1. Where do I find upcoming craft fairs in (or near) my local area?
If you live in a small town like me, social media is usually one of the best places to begin looking for upcoming local craft fairs. Facebook is currently my first go-to because so many craft fairs are marketed there! I tend to then follow up with a general Google search using key words - like the name of my hometown and the specific month I wish to find a craft fair in - to help narrow my search just down a bit.
If you don't have social media, or otherwise avoid using the internet like the plague that it's becoming, you still have options! Ask your friends, family, or other local community members if they've heard of any craft fairs coming up. Local papers and magazines occasionally advertise these types of events as well.
Just keep in the back of your mind that most vendor applications are completed online these days. Some craft fairs still accept paper applications, but even those usually have to be printed from their website first…
2. How do I get through the sign-up process without getting overwhelmed?
This one is a bit tricky to answer because sign-up processes can vary tremendously from craft fair to craft fair. Some are simply happy to have someone interested in vending for them! Others ask for photos to be sent in advance of your booth setup (which you haven't even thought of putting together yet), your products (which you most definitely haven't made yet), and your business signage (which you can't even begin to process spending money on yet) all while making you jump through hoop after hoop to be considered as a prospective vendor...
So for your first experience, I would recommend starting with a craft fair that has a relatively easy (and super straightforward) application process and a minimal booth rental fee. After all, your goal isn't to make a ton of money your first time around... It's to gain the experience and confidence you can carry with you into future craft fairs, right?!
To be completely clear, I'd look for a local craft fair (no more than 30 minutes from your front doorstep) that's scheduled 3 or so months away from the time you intend to start prepping for it that asks you extremely simple questions on their vendor application - like your business name, what kind of crafted goods you sell, and whether you'd prefer an indoor or outdoor booth. I repeat - do not pick a craft fair with an application form that wants everything but the name of your firstborn child and your social security number as a deposit.
I would also refrain from paying - say - a $100 application fee that you're not guaranteed to even get back if you aren't selected as a vendor. Honestly, who has the time or money to waste like that?! I would very much prefer you find a FREE craft fair for your first time vending, but a $10-$20 fee can also be pretty reasonable - especially if that particular craft fair is known for bringing in tons of customer traffic!
3. I've been accepted as a craft fair vendor! What do I do next?
I'm so thrilled you asked this question because I definitely have an answer for you! The trouble is, it's an incredibly long answer and isn't suited for a catchy blog post...
So how would you all feel about me putting together a downloadable guidebook that walks you through the process of preparing for your first craft fair vendor experience?!
Fair warning - you may have to purchase it for a few bucks (in order to account for the incredulous effort put into writing it), but I wouldn't put in the time to write it if I didn't plan to try my absolute best to make it worth every dime! I'll not only share my secrets on how I've been able to walk away successful from every single craft fair I've participated in this year, I'll also give you realistic step-by-step guidance to help you genuinely prepare for your big day!
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section, and feel free to ask any other questions you may have about getting started as a craft fair vendor!
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