Are you gearing up for your first craft show and feeling a little overwhelmed? I've been vending my handmade products at craft fairs for more than 8 years, and over that time, I've learned a lot about the most efficient way to do it — the hard way, so you don't have to.
In this post, I've paired my own experiences alongside a ton of research to compile the ultimate, master guide on how to prepare for your first craft show. My goal is for this to be so thorough, it's the only market prep resource you'll ever need. I even put together a free checklist you can grab right here.
Here's everything I'm covering in this guide:
- How to Find and Apply to Craft Markets
- What to Do Once You're Accepted
- How to Prep Your Inventory
- How to Plan Your Booth Space
- Core Booth Components
- Additional Booth Components and Your Goodie Bag
- How to Interact with Customers
- What to Do Before the Market
- What to Do During the Market
- What to Do After the Market
- Final Lessons
Let's get into it.
How to Find and Apply to Craft Markets
Where to Look
Finding your first market is easier than you might think. I use a combination of Instagram, Facebook, craft show vendor groups, local event pages, and word-of-mouth from other vendor friends. Once you've done a show or two, those vendor communities become a goldmine of intel.
Understanding the Application Process
Most reputable markets require you to submit an application with information about you, your business, and your products. This isn't just gatekeeping — it's how organizers ensure a high-quality, diverse vendor mix. Events known for curated vendors attract better crowds and develop loyal followings. It's in everyone's best interest.
Red flags to watch for:
- A market with no application process at all
- A market that reaches out to you unsolicited
That said, I once had an event reach out to me, and it ended up being a wonderful show I returned to for years. So use your judgment and proceed with open eyes rather than automatically saying no.
What Vendor Fees to Expect
All legitimate craft markets charge vendor fees. In most cases, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $400, with the price generally reflecting the size and duration of the event. Bigger event, bigger fee — but lots of time, bigger earning potential.
If someone offers you a free booth at a store pop-up, it can be a nice opportunity, but in my experience, those events tend to have lower sales volume. They can still be great experiences, but just adjust your sales expectations accordingly.
Licensing and Sales Tax
Depending on your city and state, you may need a TPT (Transaction Privilege Tax) license to legally collect and report sales tax. Rules vary widely, so check your local requirements early — ideally well before your first show.
What to Do Once You're Accepted
Once you get that acceptance email, here's what happens:
Book your spot. You'll typically have options ofa 10x10 space (which requires a tent) or maybe a table space (usually 6x5 or similar, sometimes with an umbrella option). When I'm given a choice, I personally tend to prefer table spaces — they're simpler to set up and break down. Some larger events also offer double-size, 10x20 spaces.
Start small if you're just starting out. A smaller space means less overhead, less setup complexity, and less inventory pressure while you're still learning the ropes.
Note that spot assignments are rarely immediate. Most organizers map out the entire plan and notify vendors of their specific location the week of the event.
In the meantime, it's time to start prepping inventory and planning your display!
How to Prep Your Inventory
Start Immediately
The moment you're accepted, begin prepping product. Time moves faster than you think.
How Much Should You Bring?
A widely used rule of thumb: bring roughly 2x what you hope to sell. A full, abundant display reads as exciting and in-demand. A sparse display feels like you're selling leftovers.
What Should You Prioritize?
Lead with your best-sellers. If you have an Etsy shop or website, pull your sales data and let it guide you. Don't feel like you need to bring your entire catalog, focus first on what you know people love.
Batch Production Saves Your Sanity
When you're making your products, make things in batches. Not only does it save time, but it makes each individual step go faster the more you repeat it. Also, think strategically: order your supplies early, and if certain products require waiting (curing time, drying time, etc.), start those first so you're not scrambling at the end.
Branding and Packaging Matter More Than You Think
I'm a brand designer by day, so I feel strongly about this: professional, consistent branding makes your handmade products look premium, not cheap. People love handmade, but a very DIY-looking brand can undercut the perceived value of your work.
If you're just starting out and feel overwhelmed by this, keep it simple: one clean font, one brand color, and your business name front and center. Selecting the right name is probably more important than selecting the right visuals. You can evolve the visuals over time, but your name is harder to change once it lives in people's minds.
Make sure your brand name and website are on all of your packaging.
How to Plan Your Booth Space
Step 1: Decide What Products You're Bringing
Before you can plan your display, you need to know what you're selling at this particular event. Not everything you make is right for every show.
Ask yourself:
- Who is the audience? What's the demographic, the vibe, the location?
- What's the season or occasion? Holiday market? Summer festival? Farmer's market?
- What's your space size? A 10x10 tent allows for more than a single table.
- What's practical to transport and display?
- What best represents your brand?
Always plan to bring a range of price points, especially if your work leans toward higher-end pricing. A lower-priced entry-level item gives people who love your brand a way to access it — it's an impulse or accessible purchase that can build loyalty over time.
Step 2: Plan Your Displays
Once you know your product lineup, you can plan how to display each item for maximum visual impact and clarity.
