[Please subscribe to Eric Maisel: Thinking Aloud, which brings you a new “Tales of the Creative Life” every Tuesday and a new “The Craft of Coaching with Eric Maisel” every Thursday. You can subscribe for free here.]
Your Crafts Fair Success Checklist
Marketing & Promotion
- Eye-catching booth design with color, height, and good lighting.
- Live demonstrations to show your process.
- Clear signage with prices and short product stories.
- “Touch and feel” section for sensory engagement.
- Business cards or postcards with your contact info.
- Small, affordable impulse-buy items.
- Special fair-only promotions (e.g., bundle deals, free gifts).
- Collect emails with a giveaway sign-up.
- Warm greetings and genuine conversation.
- Collaborate with other vendors for cross-promotion.
Booth Display Tricks
- Pyramid Principle – tall items in back, small in front.
- Story groupings – themed displays to spark imagination.
- Eye-level “wow” item as a visual magnet.
- Use vertical space with shelves, risers, and hanging displays.
- Keep an open area for comfortable customer flow.
People-Psychology Tactics
- Stand near the front—look approachable.
- Greet with “Let me know if you have any questions” instead of “Can I help you?”
- Invite touching or trying on (if appropriate).
- Share origin stories to create meaning.
- Use the “yes ladder” for small agreements first.
- Keep best-sellers in easy reach (waist to shoulder height).
- Close with a gentle nudge: “I can wrap that up for you if you’d like.”