1 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:04,890 Hi there. 2 00:00:05,310 --> 00:00:07,710 I see that you made it over to the new tips 3 00:00:07,710 --> 00:00:09,660 and talk portion of the podcast. 4 00:00:10,260 --> 00:00:14,850 These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions and 5 00:00:14,850 --> 00:00:18,360 things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small bits. 6 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:23,810 Today, we're going to continue our conversation about craft shows and 7 00:00:23,810 --> 00:00:28,160 we're going to specifically address the challenges and then the solutions 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,370 to these challenges of participating in a craft show. 9 00:00:31,730 --> 00:00:34,130 I just got back yesterday from Denver, 10 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:36,770 we got a chance to go out and see the kids 11 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:39,710 after eight months from being apart. 12 00:00:40,070 --> 00:00:44,000 It was really interesting to me how different Colorado is in 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,440 terms of being open and available to the way Chicago is 14 00:00:49,010 --> 00:00:50,810 no question about it. 15 00:00:50,810 --> 00:00:54,680 Craft shows are opening up all across the country and some 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:56,750 of them I know never totally shut down, 17 00:00:57,050 --> 00:00:58,220 but many of them did. 18 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,520 So that's why I decided to do this two part craft 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,360 show convo on everything about craft shows. 20 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:06,320 Last week, 21 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:09,020 we talked about how do you select the right shows for 22 00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:10,130 you? And then now, 23 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:11,480 how do you judge at the end, 24 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,980 if it's a show that really reinforced your initial thoughts of 25 00:01:15,980 --> 00:01:18,590 attending the show and whether you should repeat it again in 26 00:01:18,590 --> 00:01:19,130 the future. 27 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:23,750 Now let's talk about some of the challenges and obstacles and 28 00:01:23,750 --> 00:01:28,340 what the solutions are to those for purposes of today, 29 00:01:28,610 --> 00:01:32,900 I'm going to break this down into some obstacles or challenges 30 00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:35,480 that present themselves before the show. 31 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,910 So when you're in that preparation stage, 32 00:01:38,150 --> 00:01:41,660 and then also challenges that will come up during the show 33 00:01:41,660 --> 00:01:43,370 when you're actually there alive, 34 00:01:43,790 --> 00:01:45,830 decided to do three in each category. 35 00:01:45,830 --> 00:01:48,770 So three in the prep category three in the, 36 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,360 during the show category. 37 00:01:50,540 --> 00:01:52,760 And I think these are pretty much the biggest three that 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:53,450 you will have. 39 00:01:54,170 --> 00:01:57,740 The first thing that I always hear from people when you've 40 00:01:57,740 --> 00:02:00,800 decided you're going to do a show is how in the 41 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,590 world do you know how much product to make? 42 00:02:04,220 --> 00:02:06,980 You don't want to make too much product and spend too 43 00:02:06,980 --> 00:02:10,610 much time and have a ton of inventory leftover at the 44 00:02:10,610 --> 00:02:11,450 same time. 45 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,760 You don't want to run out of inventory, 46 00:02:13,790 --> 00:02:16,250 which then means you can't make a potential sale. 47 00:02:16,730 --> 00:02:18,440 So where is that sweet spot? 48 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:21,770 How do you know before you enter the show so that 49 00:02:21,770 --> 00:02:22,970 you can get that all right? 50 00:02:23,450 --> 00:02:25,760 The truth is you have to test it. 51 00:02:26,390 --> 00:02:28,100 Once you start doing shows, 52 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:31,700 you're going to have a better gauge as to which products 53 00:02:31,700 --> 00:02:32,690 sell the best, 54 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,090 which are the most popular, 55 00:02:35,570 --> 00:02:38,960 which shows sell the most product. 