Handmade seller Rena Klingenberg, from JewelryDisplayIdeas.com, shared seven unusual places to display handmade items with HandmadeMarketing.org.

1. On an iPod. “If your iPod, MP3 player, or cellphone can hold and display photos, why not load it up with a few dozen images of your handmade items?” Rena suggested.  “Then, no matter where you are you can show people a selection of your best work.”
   Rena says this can be especially handy if a potential buyer asks about your products, and it’s tthe one day you don’t have any samples of your work with you.
2. In a Notebook. “If your items are fairly small, you can make a portable display from a three-ring notebook,” Rena says.  She suggests you may want to use a zip-close binder.  “Fill your notebook with clear plastic baseball-card pocket pages or slide pages, and fill the pockets with your small handmade items. Bring your display notebook whenever you leave the house, so you can whip it out for a quick show-and-sell,” she says.
3. In a Candy Box. “Of course, you’ll have to make the sacrifice of eating the candy first, so you can use the empty box! But an empty compartmented candy box (or one filled with ruffled paper candy cups) can be a charming option for displaying small handmade treasures,” Rena tells handmade sellers.
4. On a Rattan Roll-Up Shade. “Hang up your rattan shade, and get some inexpensive “S” hooks at a hardware store,” Rena told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “Hang the hooks strategically around on the rattan shade. Lightweight items can hang on the hooks, showing nicely against this neutral, rustic backdrop. And the rattan shade takes up no display-table space since it can be hung on your art show tent frame, or on the back wall of an indoor booth space.”
5. On a Christmas Tree.  Rena says she has some dichroic glass jewelry – earrings and a charm bracelet – that go on her Christmas tree every year. “The glass is beautifully enhanced by the tree lights, and the charm bracelet looks like an old-fashioned holiday chain dripping with dichroic icicles. Displaying your items on a Christmas tree also helps people think about giving them as holiday gifts,” she says.
6. On a Mirror Frame. “A standup mirror with a metal scrollwork frame can do double duty in your booth – especially if you sell clothing, jewelry, or accessories. You can display your small handmade items by hanging them on the metal scrollwork, and customers can also use the main part of the mirror when they try your items or hold them up to see how they look,” Rena suggests. “Mirrors like these can be found in overstock stores, secondhand stores, garage sales, and antique stores.”
7. On a DVD.  “Burn a slideshow of your handmade items onto a DVD so it can be viewed on a TV or computer. One great use for this is to send it to the galleries and shops out of town that already carry your work, as an easy way to show them your new stuff,” says Rena.

Looking for other ideas for displaying your handmade items?  See hundreds of clever, DIY display and packaging ideas shared by jewelry artists on Rena Klingenberg’s Jewelry Display Ideas website.  You can find the image for this article on Rena’s site here.

Share your tips for displaying handmade with us!  Our team publishes ideas from handmade sellers, artisans, and crafters.  Be sure to include links to your social media sites or handmade shop site in your article.  Sellers receive free press for lending their knowledge, and both new and experienced sellers alike get new ideas.  Share with HandmadeMarketing.org here.

Juliet Williams, designer from www.JulReDesigns.com‏, is a personal image specialist. As President of Image Management Systems, LLC, she helped her clients achieve personal satisfaction and superior self-confidence.

She is a member of The International Jewelry Designers Guild and the American Craft Council. Juliet is certified as an Image Consultant by the Institute for Image Communications in New York City.  She is also a former Member of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI).

Recently, she shared her thoughts with our team at HandmadeMarketing.org about how to connect with locals in your community to market your art.

“The social media phenomenon is fantastic and can bring customers and connections to your website or blog that may otherwise never know you exist,” Williams said.  “But don’t forget to step away from your computer from time to time, get out of your studio and meet people face to face! Talk to your neighborhood barista, your dry cleaner, your green grocer. Go to workshops and seminars for small business owners. Join organizations in your industry. You never know who you will meet and how they can impact your business.“

Juliet Williams advises handmade sellers to keep the focus on not only products, but themselves as people.

“The handmade industry is all about the products and the artists behind them and believe me, your existing and potential customers want to connect with you directly,” she told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “I met a fashion stylist at a workshop for image consultants and style advisers who ended up using my jewelry on a fashion segment on NBC’s Today Show as well as Weekend Today in New York. It was an invaluable, profitable experience that led to many other successful marketing/PR opportunities. And it may never have happened if I hadn’t explored life beyond my design table.“

Juliet Williams’ exquisite wearable art consists of a wide variety of high quality semi – precious and precious stones and metals. Juliet’s jewelry has been featured on NBC’s “Today Show”, WNBC’s “Weekend Today in New York” and in Heart & Soul magazine. Her designs are inspired by her undying love of color and fashion.

