Craft Market Success: 10 Tips to Prepare, Stay Organized, and Reduce Stress Before Your Next Market

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 I’m writing this in October, which means the holidays are coming! Hopefully this means you have some craft markets coming up! And I want to give you my top 10 tips that you can do in advance to minimize stress the day of the market and set yourself up for maximum success. You can use these any time of year - it doesn’t have to be for the holiday season.

If you listened to episode one of the Hey, Beautiful Creative podcast you know that I’ve been selling at markets since the very first Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago back in 2003! Yes, I’m old. And if you listened to episode two you also know that I organize a large craft market with my best friend. We’ve been doing that for twenty years! So this is my wheelhouse, so if you don’t listen to anything else I say, listen to what I have to tell you about craft markets. I have tons and tons of experience as both a market vendor and a market organizer and I am sharing my best tips with you to make your life easier. 

So let’s get into it…

Here are my top 10 things you can do in the time leading up to a market that will make your prep easier, reduce stress, and put you in a good place to sell your heart out and make lots of money.

1. Plan out production
Set a goal for how much you want to have of each product, then work backward and figure out a production schedule. I often print out a free calendar page from the internet and use that to really lay it out and visualize how to get it all done. This will also help you realize if you need to order any of your craft supplies.

2. Create a craft market prep checklist that you can refer to each time

3. Do a supply check - bags, biz cards, boxes, etc.
Order those early so you’re not scrambling last minute

4. Keep a bin of craft market supplies and go-to displays
I have a pouch that has scissors, pen and pencil, extra price tags and business cards, safety pins, my price signs. I keep all of my display items in a box so everything is together

5. Set up your display at home
You might think you can visualize what your space will look like, but nothing beats setting up your display in advance to make sure you have all the right things and it all fits in your allotted space!

6. Ask a friend to help you or make a friend with your booth neighbor
This comes in handy when you need to run to the restroom or take a snack break.

7. Remember to charge your devices, bring back up chargers if possible, and get cash

8. Familiarize yourself with the load in instructions and keep them somewhere handy

9. Pack snacks, lunch and water
Really. You'll be so glad you did.

10. Get lots of rest the night before.
You’ll have a better day if you’re rested. And for whatever reason, the items you’re up late working on don’t sell. I've experienced this and also talked to so many other artists who have said the exact same thing. It's like you put weird, tired energy on it by working on it when you would be better off getting a good night's sleep.

And a special bonus? Get my 5 Smart Strategies for Boosting Your Craft Market Sales. It’s packed with my top tips for making the most of your space and increasing your sales. It’s completely free!

If pricing your work and selling (either in person or online) is challenging for you, you’re in luck! I’m launching a course called Fearless Selling for Creatives and it’s all about how to perfectly price and position your work, and sell it without the awkwardness. I’m a pretty shy introverted person so selling in person is definitely something I’m always working on. I’ve learned a lot over the years and want to share that with you! So get on the list to be notified when that launches at heybeautifulcreative.com/fearless