Your First Craft Stall: Everything you Need to Know

 

What to expect at your first craft fair

Going into your first craft fair can be daunting, but it’s important not to strive for perfection. Everyone will have a different craft fair experience, so it’s hard to know what to expect exactly.

However, as long as you are prepared, the day should run smoothly and you can expect to see some sales.

How to prepare before your first stall at a craft fair

Preparing for your first craft fair shouldn’t be rushed. It isn’t as straightforward as it may seem and it will usually require quite a lot of planning to ensure you are fully prepared.

Listed below are some of steps we recommend you take to help you prepare before having your own stall at a craft fair:

• • Do your research – Think about what kind of craft fair your products will best suit. For example, would your products be best suited for smaller inner-city markets or would farmers markets be more appropriate?In the lead up to your first craft stall, try to visit other fairs. This will give you an idea of how many people you can expect to see there, what the busy stalls are doing right and how much product you expect you’ll need.
  • Get insured – Many craft fair owners will require their sellers to have craft fair insurance, so it’s a good idea to have it ready in advance.Craft fair insurance can be conjoined with your annual Public Liability Insurance and Product Liability Insurance policies, helping to ensure you are fully protected to sell your products to the public.
  • Think about your branding – As a new trader, you should think about how you should present your stall. After all, it’s important that you don’t just blend in with the other stalls. Try to think about fonts, colours and packaging that will compliment your products and encourage visitors to come to your stall.

 

You can find our full comprehensive list on how to prepare for the craft fair season by reading our dedicated guide.

Get Prepared for your First Craft Stall with Us!

Your first craft stall checklist

When you’re getting ready for your first craft stall, it’s a good idea to create a checklist of the equipment you’ll likely need.

Technology:

• Your mobile – Having your phone handing is essential for sharing your socials, online store or just quickly looking up any information. Don’t forget your phone charger too!
• Card reader – Many buyers will just expect you to take card payments, so it is a good idea to have a small card reader you can bring with you. Many card readers are very easy to use now and you can use them through your mobile phone.
• QR codes – Although this isn’t a necessity, having QR codes displayed on your stall means shoppers can quickly head over to your online store if they don’t want to buy anything on the day or you have run out of a certain product.

 

Packaging:

• Paper bags – You can offer these to buyers if your products are too large to carry or are delicate.
• Tissue paper – This is especially important if you are selling delicate items such as ceramics or ornaments. If you don’t want to pay for tissue paper, using old newspapers is a cheaper alternative.
• Repeat purchase cards – Giving customers a card thanking them for the purchase and asking them to visit your online store is a great way to encourage them to shop with you again.

Payments and inventory

• Product inventory list – You should have a list of your orders on hand so you can quickly check what has been sold throughout the day.
• Receipt book – This is optional, however giving customers a receipt for their purchase can help to build trust and also encourage customer loyalty.
• Custom order forms – If you make custom items, it can be extremely beneficial to have custom order forms ready to be filled out.
• Cash box – Not everyone will want to use their card, so it is a good idea to have some cash on hand that is readily available.
• Price labels – Your product prices should always be on display and easily seen by members of the public.
• You may also need some other miscellaneous items depending on the types of products you sell, such as:

Scissors
Pens
Tape
Stapler
Bin bags
Hand sanitiser
Comfy shoes and a jacket

Preparing enough stock to take to a craft fair

Having a well stocked stall is one way to entice customers from the get go. However, this does mean you will have to start preparing all of your stock a fair bit in advance, especially if your products require some time to make.

You should write a schedule of what to make in the weeks or months leading up to the craft fair and try your best to stick to it. Once you’ve got the bulk of the product made, in the lead up to the fair you can then start to quality check what you’d like to sell and make any final changes.

Securing insurance for selling at craft fairs

As we’ve briefly mentioned, having craft insurance is an essential and it is actually required by most craft fair organisers.

Often, they will need proof of your Public and Product Liability insurance policies. We understand this can be another added stress, which is why we always ensure your policy documents are easy to access and ready to send to fair organisers.

The flexible nature of our craft stall policy makes us perfect for all sized businesses, even if you are a new startup! We can even add additional extras such as:

• Stock and equipment cover
• Cover for your goods and equipment whilst in transit to the fair
• Loss of money up to £1,000

 

If you don’t feel like you want to commit to a full annual craft fair policy, we offer convenient one-off craft fair policies too. These are perfect for first time craft fair goers who are just looking to test the waters when it comes to craft fairs.

Preparing your stall set up

To make your stall look enticing, there are a few key elements you should consider. Try to think about the stalls you saw while researching and consider what you liked and didn’t like.

Think about the overall layout of your products and how you can arrange them in an eyecatching way. You can add some decorative touches, such as plants or any other appropriate props that add to the feel of your stall.

You can also add in engaging elements, such as samples and demonstrations. People love being able to try, touch or experience something before they buy it. This can help customers make informed decisions before they buy and helps to create a memorable experience.

As we’ve mentioned, having both cash and card payments is generally what is expected by most craft fair customers. Although most customers will pay by card, it is a good idea to have a petty cash tin for those who prefer to use cash, such as the older generation.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, many card readers are very easy to use and they can be connected to your mobile phone. Alternatively, you can do bank transfers instead, however this can be tedious and may require too much work from the customer.

Setting up your first stall at a craft fair

Everyone will have their own versions of how to set up a stall at a craft fair, however listed below are our top tips that will help you get started.

• Plan and practice your presentation – Planning how you want to show off your products is a good way to be ready for the actual event. You can accessorise your table with different decorations or items that help to enhance your products, but remember what you’re selling needs to be the star of the show.
• Show off your branding – Make sure your branding and business cards are on show across the whole of your stall. This way customers can easily see who you are and you can easily direct them to your online store.
• Be clear about your pricing – You should have your prices clearly displayed in more than one place so people don’t have to ask. It’s also a good idea to have information handy about products so people can read while you’re busy talking to other customers.
• Make sure your insurance is valid – Although this may not be at the top of your priorities, it should be. We’re sure you know by now, but having craft fair insurance is essential. Not only does it protect you as a stall holder, but it can help to cover your equipment and products too.