Best Ways to Protect your Business at Craft Fairs

 

The biggest risks for your business at a craft fair

The biggest risks for your business at a craft fair involve operational issues, legal issues, and financial losses. Understanding these risks sets you up well to protect against them.

• Public liability claims – A customer or passerby could become injured as a result of your business activities. Equally, their property could be damaged too. Public liability insurance is often an event necessity, and even if it isn’t, it’s a very good idea to get covered.
• Product liability claimsEven well made products can cause injury to customers or damage to property. Protecting against claims with product liability insurance covers legal fees which may result.
• Low sales – Incorrectly priced items (whether too low or too high) can lose you money.
• High upfront costs –Paying for booth fees, travel costs and buying supplies can mean that upfront costs can be a lot to recoup.
• Theft – Whilst unlikely, it is possible that cash or products can be stolen if left unattended.
• Poor stall management – If your stall isn’t well laid out, is too cluttered, or is simply uninviting, you risk deterring potential customers.

 
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Why planning is important before you sell at a craft fair

Planning before you sell at a craft fair, farmers market, car boot sale, or any other event, planning is a necessary step to ensure you’re aware of all risks and ready to protect against them.

On top of this, careful preparation also maximises your chances of making profit and selling your crafts successfully. Planning may include careful market research and subsequent marketing strategy.
 

How to protect your business at craft fairs

Securing the right kind of insurance

The first step to protecting your business as craft fairs is by securing the right kind of insurance to product against public or product liability claims.

Public liability insurance covers the cost of claims made by members of the public for incidents resulting from your business’s activities.

Product liability insurance protects businesses from claims if a product you made or sold causes personal injury or property damage. Both of these insurance types generally include compensation and legal fees.

Protecting your stall

Another element of protecting your business at craft fairs is by protecting your stall from theft or vandalism. Typically, you should try to remain stationed at your stall at all times, with a streamlined setup allowing you to keep your eyes on each element of your booth as much as possible. You could even consider strategically placing mirrors to cover blind spots.

Follow fair-specific regulations

Next, ensure that you’re following fair-specific regulations as well as general health and safety procedures. This begins with ensuring trip hazards are avoided, so any wiring is taped down, or boxes/items which could be trip hazards are stored out of the way. Performing a risk assessment to identify and reduce the danger of any risks is a good plan.

Payment Options

Finally, you should consider how you will take payments in a way which is safe for your business and for potential customers. Consider mobile payment options such as Square or Sumup with a card reader, or tap to pay on your phone for contactless payments.

For cash payments, ensure cash is stored in a secure location such as a money belt or a box which is out of sight. We’d recommend testing your card/mobile payment methods before the fair begins so you can be sure everything runs smoothly.

For further advice regarding protecting your business at a Craft Fair, or to secure insurance cover, contact us today.

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