“I get inspiration from the rapid pace of the fashion world and the beautiful colors that nature bestows upon us. The mind, body and spirit connections help me to remain balanced and creative. The love and support of my wonderful family and friends keeps me grounded and centered. It all comes together in harmony through the beautiful pieces I love to create and share,” Juliet says on her website.

Williams continues to provide wardrobe consulting services to individuals and programs in image management, communication skills, customer service and business etiquette to companies and organizations. Her clients include top executives and professionals to whom she also coaches on visual, verbal, nonverbal and interpersonal communication skills.  You can learn more about her work on her website JulRe Designs.

Share your tips for marketing handmade crafts, art, jewelry, and photography with us!  Our team publishes ideas from handmade sellers, artisans, and crafters.  Be sure to include links to your social media sites or handmade shop site in your article.  Sellers receive free press for lending their knowledge, and both new and experienced sellers alike get new ideas.  Share with HandmadeMarketing.org here.

Many handmade sellers have told our team at HandmadeMarketing.org that they have seen their business grow through the use of catalogs.  From creating and printing a catalog from home to using an online web catalog service, crafters are testing the impact of catalogs on their small businesses.

Lindsay Fitchett, handmade seller who runs LF Jewelry Designs shop on Etsy.com, recently shared her experience with selling jewelry online.

“I am growing my business “from the ground up.” I consider myself to still be “in the ground”.  But, I gave my very small jewelry business a big step forward, giving it validity and affirming my pride in a business that I started,” Lindsay told HandmadeMarketing.org.

Lindsay was able to take her handmade shop to a new level by marketing through a catalog.  Like many other sellers, she was able to use resources to be creative with this project.

“This daunting task can be made simpler by making this one thing the main thing: Be Creative in your Resources. This idea can cover a multitude of frustrations and fears,” Lindsay explained, “and you can do anything if you rally your resources and make them work for you.“

Lindsay shared how she tackled the project of making her own catalog for her handmade jewelry.

“Let’s say you need a photographer,” Lindsay said.  “You may start thinking you can never afford it. Wait! Let’s get creative. If you are a little low in the funds department (and who isn’t?) lets start with the best possible option – someone who is free.”

She suggests looking to friends or family members who have made a hobby of photography.

“Look to those with the best skills,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.  “If those don’t seem to pan out, think of the local college. Maybe there is a coed that would like to start building their portfolio. Someone just anxiously awaiting your phone call and will jump at the chance to get their name in print.”

If you are still coming up empty handed, Lindsay suggests contacting a local professional photographer that would consider trading some of your talent for their talent.

In the end, Lindsay was able to find a great photographer for her catalog. “I was lucky enough to use a friend from high school who is an incredible photographer,” she said.

There are more elements to producing a professional catalog than just awesome images of your handmade crafts.  To take the concept from dream to reality, Lindsay said she gathered everyone she knew with talents of all sorts to help her press on towards my goal.

“I mustered the guts to call a friend who married a professional snowboarder and asked if she would model,” she told us.  “My other model was a local gal that babysat for us and was in our youth group. She was a beautiful and willing participant. Who is your eye-catching and willing participant?“

“My blogger friend from way back when wrote a majority of my descriptions,” Lindsay said.  “Who is your favorite blogger or local newspaper journalist? Maybe they would be willing to use their creative writing skills to make your hand-mades irresistible.”

“I was blessed with a local gal to do my makeup,” Lindsay continued.  “Her talent is mostly self-taught, but beyond what I could have hoped for. You could find your blessing at a nearby beauty school or Mary Kay consultant.”

Although Lindsay admits these ideas are just examples of what worked for her, it just goes to show crafters can find great resources anywhere.

“My feelings of being inadequate in the making of a catalog changed when I got creative in my resources,” said Lindsay.  “I surrounded myself with people that are proficient in their specialty.  Surround yourself with encouraging people, but that will also speak truth. Make sure you keep your vision for your project clear. Find a great printing company that will work with you. Trust your creative judgment. Make sure your catalog flows. Finally, have pride in your business no matter how “in the ground” you are.“

Lindsay says she is now encouraged to begin work on her third catalog!

You can see Lindsay’s work at her shop – LF Jewelry Designs on Etsy.com.  You can also follow this seller @LFJewelryDesign on Twitter and become a fan of her shop on Facebook. Lindsay also writes a blog.

Tell us what you have found works when marketing and selling handmade in your community!  Have you created a catalog?  How did you go about the creation of it?

