So my sister and I participated in our third craft show today.  Needless to say it was not nearly as lucrative as I would've hoped.  There were not many vendors and not much foot traffic despite the event having been advertised in the local community.  The whole experience, while leaving us somewhat disappointed got me thinking "what can I take away from this?" 

Now with just three craft shows under our belt it certainly doesn't make us experts, but I think it's good that we have been getting our feet wet and putting ourselves and our products out there.  I will admit that I'm not one of those research and "figure it out ahead of time" gals.  Once I make my mind up on some things I sometimes leap first and ask questions later.  That being said here are some of the things I've learned:

1. Participating in Craft Shows is a great way to meet other crafters and network.  We've really met some wonderful artisans and business owners and oftentimes you see the same people at several local craft shows throughout the year.  It's a wonderful way to network with kindred spirits.  For example, our booth neighbor told us about several area craft shows coming up that we had no idea about as we are still new to the craft show circuit.

2. You get ideas for displaying your products.  We have made slight adjustments to our display each time we've been to a craft show.  We get ideas for improving our display based on customer interaction and we get inspiration from other, more experienced crafters.

3. Just because one show's success is lackluster, don't give up.  That's something my husband and I always tell our 7 year old when she's feeling frustrated by something, "Never give up!"  Think of the things that are in your control that you can do better for the next time you participate in a craft show.  Do you need better signage/pricing?  Have you signed up for one of those credit card swipers for your smart phone?  Do you have business cards?  How else can you display your products to draw in potential customers?

So, cheers to a super successful craft show next time around!  In the meantime, I am grateful for today's experience.  ;)

Do you participate in craft shows?  What have your experiences been like?

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