56 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,110 Like you might have one product in your lineup that sells 57 00:02:42,110 --> 00:02:44,180 better at a farmer's market, 58 00:02:44,180 --> 00:02:47,840 let's say than another one that sells great at a craft 59 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,530 show. And so it really has to be time in to 60 00:02:51,530 --> 00:02:52,850 really know for sure. 61 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,860 However, here are some guidelines as you're considering what products and 62 00:02:57,860 --> 00:03:01,750 how many of each you're planning to have in preparation for 63 00:03:01,750 --> 00:03:02,170 the show. 64 00:03:02,470 --> 00:03:03,580 The very first thing. 65 00:03:03,580 --> 00:03:07,240 And I talked about this in the very first tips and 66 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,980 talk podcast that I did to, 67 00:03:08,980 --> 00:03:10,930 if you go back to the very first one, 68 00:03:10,930 --> 00:03:12,730 I think this is about six weeks ago. 69 00:03:12,730 --> 00:03:16,210 Now I talk about the biggest mistake people will make. 70 00:03:16,900 --> 00:03:19,660 And this does apply to shows too. 71 00:03:19,660 --> 00:03:24,220 And that is make sure that you have your booth themed 72 00:03:24,220 --> 00:03:24,880 in some way, 73 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,530 based on the product that you make. 74 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,660 If you are a knitter, 75 00:03:28,810 --> 00:03:30,460 you'll have multiple products, 76 00:03:30,460 --> 00:03:33,850 but they're all under the theme of Niti or same thing. 77 00:03:33,850 --> 00:03:35,020 If you're a Potter, 78 00:03:35,110 --> 00:03:37,660 all different designs of pottery that you make, 79 00:03:37,660 --> 00:03:38,710 that you can sell. 80 00:03:38,950 --> 00:03:41,980 So if you were a knitter and a Potter and you 81 00:03:41,980 --> 00:03:43,030 painted, you know, 82 00:03:43,030 --> 00:03:43,930 water color, 83 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,480 when you have all of that on your table, 84 00:03:46,750 --> 00:03:47,470 you think about it. 85 00:03:47,470 --> 00:03:51,550 You've neutralized your specialty because there is no specialty, 86 00:03:51,550 --> 00:03:52,690 you do too many things. 87 00:03:53,290 --> 00:03:55,990 So the first thing is to make sure that you're thinking 88 00:03:55,990 --> 00:03:58,930 and staying within a certain product theme, 89 00:03:59,350 --> 00:04:02,950 then stay away from feeling like you have to produce every 90 00:04:02,950 --> 00:04:07,060 single product in every single size that you make. 91 00:04:07,660 --> 00:04:10,120 The better thing to do is go with the ones that 92 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,650 are the most popular. 93 00:04:12,010 --> 00:04:15,340 Because many times people are just trying you out there identifying 94 00:04:15,340 --> 00:04:16,870 and finding you at a show, 95 00:04:16,870 --> 00:04:19,060 and they're trying out your product. 96 00:04:19,630 --> 00:04:22,090 Let's say you have 20 cents of candles. 97 00:04:22,090 --> 00:04:25,450 Maybe you have five or seven of your best sellers. 98 00:04:25,450 --> 00:04:28,600 And so you're going deeper in your product line. 99 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:34,240 You're making more of those versus having fewer of every single 100 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:35,740 cent you have that way. 101 00:04:35,740 --> 00:04:38,140 You're also not going to sell out of a certain scent 102 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,730 and look like you've come to the show, 103 00:04:39,740 --> 00:04:40,750 less prepared, 104 00:04:40,930 --> 00:04:42,370 okay? Cause you don't have everything. 105 00:04:42,460 --> 00:04:47,320 So fewer products deeper within the lines. 106 00:04:47,530 --> 00:04:49,300 And then you can have a list on the side of 107 00:04:49,300 --> 00:04:51,370 all the different scents that are available, 108 00:04:51,370 --> 00:04:53,500 but the ones that this show are this, 109 00:04:53,770 --> 00:04:54,640 the other reason you do, 110 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,650 this is too many options, 111 00:04:56,740 --> 00:04:58,630 confuse customers. 112 00:04:58,930 --> 00:05:00,580 They, and so they're sitting and thinking, 113 00:05:00,850 --> 00:05:02,560 do I want that pumpkin spice? 114 00:05:02,620 --> 00:05:05,530 Or do I want the cherries Jubilee scent? 115 00:05:05,530 --> 00:05:06,760 Or maybe I want this one? 116 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:07,990 Or what about this one? 117 00:05:08,410 --> 00:05:10,750 Then all of a sudden they get distracted and pulled away 118 00:05:10,780 --> 00:05:11,770 and then they purchase nothing. 