HandmadeMarketing.org publishes tips and tricks from handmade sellers and crafters.  Be sure to include links to your shop or website in your article.  Sellers receive free press for lending their knowledge, and both new and experienced sellers alike get new ideas.  Share with HandmadeMarketing.org.

Laura, from Etsy’s Tutreasures, recently shared an amazing idea for offline promotion with our editors of HandmadeMarketing.org.  If you are seeking local promotion for your handmade shop, Laura suggests contacting charities in your community.

“I have been creating and selling my handmade jewelry and altered art now for about 2 years through many different venues,” Laura said.  “My main venue is the Internet and my online store at Etsy.com.”

Laura explained why she made the move from Ebay to Etsy.  “I started selling on Etsy when I got fed up with never making more than .99 cents for my hard work on Ebay,” she told us.  “I sold a few things on Ebay, but no one seemed to want to pay more than the starting bid and I could not afford a store or the listing fees that Ebay would charge for buy it now listings. I also did not see the benefit in trying to keep a store there because the costs way outweighed any profits that I would have encountered.”

Laura said she likes to sell handmade at Etsy because there is little overhead.  “I can afford to have a store on Etsy.  It is much less than Ebay or ArtFire, or even the new one Trendyindie.com.  The people who work for the Etsy site seem to do most of the work for me when it comes to store design and product listing. I really appreciate their pay as you go way of doing business, as well,” she said.

In addition to Etsy, Laura said she has also been involved with local craft shows.  “Craft shows present some immediate results, but never seem to go a whole lot further in sending but a few people to my Internet store,” she said.  Even though craft shows resulted in some online sales, Laura wanted more offline promotion options for her Etsy shop.

“I have found another venue that actually does help me to get more exposure to people that seem to have disposable income for luxuries like jewelry and goodies that are not considered necessities, especially in these hard economic times,” she told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “This is a venue that, so far, I have yet to see mentioned by any of the many marketing experts that I have read, and I do try to read them all because I am always trying to improve my business, as to stay in business.”

Laura is referring to charities and charity events that utilize auctions as a great promotion venue for handmade sellers.  “Live, silent, and Internet auctions raise money for charities. I have found that for a small donation of a piece of my work to charities, I not only find lot of people to see my work, but the auctions get a lot of those people to “fight over”, if you will, and seek out your products.”

“In most cases,” Laura explains, “the auctions are designed to get people to bid against each other to obtain whatever item they are trying to buy while benefiting the charity. There are many win-win situations due to these auctions, especially since your donations will be sold to the highest bidder.”

Laura outlines why promoting at local charity events are a wonderful way to gain exposure and benefit the organization:

• Little Cost for Sellers.  “Depending upon what you choose to donate,” Laura tells us, “that donation probably did not cost a lot for you to create, with the excaption for maybe some of your time.  However, this is time in which you would already have spent creating anyway.”
• Maximum Exposure to New Potential Buyers. “By participating in charity auctions, you will have just been exposed to all those bidders or benefactors who will continue to desire your work,” she said.  Laura thinks this is especially if they do not win the auction.  “In most cases, even the winner of the auction for your product will desire more of your work.  Most of the bidders will also want to know the business participating in the auction.  They will start to ask about you or search for information about you and your business.  You will then be on people minds and in their conversations, which is always the best form of advertisement out there – word of mouth.”
• Tax Deduction. Laura explains that most charities will not only give you a receipt to use to write off the amount they received for your donation, but they will also advertise you and your work.  “Advertisement happens both before and after the charity event for those who donate to their charity,” Laura explains.  “Most charities will gladly give you lots of exposure simply because they are so grateful that you cared enough to donate to their cause. With one little contribution to a charity, you will receive many dollars worth of advertisement and exposure and the majority of that exposure will be free.”

Laura says that promoting at charity auction events will help handmade sellers promote more effectively (and with less effort) compared to promoting yourself.  “In turn, this means more revenue for you and more time for you to create while someone else advocates you and your business,” Laura says.

Our team at HandmadeMarketing.org wondered if Laura had any tips for how to find a charity in the community, as well as if she had any advice on how to go about donating for a live or silent auction.  It turns out that Laura’s charity connection actually came to her, rather than seeking it out.

“I actually got lucky on this one and the charity that I work with the most found me,” Laura said.  “I wasn’t even sure she was serious until she finally contacted me outside of the venue in which she found me.”

“I just happened to be at the flea market selling some garage sale stuff for my father.  I only put out one of my creations, just in case and the Chairperson of the Champions Kids Camp happened to see my work and fell in love with the piece I displayed,” Laura said.  “She spoke to me for a few minutes about my interest in donating a piece or two for a chance to be exposed to all her participants. I didn’t have anything to lose, so I gave it a try.  I found that I got more exposure and desire for my work than any venue I ever tried. Not only did people want my work after the auctions during the benefit, but I got more people contacting me and my store later on as well. I have also been invited back every year.”

