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Eeks! Getting ready for my first craft show


Daria Blue

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I have been invited to attend my first craft fair with my palm wax pillars. I am very excited, but also getting a bit nervous! I have a large inventory stocked up in my studio, but my question is how many candles should I plan to take? I don't want to not have enough, but I also don't want to have a lot of boxes that I'm packing up at the end.

They are thinking that 300-400 people will be attending, but the director said that she honestly wasn't sure how many. It is going to be in church/school and will be a two day event, 6 hours on Friday and 10 on Saturday. I will have a space indoors that is 8x8.

For those who have done shows, any suggestions on how much inventory I should plan to take?

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Typically I take 7 of each scent of candles that I plan on offering at a show. Sometimes I take more of certain scents that usually sell extremely well, sometimes I bring some of them back sometimes not. It's really hard to say from show to show what is going to be the big seller. We do a monthly flea market in addition to other shows and generally they are 3 days sometimes 4 (if it's a holiday weekend). One day I may sell tons of candles, the next it's melts and who knows what will happen on day 3. One good thing about it being a 2 day show is that if you sell out of something the first day you can bring more the next. We had a show today and I sold about the same amt of candles, melts and air fresheners. You just never know who the customer will be, how much money they can spend and what they will want to buy.

How many scents do you make? Having a nice variety there's surely something for everyone. And make sure you take plenty of change. My experience alot of people pay with 20's for something that may be say 3.00 If you have many of those you'll be out of small bills quick. Have fun and good luck!!

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My rule of thumb is usually I bring what I can fit in the vehicle I am taking that day. If you don't have it, you can't sell it. ALso remember that you don't have to put everything out. You can stock the table and leave the rest packed below and only take it out if/as needed.

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Same here I would rather take more than not enough. My best sellers I take around 10 each then my various scents 3-4 of each. Holidays I bring extra holiday scents also. I always bring $100 worth of change plenty of ones, fives and tens. I keep a notebokk of everything I sell. Make sure you have bags. I spend the money and get the nice handle bags. I can;t stand if I bought candles and someone handed me a plastic bag! UGH lol If it is a larger show offer to hold their bag at your table. I notice people do like to carry heavy things around a show. (Make them pay forst that way you know they will be back) Greet everyone who comes to your table no matter how many times you say it throughout the day! Tell them they can smell anything they would like. I keep one each on the table with the lid off so they can pick it up and smell each scent. Tidy up your table throughout the day keep jars straight, etc. Bring plenty of business cards. Have pricing on the table where they can easily see them. I always include a card and tell them I have a website and ship anywhere in the US, etc. I have met some of the nicest people at craft shows. I lovwe doing them!!! Hope this helps :-)

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