119 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,220 So in answer to how many products do you need to 120 00:05:15,220 --> 00:05:18,510 make? You've got to pick a number, 121 00:05:18,510 --> 00:05:21,270 right? And pick a strategy based on what I just talked 122 00:05:21,270 --> 00:05:24,870 about in terms of how many options having your product be 123 00:05:24,870 --> 00:05:27,450 themed, then go a little bit deeper in each of the 124 00:05:27,450 --> 00:05:30,150 lines. And then you're going to see how that does for 125 00:05:30,150 --> 00:05:30,990 that show. 126 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,370 And then each show, 127 00:05:32,370 --> 00:05:33,660 as I talked about it in the beginning, 128 00:05:33,870 --> 00:05:36,000 you'll get smarter and smarter. 129 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,070 Based on your experience, 130 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,610 you could ask other people who are in different markets who 131 00:05:41,610 --> 00:05:42,930 sell a similar product, 132 00:05:43,110 --> 00:05:44,310 how they've prepared, 133 00:05:44,550 --> 00:05:47,040 but it doesn't mean that that's the exact same experience. 134 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,570 You'll have your market's different. 135 00:05:48,570 --> 00:05:49,680 Your product's different, 136 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:51,240 the way you present is different. 137 00:05:51,510 --> 00:05:54,300 So you really need to go off of your experience and 138 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:55,140 build upon that. 139 00:05:55,650 --> 00:05:58,820 The next big challenge when you're getting ready for a show 140 00:05:58,850 --> 00:06:01,430 is what should my booth look like? 141 00:06:01,820 --> 00:06:04,310 And the one big thing that I see a lot of 142 00:06:04,310 --> 00:06:05,360 people doing, 143 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,380 it's actually two sides of the spectrum here with their display. 144 00:06:09,830 --> 00:06:13,520 The first is it's just a blank table with their product 145 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:13,970 on it. 146 00:06:14,130 --> 00:06:15,560 That looks a little minimal. 147 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,900 There's nothing to draw you into the booth. 148 00:06:17,900 --> 00:06:22,520 And I'm going to say one of my most favorite booth 149 00:06:22,580 --> 00:06:26,840 attractions that I've ever seen was done by Julie and her 150 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:27,980 husband, Julie Skaggs, 151 00:06:27,980 --> 00:06:30,290 and her husband of mad Soil test. 152 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,160 They use soy candles And at local craft shows now they 153 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,200 don't do it at all of the shows that they're in, 154 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:37,520 but when they can, 155 00:06:37,820 --> 00:06:39,950 they bring in dry ice, 156 00:06:39,950 --> 00:06:43,070 you know how the dry ice smokes all over and the 157 00:06:43,070 --> 00:06:45,680 thing that's so cool about it is it totally aligns with 158 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:46,550 their brand. 159 00:06:46,820 --> 00:06:50,000 Julia and her husband are science teachers. 160 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,030 And so mad scientist, 161 00:06:53,060 --> 00:06:54,950 like it all goes into brand, 162 00:06:54,950 --> 00:06:58,010 right? Clearly when you're walking down an aisle at a craft 163 00:06:58,010 --> 00:07:00,440 show, you have to do a second take, 164 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:01,760 like, what is this about? 165 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,920 And then you go into their booth and you learn more 166 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:05,510 about what they do and et cetera, 167 00:07:05,510 --> 00:07:06,050 et cetera. 168 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:07,550 So what can you do? 169 00:07:07,550 --> 00:07:10,280 That's a little different that can attract people in. 170 00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:14,030 And then the second thing that I'll see in terms of, 171 00:07:14,030 --> 00:07:16,700 I'm going to say a mistake at the booth is having 172 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:18,590 your method of displaying, 173 00:07:18,710 --> 00:07:22,400 grab more attention and outshine the product. 174 00:07:22,730 --> 00:07:24,830 You want your product to be the star. 175 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:29,390 It's nice to have displays that enhance and show off your 176 00:07:29,390 --> 00:07:32,690 product, but don't let them take over the show. 177 00:07:33,050 --> 00:07:34,460 I'm thinking jewelry. 