If a seller has not been approched by a charitable organization, Laura suggests looking to blogs and sites.  “Most of these organizations post their needs on their sites and blogs,” she told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “I got lucky with the one I mentioned above.  However, another charitable organization I found was a friend on my MySpace page.  They announced their need in their status bar. I just happened to see it one day and read their blog about their need and then wrote to them for more information.”

“My suggestion to handmade sellers would be to seek out the charities that they would want to be a part of, or may already be a part of, and see how they obtain their funds,” she said.  “I know that most charities will already be looking for donations and most all charities give those that donate some kind of exposure, both before and after the events. Sometimes they will advertise the donors in order to obtain bidders. Perhaps if someone is involved in a charity, they will find their charity doesn’t utilize auctions for fundraising.  They can suggest one, or even help to organize one, and volunteer to donate crafts.  Then, they can ask to be able to set up a booth.”

Laura says she currently either writes or calls the causes that she is interested in being a part of to see what they may need or what requirements they have for their auction events.  “I always request exposure as well,” she told us.

Once inside the charity’s event, Laura suggests using the exposure to market your shop.  “If you do choose to acquire more exposure by means of donating a product to charity auctions, make sure that you send along plenty of your press (cards, flyers, brochures, etc.),” she said.  “These will be the key to receiving more hits or visits to your store or business.  After all, the only way anyone will buy your work is if they know about you in the first place.  If no one knows you exist and what you have available, you will never sell anything.”

Laura is now in the process of donating to the Charity of Dreamcatchers for Abused Children.  The organization is currently taking donations for both a silent and internet auction happening this year.

“It is a good cause that aims to break the cycle of abuse once and for all.  They hope that, one day, no child will become a victim of abuse.  Their request for donations is posted under their calendar page,” Laura explained.

Thank you for the great promotion idea Laura!  If you want to learn more about Laura’s work promoting her handmade shop at Etsy,  follow her on Twitter or visit her MySpace page.

Have you ever been involved with charitable events?  Do you think donating to a charitable auction would be good exposure for your Etsy, ArtFire, or 1,000 Markets shop?  How do you promote your handmade work offline?

Share your ideas with HandmadeMarketing.org!  HandmadeMarketing.org articles are generated from tips submitted by sellers like you.  If you are seeking extra press for your shop, tell us your marketing tips for selling handmade online.  If we publish your ideas, we’ll link to your shop, blog, or website in the article!

HandmadeMarketing.org reader Celeste Crimi, from Etsy’s CricketsCreations, recently shared her ideas for how to make the most of local craft fairs, while maintaining a conservative budget.

“A fair is generally considered a success if revenue is 10 times greater than expenses. I’ve consistently met that benchmark,” she tells us.

So how does Celeste do it?  She shared her seven ingredients that make a “receipe for big sales” with our HandmadeMarketing.org team.

1. Go Vertical.  Celeste suggests playing with the craft fair space you are provided.
   “My scarves get tons of attention because they are displayed on portable, brass-looking coat hanger poles instead of on a folding table. They are visible in all their colorful glory from across the room; talk about “standing” out! My two “poles with hooks,” were purchased for $5 each, one at a garage sale & another at a thrift store,” she said.
2. Separate Colors.  “Another trick I use is to separate the zany, colorful designs from the earth tones & neutrals,” Celeste told HandmadeMarketing.org.
   She also suggests handmade sellers make sure to have a rainbow of colors available.  “At least two each of purple, blue, pink, red, orange, brown, black/white, green, cream, yellow, etc. Anyone with a favorite color is a shoe-in! I also offer something for each complexion/hair color/age group. Got red hair and green eyes? I have a scarf for that. Got red hair and blue eyes? Got grey, blonde, or dark brown hair? Are you Latina? From India? Of African descent? Are you a teenager? Adult? Seasoned sophisticate? I’ve got a scarf that looks fantastic on you!”

3. Tailor Your Suggestions.  Celeste thinks making specific suggestions helps establish relationships with potential buyers.  For example, she told HandmadeMarketing.org she may say, “This would look really pretty on you, you’re welcome to try it on” and hold the mirror up for interested shoppers after handing them her handmade scarf.  “Bringing a mirror is crucial!” Celeste adds.
   However, a personalized touch may not always be welcome.  “I held off if I felt that customers were just browsing and wouldn’t like such a personalized approach,” she says.