Types of displays to consider:
- Shelving or risers (even on a tabletop)
- Pegboards, slatwalls, or gridwalls
- Garment racks (for clothing)
- Slatted jewelry displays
- Bins and baskets
- Wood, glass, or ceramic dishes
Key display principles I swear by:
Keep it full, but organized. A full display is exciting, but a chaotic display is overwhelming. People cannot parse chaos, and clutter reads as cheap. Aim for abundant and tidy.
Use repetition. For me, it's my greeting card rack full of our hand-painted cards or a row of our colorful keychains. Repetition is visually compelling, helps you display a lot of product efficiently, and draws people in from a distance.
Create visual levels. Don't lay everything flat on the table. Elevate some items, use risers, add height variation. Shoppers can spot taller, elevated items from far away — so put your most eye-catching or popular products up higher.
Let your displays reinforce your brand aesthetic. When in doubt, keep things neutral, simple, and coordinated so your products do the talking.
Plan for wind. This one sounds minor until you're chasing items across a parking lot mid-show. Use clips, bands, or other anchors to keep things in place. Wind at outdoor markets is a near-certainty at some point.
Think about transport before you commit. You may have a great idea for a display, but if your display is too heavy or complex to transport, it'll quickly become a burden. I once built a freestanding pegboard display I was really proud of, and I only used it twice before I realized it was way too cumbersome to haul around. Now I use a hanging pegboard, which is infinitely more practical. Learn from me on this one.
On decor and gimmicks: Some vendors add photo ops, spin-to-win games, or vending machines to their booth. I'm personally not a fan — I don't feel they meaningfully increase sales, and I'd rather not haul the extra stuff or have it taking up valuable space in my booth. Similarly, I skip decorative elements that are purely aesthetic. A clean, product-focused display is my preference, but you'll need to decide what feels right for your brand.
Core Booth Components
These are the essentials you need no matter what:
Pop-up tent (for 10x10 spaces) If you're in a 10x10 space, you need a tent. My advice: stick with white, choose a reputable brand (Eurmax and EZ Up are both solid), and if you're setting up solo, get a model with a center push-up mechanism. Do not skimp on this — a cheap tent is a liability in any kind of weather. Make sure to spring for one that comes with sidewalls. I have this one that also has a little awning.
Market umbrella (for table spaces) If you have a table space, a market umbrella can protect you and your products from sun or light rain. Always confirm with the organizer that umbrellas are allowed before purchasing one. If you go with an umbrella, make sure to bring a weighted stand for it as well, and keep an eye on it if the wind picks up.
Folding tables Most vendors use folding tables, unless you're using freestanding display systems. Freestanding display options would include standing or hanging pegboards, prefabricated click-together wood systems, or freestanding shelves — which can be used instead of or alongside tables. That said, if you're just starting out, tables are the most affordable and flexible option while you're still figuring out your setup.
Table covering: You'll need something to cover your tables. My personal recommendation is a stretch tablecloth — they're not the most glamorous, but they stay put in the wind, which is a genuine game-changer. If you insist on a non-fitted cloth, bring clothespins or clips to secure it to the table legs in case the wind picks up.
Tent weights: Most events require tent weights, often 40 lbs per leg. You can get sand bags, weight plates, or fillable containers (I use the Eurmax fillable rectangular weights — great because I can empty them when I'm not using a tent). Pro tip from a fellow vendor: hang one or two half-filled sandbags over the center crossbars for extra stability in wind.
Transportation equipment: Most vendors use a folding cart, and honestly, mine is the single best purchase I've ever made for my craft show business. Get one that's larger than you think you need, and don't cut corners on quality. I've had mine from Costco for years and it's still going strong. A good cart will save your back and your sanity. Some vendors also use a dolly or hand-truck, but I have found them to be more cumbersome.
Payment processor: You need a way to take digital payments. The most popular option is the Shopify card reader, because it syncs directly with your Shopify store. If you don't use Shopify, Square is a great alternative — you can enter your products into the app and process transactions easily.
Cash: People will still want to pay in cash, and some markets require you to accept it. I usually start the day with the following: 2 twenties, 4 tens, 4 fives, and 20–30 ones. I skip coins and round to the nearest dollar for cash transactions. Contrary to what most people say, you do NOT need a cash box — I find them bulky, heavy, and a target for theft. I use a small accordion file from the dollar store, or I keep my cash in a belt bag I wear on my body at all times.
Signage: You don't need to go overboard here. For a tent setup, a banner across the back or front is most common. For a table space, I love a logo runner — it's unobtrusive and doesn't eat up display space. I personally avoid dimensional tabletop signs because they take up valuable real estate.
Chairs: Consider whether a standard-height chair will work for your setup, or if you need something taller. If your display is elevated, you don't want to be seated significantly lower than your products and constantly popping up to greet customers. I use a folding bar stool for this reason.