178 00:07:34,460 --> 00:07:37,970 I really like when jewelry is displayed on maybe some natural 179 00:07:37,970 --> 00:07:39,020 twigs, you know? 180 00:07:39,020 --> 00:07:43,790 So, so necklaces are dropping down from little angles of all 181 00:07:43,790 --> 00:07:44,900 the different branches. 182 00:07:45,170 --> 00:07:46,640 That's a really cool look. 183 00:07:47,150 --> 00:07:50,150 I've seen people display things on crates. 184 00:07:50,180 --> 00:07:51,890 Now, if you're using something heavier, 185 00:07:51,890 --> 00:07:52,790 like a crate, 186 00:07:53,300 --> 00:07:55,460 your product should be bigger too. 187 00:07:55,460 --> 00:07:56,420 So you're again, 188 00:07:56,450 --> 00:07:59,750 not to let the display overwhelm your product. 189 00:07:59,930 --> 00:08:02,330 You wouldn't put necklaces on a crate, 190 00:08:02,660 --> 00:08:06,950 but maybe pottery because it's balanced out by the weight would 191 00:08:06,950 --> 00:08:09,350 be well displayed on a crate or, 192 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:09,770 you know, 193 00:08:09,770 --> 00:08:13,220 like the Mason jars that are filled with your toffee would 194 00:08:13,220 --> 00:08:14,210 look good on crates. 195 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,640 So the thing is you don't have to spend a ton 196 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:18,410 of money on your display, 197 00:08:18,770 --> 00:08:21,260 but make it interesting unique, 198 00:08:21,350 --> 00:08:25,220 have it draw them in another idea would be fabrics. 199 00:08:25,550 --> 00:08:27,290 This would work well for Jewelry too. 200 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,750 Having fabrics Laid across, 201 00:08:29,750 --> 00:08:29,960 you know, 202 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:30,980 not just flat, 203 00:08:30,980 --> 00:08:31,790 but maybe, 204 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:32,060 you know, 205 00:08:32,060 --> 00:08:34,310 bunched up a little bit and laid across your table. 206 00:08:34,310 --> 00:08:35,630 So be creative, 207 00:08:35,660 --> 00:08:36,080 be used. 208 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,540 Doesn't have to cost a lot of money Place to go 209 00:08:40,540 --> 00:08:41,440 for ideas. 210 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:43,660 Pinterest, just jump in there, 211 00:08:43,690 --> 00:08:44,980 search under some keywords. 212 00:08:44,980 --> 00:08:48,670 And I bet there'll be a plethora of ideas For you 213 00:08:48,670 --> 00:08:50,200 there. Moving on, 214 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,120 we're still Talking about displays. 215 00:08:52,330 --> 00:08:55,420 The other thing to consider here is you absolutely. 216 00:08:55,710 --> 00:08:56,370 And center, 217 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,640 want your company name and logo. 218 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,690 And the important thing here is make sure that it matches 219 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:07,170 your website or social media platforms. 220 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:07,830 All of that, 221 00:09:07,830 --> 00:09:09,750 because if someone leaves the show, 222 00:09:09,990 --> 00:09:11,670 you want to make sure that if they go to look 223 00:09:11,670 --> 00:09:12,390 for you online, 224 00:09:12,390 --> 00:09:15,510 afterwards, that they know they're in the exact right place, 225 00:09:15,510 --> 00:09:18,870 because what they saw from your booth is represented in the 226 00:09:18,870 --> 00:09:19,860 exact same way. 227 00:09:19,890 --> 00:09:24,660 Online consistency is so important and so key. 228 00:09:25,050 --> 00:09:25,830 And you know, 229 00:09:25,860 --> 00:09:26,640 think about it. 230 00:09:26,910 --> 00:09:29,730 You see your logo in your company name all the time. 231 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,020 So over and over again, 232 00:09:31,020 --> 00:09:31,800 you kind of feel like, 233 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,270 well, everyone's already seen it. 234 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:35,910 Lots of people are only meeting you for the first time. 235 00:09:35,910 --> 00:09:39,590 So what comes to feel standard and regular and repetitive For 236 00:09:39,590 --> 00:09:42,680 you is not for your customers. 237 00:09:43,220 --> 00:09:43,880 Another group, 238 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,060 Great thing that you could put in your booth is some 239 00:09:47,060 --> 00:09:48,590 type of a poster. 