4. Demonstrate Value.  “I also demonstrate to folks the different ways to wear my scarves, and point out that I always make them extra soft around the neck. Sometimes they like to hear specific tidbits regarding a particular design, such as its title or that the yarn is imported and can’t be found in US stores,” Celeste tells us.
5. Showcase Your Craft.  Celeste says if there’s ever a dull moment, she works on a scarf right then and there to draw people into her craft fair area.  “I’ve sold scarves right off the needles at craft fairs!” she said.
6. Offer Incentive To Go Big.  “Sales are significantly increased by offering a quantity discount,” she said.  This means charging less per item if customers buy more than one at once.
7. Look Your Best.  Although this tip may seem simple enough, paying attention to your dress and appearance may make the difference between craft fair success and failure.

   “I always wear something really fashionable & eye-catching at the shows,” Celeste says.  “I wear make up and put my hair up so as to not obscure the scarf I’m modeling for the day. I have a big, confident smile on my face and make sure that my nails are clean and neat.”

Celeste shared a simple check-list she created to make sure she is prepared for craft fairs:

• Scarves (or your handmade items)
• Mirror
• Table and chair
• Supplies (to craft while at the event)
• Sign up sheet for mailing list or custom orders
• Pens for customers to write checks
• Paper to note who bought what, payment type, and price
• Signs with pricing and prompts
• Change
• Calculator
• Bags
• Cool outfit
• Water and snacks
• Contact cards or business cards
• Coat rack poles for display

Celeste suggests taking a look at a blog post by Amber Dusick about craft vendor booth mistakes.  Amber is a self-described “craft fair shopping veteran.”  With her 30 years of craft fair attendance, Amber says she has “picked up on a few things that strongly affect whether or not I’ll buy from a seller and whether or not I’ll even step foot in their booth.”

Amber’s tips range from pricing tips and signage ideas to how to communicate with sellers via business cards and being friendly.

“You need to think of your booth as a stand alone product that you are selling,” Amber writes in her blog post.  “You are not just selling your products inside, you are selling your booth…it is like a mini store you must get people to enter!”

Like Celeste’s tips?  Check out her blog, follow her on Twitter, or have a peek at her Flickr.  You can also see a list of her Etsy Team affiliations on her Etsy shop profile.

Not sure how to find a craft fair near you?  Etsy seller Renaissance M. Austin walks handmade sellers through the process of finding a local craft fair in this past article.

What do you do to prepare for a craft fair?  What tips do you have for making the most of events you attend in your community?  What would you add to Celeste’s check-list for craft fair items?

Share your ideas with the HandmadeMarketing.org community!  HandmadeMarketing.org was created to allow sellers to share their tips for how to sell handmade online.  The site thrives off reader-submitted articles.  Tell us your ideas under the “Join” section of the site.  If our editors publish your ideas, we’ll link to your shop so our readers can see what you are up to at your handmade shop!

For handmade sellers, a catalog may be a unique way to bring sellers online to purchase handmade items.

“Handmade sellers can boost sales by creating a catalog of the items they sell and their shop website can be listed in the catalog,” said Jennifer from Etsy’s Cora Marie Boutique. “You can lay them out at craft shows, put them in promo bags and hand them out at craft fairs, send them with your customers orders, and hand them out to family and friends.”

But, how can creating a catalog result in online sales?  Jennifer speaks from experience.

“Some people don’t own a computer or know how to shop online. If you give out catalogs they can order your handmade items by mail. People who have a copy of your catalog can show it to their family and friends and so on. Catalogs will open up a new opportunity of making sales just like your online shop and craft shows,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.

Jennifer suggests handmade sellers on a budget make their own catalog.  “Making it yourself is the cheapest way to go,” she advises.  “The only expenses are paper and ink for the printer/copier.”

“I make my own catalog using my home computer,” she shared with HandmadeMarketing.org.  “Just go to Word Perfect and select book format. Add pictures of your items and a description about the item and the price.“

Jennifer also suggests sellers create an order form for the potential buyers.  This is done by adding columns and rows in a grid.  “Add a section for your shipping charges, customer name and address, your name and address, and form of payments you except,” she adds.

“You can even print out one catalog and get copies made of the catalog using a home coping machine,” Jennifer told HandmadeMarketing.org.

Jennifer started selling on Etsy.com because of a suggestion from a friend.  “A friend told me about Etsy and I gave it a try,” she told us.  “I love it.  I like the Etsy forums where you can chat with other artist and crafters from all over the world and make new friends.  I also love the Etsy Storque where I can find info about selling, making over my shop, promoting my items, and so much more.  It is a wealth of information,” she says.

