feel of completely standing up whenever anyone enters my booth space.
6. Don't be an Eeyore. I'm not sure if I need to explain this further... but if you don't know who Eeyore is... well... just don't be a grumy, self-loathing, unoptimistic, rain-cloud of a person. Even if you really do "hate" the object you made that someone is asking about - resist the urge to crucify your efforts on it or bash your abilities against the rocks of their potential purchase. I am always all smiles... you'd be surprised... customers will sometimes seem "relieved" to see me smiling at them. Makes me wonder if no other vendors are smiling.
1. Do NOT consider the other vendors "competition". In my fair opinion, this is just the worst way to go into it. Even if the other vendor sells the same type of stuff as you, customers are attracted to all kinds of different things. Consider them your "family" for the day and things will be way more positive for you.
2. Do NOT leave your table/booth for longer than is needed. Sure, the show may be slow. Sure, you haven't had a customer approach you for half an hour. But leaving your neighbor to mind your table is a luxury at most shows. Plus... I've personally witnessed lost sales due to this. Nobody likes to hear "oh... um... this isn't my table but I think they should be back in a little while."
3. Do NOT talk to other vendors about how much money you made or didn't make. Unless this is a relative or a best friend, there's no need to disclose that kind of information to someone. If someone asks you how it's been going for you just say "It's been going great! I'm having a lot of fun." Leave the dollar amount out of it... for the sake of embarrasing you or making the inquirer uncomfortable by comparison.
4. Do NOT talk bad about the organizers. End of story. Doesn't matter what's been done to you. Doesn't matter how they treated you. Unless they treated all the other vendors badly, people are going to be VERY uncomfortable with that. There's ways to handle bad situations with professionalism. Be discreet. Very discreet.
5. Do NOT ignore the folks who approach your booth... but do not hound them either. I'm gona tell you right now... a very simple "Hey there." can make a world of difference. I usually wait a few seconds after they approach. I say "Hey there" in my sweet, southern tone. Then after their response, I break my eye-contact and pretend to do something else until I sense that they need information or might be looking at me. I usually will sort-of half stand, with my knee in my chair so as to project a sense of casual-ness without the whole in-your-face feel of completely standing up whenever anyone enters my booth space.
6. Don't be an Eeyore. I'm not sure if I need to explain this further... but if you don't know who Eeyore is... well... just don't be a grumy, self-loathing, unoptimistic, rain-cloud of a person. Even if you really do "hate" the object you made that someone is asking about - resist the urge to crucify your efforts on it or bash your abilities against the rocks of their potential purchase. I am always all smiles... you'd be surprised... customers will sometimes seem "relieved" to see me smiling at them. Makes me wonder if no other vendors are smiling.
2 comments:
That is FANTASTIC advice! I'm helping my mom at a similar type of event soon and this will be very helpful, thank you!
I'm glad it of great help to you just as to me =) good luck!!!
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