240 00:09:48,620 --> 00:09:48,800 You know, 241 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,370 like a nice laminated poster or professionally Made poster, 242 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:53,840 which is a picture of you, 243 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,480 But also the story of how you started your business. 244 00:09:56,780 --> 00:09:58,730 Everybody wants to know about the maker, 245 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:00,530 the designer behind the product, 246 00:10:00,950 --> 00:10:03,680 and this would be a great thing that can capture people's 247 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:05,930 attention. If they're waiting to be able to talk to you, 248 00:10:05,930 --> 00:10:08,030 they just want to know a little bit more about you, 249 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:10,820 but it gives them other things that they can interact with 250 00:10:10,820 --> 00:10:11,780 at the booth. 251 00:10:12,050 --> 00:10:14,870 The other thing that has become very popular, 252 00:10:14,870 --> 00:10:16,310 a died off for a while, 253 00:10:16,310 --> 00:10:19,550 and now it's back are QR codes. 254 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,570 I was mentioning earlier that I just got back from Denver 255 00:10:23,570 --> 00:10:24,560 to see the kids. 256 00:10:24,590 --> 00:10:26,450 And I'm seeing this at the restaurants, 257 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,070 they're all over the places. 258 00:10:28,070 --> 00:10:30,620 There's a QR code in the middle of the table and 259 00:10:30,620 --> 00:10:32,420 you take a picture of it with your phone and it 260 00:10:32,420 --> 00:10:34,910 pops up the menu of The restaurant. 261 00:10:35,420 --> 00:10:37,880 You can use the same idea In your booth where a 262 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:42,560 QR code could lead to a YouTube video that you have 263 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:44,240 your website, 264 00:10:44,780 --> 00:10:46,040 a price list, 265 00:10:46,070 --> 00:10:48,830 perhaps lots of different options again, 266 00:10:48,830 --> 00:10:51,890 so that people who are just looking around the booth want 267 00:10:51,890 --> 00:10:54,950 to see more things are kind of thinking and just taking 268 00:10:54,950 --> 00:10:56,030 some time in your booth, 269 00:10:56,330 --> 00:10:58,430 lots of different interactive things that they can do. 270 00:10:58,700 --> 00:10:59,180 So these are, 271 00:10:59,180 --> 00:11:02,150 again, things that you can prepare as you're getting ready for 272 00:11:02,150 --> 00:11:02,750 your booth. 273 00:11:03,230 --> 00:11:05,540 The other thing I'm going through, 274 00:11:05,690 --> 00:11:08,420 as you're thinking about what your table's going to look like, 275 00:11:09,260 --> 00:11:11,750 take your kitchen table or your dining room table. 276 00:11:11,750 --> 00:11:14,090 If you know how big your area is going to be, 277 00:11:14,090 --> 00:11:17,210 let's say it's an eight foot table and actually lay out 278 00:11:17,210 --> 00:11:20,000 the products and see how it's going to look. 279 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,570 The one thing you don't want to do is overwhelm your 280 00:11:23,570 --> 00:11:26,030 table, like put too much On the table. 281 00:11:26,390 --> 00:11:29,570 So that then When people are going and touching and working 282 00:11:29,570 --> 00:11:32,120 with your products and looking at them and all of that, 283 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,750 that it doesn't continue to be messy because people don't want 284 00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:36,920 to approach a messy booth. 285 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,990 It just looks like a pile of things all on top 286 00:11:38,990 --> 00:11:39,680 of each other. 287 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:41,360 So depending on your product, 288 00:11:41,390 --> 00:11:43,070 obviously that's more of an issue. 289 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:48,110 If you sell knitted items or something that's so or prints 290 00:11:48,110 --> 00:11:49,130 that are staffed, 291 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:49,580 you know, 292 00:11:49,580 --> 00:11:54,130 things like that versus maybe jars of toffee by depending on 293 00:11:54,130 --> 00:11:54,760 your product. 294 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,270 So make sure that your table doesn't look too messy or 295 00:11:58,270 --> 00:12:00,160 would have the tendency to get too messy. 296 00:12:00,460 --> 00:12:01,960 And then also on the flip side, 297 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,760 make sure it doesn't look too sparse. 298 00:12:04,210 --> 00:12:04,390 You know, 299 00:12:04,390 --> 00:12:07,120 you don't want a table with a little bit of product 300 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,790 and then a whole bunch of just open table space. 