Concerned about the environment or want to save some cash?  Etsy’s Primitive Earth Soap Company came up with a great idea to utilize catalogs while cutting printing costs.  By creating a catalo online and posting it on the company website (see the “Wholesale Catalog” link), the handmade shop was able to effectively and professionally advertise, without the high cost of printing.

Creating a catalog doesn’t have to be limited to designers either.  MyEtsyBook offers an option for sellers to use a template to create a catalog.  Although some sellers dislike the templates available at the site, others can easily create a catalog, without any design knowledge.

Want to test the waters to see if a catalog is of any benefit to your handmade crafts?  One Etsy seller commented in the Etsy.com forums that she created a smaller version of a catalog. “I have a pamplet that has several of my items on it, I print it on pink paper with black ink, and then fold it in three parts,” she wrote.  “I have an electronic one – full color, with product pics for wholesale accounts. It also has our terms for wholesale purchase. It’s easy to update, and a lot greener than a printed version,” another Etsy seller added.

Have you created a catalog for your Etsy, ArtFire, or 1000 Markets shop?  Has it been an effective way to advertise both online and offline?  Do you have any tips or ideas for how to create a catalog at home?

We want to hear your ideas!  Share your tips for selling handmade online with other sellers.  The goal of HandmadeMarketing.org is to create a resource for sellers to help the entire handmade movement – and we need your help!  When we publish ideas from sellers, we post an article to give your shop press.

Our hope is those who contribute receive a boost in shop visits and sellers looking for new ideas benefit from the knowledge of those with proven success!

Renaissance M. Austin, an artist found on both Etsy and MySpace, recently walked our team at HandmadeMarketing.org through craft fair tips.  Now, Renaissance tells us about another obstacle facing handmade sellers – finding a marketplace in their local community.

“So now how do I find a marketplace?” Renaissance asks.  “There are tons of marketplaces, festivals, and events that are taking place all throughout the year, but how do you find what’s right for you?”

She says to start locally first.  ”Consider your area, where you live, the demographic there, if there are weekly marketplaces in your area,” Renaissance suggests.  “Think about if your area is the right place for you to sell.”

Because Renaissance lives in Los Angeles, California, she tells us how she finds craft fairs in her community.  “Here in Los Angeles, it’s not much of a problem because of the melting pot of artisans.  However, I’ve met other artisans across the United States just by selling on Etsy.com.  Many of them have to travel far to a more metropolitan area to sell simply because they live outside of city limits,” she says.

Renaissance suggests connecting with local artists to try to find out where a marketplace is in your area.  “If you have a local marketplace that is right for you, attend it first, find out who to talk to, who to call, get contact information, go to the chamber of commerce for your city and find out how to get involved with the marketplace,” she suggest.

Another important tip is to make sure the marketplace or craft fair fits you as a seller.  Renaissance suggest to attend the event to scope out the crowd.  Does this fit your craft?

“See what other sellers are selling and what their space looks like. Take note of how you will stand out from the rest,” she says.

“My first time selling at the 2nd Street Marketplace in Upland, California was in the summer of 2007,” Renaissance said.  She said she found many people at the shows are scouting out vendors for their own private events.

“I would get flyers from different organizations that invited me to sell at their events. I became open to many vending opportunities just by selling at the first one. It’s really like a domino effect,” she explains.

Want more ideas for how to get involved with local marketplaces in your community?  Here are more tips from Renaissance for finding a craft fair that works for your handmade items:

1. Seek Out Vending Opportunities.  Go to your local churches, schools, libraries, and community centers to find out if they need vendors for their fairs.  Renaissance says colleges are especially great for finding vendor opportunities for your handmade items.  “Often times they do,” she told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “Sometimes when driving down the street, I would just run across a church with a sign looking for vendors for their fair. With schools they are often looking to raise money for different programs for the kids.”
2. Look Beyond Your Block.  “Search the surrounding cities in your area,” Renaissance suggest. “Traveling to Upland, California for me was an hour drive from where I lived, but it was one of the marketplaces that had space available for me.”  She says that just because a fair is close does not mean that there is space available. If faced with a waiting list, or other opposition, Renaissance suggests looking beyond your local community.
3. Go Online.  Renaissance suggest searching Google for keywords like “farmer’s market in (your city)”, “craft fairs”, “arts and crafts fair”. “You should have tons of choices that come up in your search engine,” she says.
   Renaissance suggest to start your online search by visiting Craftmaster News.  “It is a really great site. I actually subscribed to this publication a few years ago and the site has definitely changed for the better,” she says.  “It is worth the subscription. You’ll get the publication with all the contact numbers. Call, call, call, and find out what they require and how you can get in!”
4. Remember Costs.  Renaissance tells handmade sellers to remember that, at the end of the day, you are a business. “Consider your booth rent, cost of gas, and other expenses in scale to the amount of products you have to sell,” she says.
   “In retail, there is the 3 to 1 principle,” Renaissance explains.  “For example, if you want to make $3,000, you should have $9,000 worth of product on hand.  To make $300, have $900 worth of product. For me I’ve keep my booth cost low $65 and under.”
5. Get Personal. “I also believe that reoccurring events, like weekly markets are best, because it allows you to build relationship with clients,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.  “Buyers can order from you and pick it up the next week or two weeks, whatever the time frame.”
6. Forget The Size. One of the simplest tips from Renaissance come in regards to the craft fair or marketplace crowd size.  “Never look at the size of the crowd!! Sometimes you make nothing in the largest crowds and sell more in smaller crowds that are more concentrated on the product you have!“