Additional Booth Components
The Supporting Cast
Packaging: Bags, boxes, tissue, stickers. I try to keep packaging as compact as possible before use. I use transparent plastic bags (people can see the product other customers bought while walking around — free advertising!) and pop-up pillow boxes for jewelry that lay flat until needed.
Business cards or a QR code: Give people a way to find you after the show. Even just a simple card with your website and social handles goes a long way.
Price signs: You can price items individually, place signs near product groupings, or use a master price list — or some combination. Whatever you choose, make it easy to read at a glance.
Special offer signage: If you're running any market-specific promos (like a buy-2-get-1, BOGO, or bundle discount), you'll need signage for those too. I almost always run a multi-item offer, especially on lower-priced items, and it consistently helps boost sales.
Email signup sheet: Even if you don't have email software set up yet — collect those emails! I didn't do this for years and I genuinely regret it. A simple clipboard and paper sign-up sheet works. Don't feel the need to direct people to it—they'll see it on their own if they're interested.
Outfit: Comfortable clothes and good shoes are non-negotiable. Check the weather forecast and layer accordingly. I also keep a blanket in my car for winter markets — and I use it almost every single time.
Your Goodie Bag (Pack This Every Time)
This is your market emergency kit. You will use these things way more than you expect:
- Zip ties
- Swiss army knife (with scissors!)
- Double-sided tape (I keep some toupee tape in my bag!)
- Regular tape
- Chapstick
- Small tube of sunscreen
- Small tube of hand lotion
- Hand sanitizer
- Disinfecting hand wipes
- Ibuprofen or aspirin
- Clothespins or clips (standard and mini)
- Rubber bands
- Phone charging cord
- Phone battery backup
- Paper fan
- Rain poncho
- Clear tarp
- Gloves
- Sunglasses or a baseball cap
- Wood shims (for leveling uneven surfaces)
- Spare parts or tools related to your craft (I bring extra earring hoops, pliers, and extra earring backs)
How to Interact with Customers
This is an area where a lot of first-time vendors either over-correct (pushy sales mode) or under-correct (buried in their phone). Here's what actually works:
Say hello. Even if shoppers are deep in conversation with each other, a simple "how are you doing today?" gets them to notice you and acknowledge your booth.
Don't make a sales pitch. People can feel it when they're being sold to, and it creates distance. Let your products do the talking.
Make authentic comments. If you genuinely love someone's earrings or jacket, tell them. Real connection is what makes people want to support you.
Share relevant info naturally. If someone is examining a product, you can offer a detail or two — or mention a show special. But don't dump every fact about your products on them all at once.
Stay present without staring. Have something to keep your hands busy so you don't look like you're watching customers. Reorganizing products or making products tend to work well for me!
Put your phone away. Seriously. Being on your phone signals that you're checked out, and it makes shoppers feel like an interruption.
What to Do Before the Market
- Test your POS system and run a practice transaction
- Do a trial setup at home and take photos for reference (also useful for future market applications)
- Get cash in the denominations I mentioned above — and keep a stash from show to show so you're not scrambling each time
- Promote on social media — show your followers exactly where you'll be on the event map the day before
- Pack your car the night before
- Pack your snacks the night before + get your coffee machine ready!
- Check the weather forecast multiple times as you get closer — Check for extreme heat, precipitation, and excessive wind
- Extra credit: pre-stuff your bags with your business card so every purchase goes home with your info (and you don't have to worry about doing it in the moment)
What to Do During the Market
- Post day-of once you're set up to remind your followers you're there
- Take a great photo of your display — you'll often need this for future market applications, and morning light is usually gorgeous
- Capture other photo and video content early, before you get busy — you may not have time later and the early morning light is often the best!
What to Do After the Market
- If you have another show coming up, restock inventory immediately while everything is fresh in your mind — including packaging and business cards
- Enter new emails into your email software (or a spreadsheet if you're not there yet)
- Log your sales numbers — I have a whole separate video on how I track profitability
- Hop on social media and thank your shoppers
Final Lessons
You're going to learn a lot your first time out. You won't get it all right, and that's completely okay. The goal isn't perfection — it's finding a setup that looks great, functions well, and doesn't leave you completely broke or burnt out.
Aim for that happy medium: something that looks and works well without over-investing before you know what you really need. My booth has evolved significantly over 8 years, and most experienced makers will tell you the same. But hopefully this guide helps you shortcut at least a few of the lessons I learned the hard way.
Want to see exactly how I set up my own simple market booth? Watch my full setup video for a real behind-the-scenes look. And if you're building your handmade business from the ground up, check out my Youtube channel for more tips like these.
And don't forget — grab the free craft show prep checklist right here!
P.S. Shop my Amazon Storefront for Market Supplies right here.
---
Tags: craft show tips, how to prepare for a craft fair, first craft show checklist, craft vendor tips, craft booth setup, handmade business, how to do craft markets, craft fair booth ideas, vendor market tips
Leave a comment