301 00:12:10,060 --> 00:12:11,890 So you want to balance all of that out too. 302 00:12:12,460 --> 00:12:16,570 You want to make sure that your table allows for interaction. 303 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:21,280 The more that you have a customer interact with your product, 304 00:12:21,310 --> 00:12:23,110 the more likely they are to buy, 305 00:12:23,470 --> 00:12:25,060 you can hand somebody, 306 00:12:25,150 --> 00:12:29,260 your crocheted mittens for them to try on versus just looking 307 00:12:29,260 --> 00:12:30,790 at them from afar. 308 00:12:31,090 --> 00:12:32,790 Like if you're all product was all behind the, 309 00:12:33,810 --> 00:12:35,850 Or just looking at them on yeah. 310 00:12:36,150 --> 00:12:39,480 When people are able to interact and touch and feel and 311 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:40,470 try on, 312 00:12:40,770 --> 00:12:42,660 and even just jars of, 313 00:12:42,660 --> 00:12:45,990 let's say you make jam looking at them and touching them. 314 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:50,040 That is a tactic because the more people interact with them, 315 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:52,470 the more likely they are to buy. 316 00:12:52,740 --> 00:12:54,870 The final thing I want to talk about in the preparing 317 00:12:54,870 --> 00:12:59,940 category under the display is have some way to collect email 318 00:12:59,940 --> 00:13:01,320 addresses for the future. 319 00:13:01,770 --> 00:13:05,070 Whether it's some type of a sweepstakes that they enter into 320 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:06,360 for free product. 321 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,850 Now I know that costs you money to offer a free 322 00:13:08,850 --> 00:13:11,760 product, but it's generating leads for your, 323 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,470 for you to be able to market to them later. 324 00:13:13,740 --> 00:13:16,710 So some type of a free product sweepstakes where they're giving 325 00:13:16,710 --> 00:13:17,820 you their email, 326 00:13:18,330 --> 00:13:21,660 or it could be give me your email and I will 327 00:13:21,660 --> 00:13:26,430 send you my favorite recipe using my spices, 328 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,580 or even care instructions for your product. 329 00:13:29,580 --> 00:13:30,450 You can get creative, 330 00:13:30,450 --> 00:13:35,130 but something that your potential customer would really want in exchange 331 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,030 For an email, 332 00:13:36,930 --> 00:13:38,040 you get bonus Points. 333 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,950 If you give them something that they would really want, 334 00:13:40,980 --> 00:13:42,300 even if they don't buy from you. 335 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:43,260 Because again, 336 00:13:43,260 --> 00:13:45,660 they're a prospect they may buy in the future. 337 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:51,240 The thing not to do is to give away something that 338 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,210 has no correlation to your product at all. 339 00:13:54,330 --> 00:13:57,750 You know how often you'll see sweepstakes for like iPhones, 340 00:13:57,870 --> 00:14:00,600 iPads, All of that for you. 341 00:14:00,810 --> 00:14:01,830 That's not helpful. 342 00:14:01,890 --> 00:14:04,140 Everyone wants a new iPhone or an iPad, 343 00:14:04,410 --> 00:14:08,250 right? But will they still want your candles or your jewelry 344 00:14:08,310 --> 00:14:09,810 or your knitted shawls. 345 00:14:10,260 --> 00:14:13,860 You only want to be attracting the people who genuinely would 346 00:14:13,860 --> 00:14:15,240 have an interest in your product. 347 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:22,320 Okay. Also under the display category are samples. 348 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,350 Another thing you can do at face-to-face shows that you can't 349 00:14:25,350 --> 00:14:26,040 do online. 350 00:14:26,340 --> 00:14:28,110 So if you have a product, 351 00:14:28,140 --> 00:14:33,690 okay, physical product versus consumable trial sizes of anything that you 352 00:14:33,690 --> 00:14:38,610 make, if you can fit this into your production is fabulous. 353 00:14:38,850 --> 00:14:42,690 Someone might not want to buy a full size candle, 354 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:45,750 but they would buy little teeny tea lights. 355 00:14:46,230 --> 00:14:48,840 So if there's a way to make something that's more of 356 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,060 a sample size of your product, 357 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:52,670 that's just like a tester. 