What if I do this craft show and I don’t sell ANYTHING?! 😰 Here's the hard truth...
You are not alone! It doesn’t matter how relaxed all the other vendors look, or how much experience they have; this is every handmade artists WORST FEAR when they do a market.
It is still mine and I've been doing craft fairs for years. I'm on edge until my first sale, every show, no matter how many times I've done it.
I’m not going to tell you it won’t happen because it will…
You will inevitably do a show where you sell NOTHING and that is completely OKAY.
This is NOT a reflection of your TALENT, your WORTH, or your LIKABILITY. It just happens, and it's that simple!
Now that we’ve gotten the uncomfortable truth out of the way, there is a way to come out of a no- or low-sales market unscathed...look at every craft show as a learning experience.
If you take the time to learn and gather useful tools, information, and experience... YOU CANNOT LOSE.
Here are some things to look for:
Take the time to observe and ask what people are looking for
Notice what price points they are most comfortable with
Pay attention to what people are drawn to at your booth; is it the item, the color, or maybe the location and way it is displayed?
Set yourself a goal for how many meaningful connections you want to make, whether it’s with customers, vendors, or event organizers
Set a goal for how many business cards you want to give out (don’t give them out like candy of course but to those who seem genuinely interested or ask for one)
Practice reading people. Congratulations introverts! Here’s one of your great strengths. As intros, we are used to observing others and being thoughtful when we speak. Observe as you normally would and act based on how you feel would be most appropriate. Maybe they just need a quick hello or maybe they’d like a brief introduction of your business (this is something scary for us introverted types, but start by practicing a quick 2 sentence intro). TIP: Smile and verbally greet every potential customer. The only time a quiet smile will do is when a couple or group is at your booth speaking intensely among themselves. You will not always be right. But your unconscious nature to be thoughtful will help you.
You must take notes of all the above! Use the “Craft Show Follow Up Sheet” found here to make keeping detailed notes on your craft fairs easy.
Doing these above 7 things will help take the pressure off of sales, and you'll likely generate more as a result of your more relaxed vibe.
There are so many factors that contribute to the outcome of each trade show, and most of them you can’t control (weather, event marketing, too many vendors per category, etc). Always go in and maintain a positive attitude. It’s easier said than done, but if you focus on the points listed above it will help you stay on track.
My most important piece of takeaway advice is don’t get too discouraged, and DON’T GIVE UP!
Comment below with your experiences! Have you had a show with no sales? How did you cope and overcome it?
If you have found this helpful feel free to follow me on Instagram @the_introvert_maker
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