Thank you for the great tips Renaissance!

Do any of the tips Renaissance shared shed some light on your struggle with breaking into the local craft scene?  Have you had experience at marketplaces or fairs locally?  Was the event beneficial for your shop?

Share your experiences with HandmadeMarketing.org!  Click the “Join” tab and tell us your ideas for how to get involved with local craft fairs.  If our editors feature your tips, we’ll link back to your website, blog, or online shop as the source!

HandmadeMarketing.org reader Nicholas Gomez recently shared a tip with us about how to make the most of your handmade shop’s real estate.

“Have you ever wondered how many people touch your item package, the sold item, or come in contact with your handcrafted goods?” Nicholas asked.

“A lesson that I have learned early in my days of running a eCommerce fly tying/fishing lure business was that everything has real estate,” he said.

Although online handmade sellers may not think they have real estate for their business, Nicholas challenges to think outside the box.

“The answer is simple. When sending out packages in the mail I would place bright neon shipping labels around the package that would say, “Village Tackle Handcrafted Fishing Flies and Lures” and then my web address being in a slightly bigger font,” he said.  “It was amazing to see the amount of traffic that would come in on my site based on the path of the package being sent to the buyer.”

What kind of traffic would see a postage label?  “Let us just face it, mail people talk, carriers read, share, and give out information. When information is placed on the outside of the package that would represent your small business or handcrafted goods it will be going into the hands of many. They will be able to check your site, see the goods you make, tell others and even purchase themselves for a gift.”

Nicholas encourages handmade sellers to remember that “Everything has Real Estate.”

“Think about an in expensive way to advertise your goods and site with using the package going to the buyer and how many more customers it may draw in for you,” he shared with HandmadeMarketing.org.  “In using the packages outside wrapper, you are using advertising Real Estate.”

Support Nicholas by stopping by his website!

What do you think of Nicholas’ ideas?  What “real estate” does your shop have?  What are some easy ways to increase your visibility to potential buyers?

Share with the community!  Post a comment below to Nicholas’ article or write your own article!  If our editors like your tips, we will publish your ideas on the site.  All featured authors get a link back to their shop, blog, or website – allowing you to expand your “real estate”!

Have you ever considered becoming involved in a craft fair or other local show, but aren’t sure of the ins and outs?

Renaissance Austin of Raghouse International, found on both Etsy and MySpace, shared informative and insider tips with HandmadeMarketing.org.

“There are a few things you have to remember first,” she writes.  “If you are looking to sell at marketplaces, you are a business, you don’t just make crafts and give them away for fun.  You also don’t just want to sell for fun.”

Second, Renaissance says packaging and set up is everything.  “Get an E-Z Up that works well for you and that is reasonabley priced,” she suggests.  “I purchased mine from Loews in Los Angeles and it is great.”

“I would say always physically buy a tent,” Renaissance suggests.  “I made the mistake of buying my first canopy online and it was not the greatest quality at all!  It actually came to me broken. There were shattered pieces of plastic that I took photos of and emailed to them.  They took forever to rectify the situation.  I paid way too much for it and found out that I was buying through a third party anyway. The customer service was terrible. I learned my lesson in that ordeal.”

Next, she suggests than a handmade seller would want to visualize the marketplace space.

As a fabulous tip, Renaissance suggests turning to Google Images for ideas. “Using Google Images of wedding, event, or backyard decorations allow you to get color and design ideas for your space,” she suggests. Our HandmadeMarketing.org team loved this idea!

She advises to plan the entire setting down to the details.  “If you have tables, what fabric would you like to use to cover your tables?”  Renaissance says since a lot of vending happens on in the spring and summer seasons, handmade sellers should consider bright, rustic, or earthy colors.