358 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:54,890 That would be an interesting concept. 359 00:14:54,890 --> 00:14:56,000 And I've seen this done really, 360 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,530 really well at craft shows. 361 00:14:57,860 --> 00:15:00,620 If you make more upscale, 362 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,210 knitted, hats, 363 00:15:02,210 --> 00:15:03,530 scarves, mittens, 364 00:15:03,530 --> 00:15:04,250 et cetera, 365 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,520 is there something light and easy that you could make that 366 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:08,870 could be used during the summer? 367 00:15:08,990 --> 00:15:09,230 You know, 368 00:15:09,230 --> 00:15:10,220 knitted coasters, 369 00:15:10,250 --> 00:15:12,440 maybe something that goes on your phone, 370 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:16,220 something that people would buy at the show and is a 371 00:15:16,220 --> 00:15:18,410 spinoff of what you normally make. 372 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,920 Okay? So those are samples for their consumables. 373 00:15:21,950 --> 00:15:26,060 So you make cookies or cakes used to be typical in, 374 00:15:26,150 --> 00:15:29,180 I'm going to say the olden days now that you could 375 00:15:29,210 --> 00:15:32,480 offer samples to taste pretty much. 376 00:15:32,510 --> 00:15:37,250 I think everybody is hands down not doing that right now. 377 00:15:37,310 --> 00:15:38,540 It's still a risk. 378 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,970 I don't think it's even legal in most of the shows 379 00:15:41,150 --> 00:15:44,630 to have a plate of cookie samples or something along those 380 00:15:44,630 --> 00:15:46,760 lines. However, 381 00:15:46,820 --> 00:15:48,200 if you have a consumable product, 382 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,770 let's go back to cookies back at the shop. 383 00:15:51,830 --> 00:15:56,750 You could have made small little bite-size cookies and sell them 384 00:15:56,750 --> 00:16:02,320 in little already sealed bags for 25 50 cents. 385 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,220 If you could make little drop cookies, 386 00:16:04,490 --> 00:16:05,660 like I don't know, 387 00:16:05,660 --> 00:16:06,020 50 of them, 388 00:16:06,020 --> 00:16:09,410 a hundred of them to a tray production wise, 389 00:16:09,410 --> 00:16:10,760 I think the numbers could work out. 390 00:16:11,030 --> 00:16:12,530 So something to think about also, 391 00:16:12,770 --> 00:16:15,200 again, anything where I was talking earlier, 392 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,460 where your customers interacting and could purchase many times at craft 393 00:16:19,460 --> 00:16:21,140 shows. People want to just buy a snack. 394 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:22,760 As they're walking down the Isles, 395 00:16:22,940 --> 00:16:24,470 be the one that sells it to them, 396 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:25,340 you know, 397 00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:29,240 and then have the larger options also available the family size 398 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:30,530 or the individual, 399 00:16:30,530 --> 00:16:33,440 but real take home size also available. 400 00:16:34,430 --> 00:16:36,260 Now we're going to talk about the checkout process. 401 00:16:36,260 --> 00:16:39,890 This is the third part you want to think through when 402 00:16:39,890 --> 00:16:41,120 you're getting started, 403 00:16:41,510 --> 00:16:45,290 what your path is for a customer to go through with 404 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,950 checkout. What do you do if they give you cash? 405 00:16:49,910 --> 00:16:50,930 What that, 406 00:16:51,350 --> 00:16:52,400 but people still do. 407 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,280 So make sure you have a cash box with enough change 408 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,500 dollar bills so that you're ready. 409 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,320 If you don't have the exact change that goes back, 410 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:01,070 what happens? 411 00:17:01,340 --> 00:17:02,040 You're fumbling. 412 00:17:02,070 --> 00:17:03,740 You're trying to find change. 413 00:17:03,770 --> 00:17:06,020 Someone else who's working the booth with you is looking in 414 00:17:06,020 --> 00:17:08,210 their personal wallet to find change. 415 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:11,120 And it slows the whole process down. 416 00:17:11,180 --> 00:17:12,800 And that's what you're trying to prevent. 