Have you ever wanted to sell your handmade crafts or artwork at local craft fairs, but have no idea where to start? Or maybe you've taken the first step and have tried selling your art at a craft show or two, but now you're looking for ideas on how to sell more, how to make your booth more appealing to customers and where to find more venues to sell your handmade goods? You've come to the right place! I've been selling my own handmade creations, as well as the work of other artists, at a variety of craft shows and other events since 2004. I've learned a lot of lessons the hard way, and now I'm sharing them here with you so that you can learn from my experiences! In this book, I'll cover the basics of getting started selling at craft fairs, as well as how to design a great looking booth, how to give outstanding customer service & sell more and even how to find and create additional events at which to sell your handmade work. WHAT IT INCLUDES: - how to define your target market - where to find good shows - how much should I spend on a booth fee at a show? - how to make your booth look great - promoting your show & getting your customers there - my craft show tips & tricks - dealing with crazy weather & unexpected events - theft prevention - craft show supply checklist - how to give great customer service - how to use craft shows to create after-the-show sales - alternative venues to sell your work, beyond traditional craft shows - how to create your own events to sell at - tracking your inventory - how to create a personal & business spending plan - big hunkin' list of craft show resources WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR: This book will be most useful for someone new to selling at craft shows. I do cover more advanced topics as well though, including how to define your target market, visual merchandising, inventory tracking, and creating a business spending plan. The book includes worksheets along the way to help you. The information in this book is based on my experiences, selling in the United States, mostly in Louisiana. However, most of the information contained here is useful to anyone around the world who is interested in setting up a booth at craft shows, festivals or conventions. WHY I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: I did my first craft show in 2004. It was the Alternative Media Expo, put on by Antigravity Magazine here in New Orleans. I sold a few things, and learned a LOT of things. And I haven't looked back! I've done all sorts of events since then. I have sold regularly at the Frenchmen Art Market, and have done festivals around the New Orleans area including Bayou Boogaloo, Gretna Heritage Festival, Freret Market, New Orleans Earth Day Festival, and many, many more. As one of the founding members of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, I've even organized a variety of events, both with the group and on my own. As a group, we've created a monthly art market and the annual Last Stop Shop holiday market. On my own, I've also hosted home shopping parties, trunk shows and pop-up shops. In 2007, as one of the winners of Etsy's Upcycling contest, I even traveled cross-country to San Francisco to participate in Bazaar Bizarre at Maker Faire!

Provides information about merchandising, selling and advertising handicrafts at craft fairs and shows.

Craftspeople and hobbyists will welcome this new edition of a popular book. Comprehensive and indispensable, Crafts and Crafts Shows gives advice on everything needed to succeed in the craft-show marketplace. Easy-to-follow instructions make it a snap to select the best shows to attend, create an appealing booth, and offer good customer service. Each chapter in the top-selling guidebook has been completely updated to reflect recent changes in the craft world and the book includes new information on branding, creating products that can compete in today’s marketplace, selling on the Internet, and taking promotional photos, as well as creating new marketing strategies for pricing and moving merchandise.• Easy to read, full of practical wisdom and entertaining stories • Up-to-the-minute information on internet marketing and branding • Proven advice—14,000 copies of the first edition sold! Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

Are you a hobbyist who likes to work with wood? Is using a wood lathe your skill polishing platform? Have you ever thought of making money using this craft? Selling your wood lathe projects for profitable margins can be a very lucrative business for amateurs. This is not the only craft or hobby that can be converted into a profession or a means for earning a living.

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

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In a world where most products are manufactured by machines, Etsy offers an online platform for makers of handmade products and crafts to market and sell their goods to a vast network of buyers who demand unique, genuine products. To date, the site has attracted over 400,000 sellers who collectively have sold over 30 million items, generating more than $180.6 million in revenue. The only resource of its kind, How to Make Money Using Etsy--written by Tim Adam who has successfully been selling his products all over the world through his Etsy shop since 2007--guides readers step-by-step through the many stages of selling online. How-to topics include: Establish your Etsy shop Effectively photograph your products Post your products to optimize visibility and increase sales Brand your business Use social media like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with buyers and grow your business

From writing a business plan and financing an idea to choosing the most cost-efficient production method and best-suited sales approach, Creating a Successful Crafts Business provides a sound blueprint for turning a beloved hobby into a lucrative career. Written by two experienced craftspeople who have been through the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of running a crafts business, readers will learn, step by step, how to negotiate with bankers, choose the ideal retail location, promote the business on-line, expand into lucrative new markets, and much more. Filled with the infectious spirit of people who have “been there,” this down-to-earth book will bring fledging craft businesses to new levels of profits and success.

How to Start a Home-Based Jewelry Making Business is for creative, talented women who want to turn their passion for beautiful jewelry into a profitable sideline or full-time business. Selling and making jewelry is one of the more high-margin craft businesses and with the right approach to sales and a stylish look, one can develop a devoted following. In addition to the essentials common to the series, this book also includes information on pricing jewelry, setting up a Web site, and how to get celebrity attention.

Make floating candles, herbal soaps, and even a home spa Discover the secrets of color, shape, and scent the fun and easy way? Whether you're a beginner or seasoned craftperson, this fun book offers everything you need to make beautiful, professional-looking candles and soaps at home. You get practical tips on dyeing and scenting wax, using unusual molds, adding embellishments to candles, working with soap ingredients, and even turning your hobby into a business! Discover How To: Stock a safe & efficient work area Work with all types of wax Add color and scent to your projects Make melt-and-pour soaps Turn a hobby into a business