The idea behind a marketplace is that sellers are creating an “outside the shop” experience for your potential client.  “Bring theme into play for your space,” Renaissance recommends.  “Would you like to bring a lightweight artificial plant for added greenery?”

“It’s like a mobile boutique,” Renaissance told HandmadeMarketing.org.  What type of boutique do you want a potential customer visit?  “If you have garment racks for clothing, think about a nice inexpensive rug to center your space. That way customers can come off the hard concrete path onto a nice decorative rug.” Asking these types of questions before the event will help you arrive prepared.

“Once you’ve nailed how you want your space to look, think of this,” Renaissance said.  “WIND!”

Renaissance said many people are not prepared for the wind, or even the cold, that sneaks up on cool spring and summer nights.  “It all depends on where you are located in the layout of the marketplace. Bring masking tape just in case you need to hold things down from the bottom. Consider tying bows with your table cloth at each end of the table to keep them from flapping up if a wind current comes.”

She suggests bringing along bricks or sandbags to the event.  “I use the gray bricks that have an opening where I slide each leg of my canopy into it,” Renaissance told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “This will keep your canopy from flying away if the wind really starts to blow. The sand bags are good for garment racks so they don’t tip over. So overall be prepared for mother nature.”

Below are some other miscellaneous tips from Renaissance for your next craft fair or local marketplace event:

1. Bring Friends Along. “Always bring 2 or 3 people with you! Major brands and chains know that a crowd is very important!” Renaissance tells us.  “Keep in mind that some potential customers are shy or less confident.  They will not just step into your booth even though they may like what they see.  If they don’t see anyone there, or you are sitting in a chair smiling, often times they do not come in,” she said. 
   Renaissance says that when potential customers see a crowd, and the seller is already talking to a few customers and showing them a items, she’s found that they come right in.
   “Having people with you allows you to chat and be breezy and it is also support and comfort,” she said.  “Train the people you bring to be sales reps just in case your booth gets a little busy. It’s just like in a retail shop. I’ve had people walk away because I was trying to serve everyone myself and drew attention away from one person to the next. That’s when I realized I needed to have a few people be sales reps for the busy moments.”
2. Give Buyers Time. “Let them look around for a minute before going to them,” she said.  “You can tell the ones that have questions and are too shy to ask.  Then, there are those potential buyers that will just ask.”  Giving a buyer time will allow them the space they need to make a decision they are comfortable with.
3. Create a Workspace. Renaissance had a great idea for making your booth stand out.  “If you can, create at your booth!” she suggested.  “Often times it keeps you focused and busy, and not nervous.  For me, because I was only 22 when I first started vending, I realized very early on that I had to crochet at my booth.  It helped people actually believe I made everything I was selling!”
   Renaissance said this actually turned out to be one of her greatest marketing tools! “I know for a fact that many of my sales were a result of people really seeing me do it right in from of their eyes. They love watching the creative process.”

Thank you for the great advice and tips Renaissance!

Unsure of how to get involved with a local craft show or handmade event?  Renaissance shares tips for how to connect with other local artists and venues.

Barbara, the seller behind Etsy’s AllAboutTheButtons, told HandmadeMarketing.org about what helps keep the Etsy business rolling. “As I got into the world of online selling, I discovered the “3 P’s” – patience, promotion and photographs,” she said.

Like many online sellers, shop promotion proves to be difficult to bring from the web to the local community.  “I have tried the promotion route as long as it was not too expensive and I didn’t need oodles of time to keep up. I have spread my name greatly around the Internet. I drop my business card everywhere, and when appropriate, wear my creations,” Barbra from AllAboutTheButtons suggested.

This marketing idea is simple and clever – order custom car decals for your vehicle to market locally while running errands!  Barbra ordered easy to remove car decals at another Etsy shop called Nestlings.

“I have a fairly common car and this helped me find mine in a crowded parking lot! But more importantly, I am a moveable advertisement. I have often been stopped in lots and queried about my shop which is then another opportunity to give out my business card. I have found this an inexpensive way to get my name out there. Many think “Post on the internet and they will find you”…not so. You must work hard to make yourself seen and noticed.“

By using custom car decals, handmade sellers are able to get their shop’s name into their community without being overbearing.  Great idea AllAboutTheButtons!

Have you had success marketing your handmade items to your local community?  What tips have you learned along the way?  Why do you think the idea above would work for your shop… or does it fall short?

Get innovative with putting your shop’s name in front of others!  Send us your ideas for selling crafts online.  If our editors think your tip will be of use to others, we will feature you in an article – and cite your shop as the source!  Snag a link for yourself and help other handmade sellers at the same time.