417 00:17:13,130 --> 00:17:15,470 Then also with credit cards, 418 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:17,060 what are you going to do with credit cards? 419 00:17:17,270 --> 00:17:19,040 You probably have already thought about that. 420 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,340 I use PayPal when I'm out at face-to-face shows, 421 00:17:22,750 --> 00:17:24,530 there are a lot of different options. 422 00:17:24,590 --> 00:17:25,850 You might be using square, 423 00:17:25,850 --> 00:17:27,140 whatever you're using, 424 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:32,900 but this is really important sometimes because these are wifi and 425 00:17:32,900 --> 00:17:34,040 data connected. 426 00:17:34,070 --> 00:17:36,980 Sometimes in some locations with craft shows, 427 00:17:36,980 --> 00:17:38,630 they might Not work. 428 00:17:39,230 --> 00:17:41,600 So what's Your fallback option. 429 00:17:41,750 --> 00:17:44,180 You have someone there they're ready to take a credit card. 430 00:17:44,180 --> 00:17:48,080 It's not going through what are you going to do? 431 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,280 Figure all out in advance. 432 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,220 So you're not surprised you are prepared and you're ready for 433 00:17:53,220 --> 00:17:55,230 whatever is going to come your way. 434 00:17:55,380 --> 00:17:59,010 The other part of this is how are you going to 435 00:17:59,010 --> 00:18:02,610 package up the product for people to take away? 436 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:03,240 You know, 437 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:04,380 what are you wrapped? 438 00:18:04,380 --> 00:18:05,610 Do you need to wrap it? 439 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,680 What are you including in the bag? 440 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,670 You have all of that figured out and tested and working 441 00:18:11,670 --> 00:18:12,870 smoothly again. 442 00:18:12,870 --> 00:18:15,810 So someone can be done as efficiently as possible. 443 00:18:15,930 --> 00:18:18,120 It is a heartbreaker when you have a line of three 444 00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:19,410 people wanting to buy, 445 00:18:19,650 --> 00:18:21,000 and that third person is like, 446 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,380 this is taking way too long, 447 00:18:22,410 --> 00:18:24,240 puts the product bathroom walks away. 448 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,610 You do not want that happening. 449 00:18:27,570 --> 00:18:30,480 These were the three things to think about as you're getting 450 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:31,680 prepared for the show, 451 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,850 how much product to make how's the display setup going to 452 00:18:35,850 --> 00:18:39,720 look. And then what's the checkout process have all of that 453 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:40,500 thought through. 454 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:42,180 And then once you do, 455 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,150 none of these are going to be obstacles because you've pretty 456 00:18:45,150 --> 00:18:46,440 much thought of everything. 457 00:18:46,740 --> 00:18:49,140 And even if there's something that comes up that you weren't 458 00:18:49,140 --> 00:18:50,100 prepared for, 459 00:18:50,310 --> 00:18:51,240 it's only one thing. 460 00:18:51,420 --> 00:18:54,150 It's not challenge after challenge after challenge. 461 00:18:54,510 --> 00:18:58,320 Now I've promised you to keep these tips and talk sessions 462 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:59,130 pretty short. 463 00:18:59,190 --> 00:19:02,340 And we're already looking at almost 20 minutes here. 464 00:19:02,370 --> 00:19:06,660 So instead of continuing on and talking about the challenges and 465 00:19:06,660 --> 00:19:11,160 solutions to those challenges for the portion during the show, 466 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,160 I'm going to cut this into two episodes and we will 467 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:19,140 pick up again and talk about during the show challenges next 468 00:19:19,140 --> 00:19:22,260 week, that's a wrap. 469 00:19:22,860 --> 00:19:24,810 I might get to the point kind of girl. 470 00:19:25,230 --> 00:19:27,960 And this is what you can expect from these quick midweek 471 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:32,520 sessions. Now it's your turn go out and fulfill that dream 472 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:33,390 of yours, 473 00:19:33,690 --> 00:19:36,060 share your handmade products with us. 474 00:19:36,450 --> 00:19:40,110 We want them and they bring us both so much happiness.