Top 20 Tips For Selling Crochet Items at Vendor Market Events
If you have never done a vendor market before, or if you are on the fence about doing one to sell your crochet wares, the following tips are to help you get started in the right direction. I have done many vendor events and these are just some things I have learned along the way (some the hard way LOL). My hope is that my experiences will help you be more prepared than I was when I first started doing these events. I have also included some affiliate links to some of the items I use. Don’t feel obligated to use them, but these are some items that I thought would be beneficial for you to begin your journey into doing vendor marketing events.
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Tip #1
Do a mock set up in your house or garage beforehand. We taped the floor to the size of my tent and set up the tables and merchandise exactly how I’m doing it at my actual market. Then I took photos of the layout and then packed it away in the order I plan to lay it out. Such a HUGE time and stress saver! Doing a mock set up will also help you see if you need to run to the store and grab any last minute things so you aren’t doing it the day of your event.
Tip #2
Invest in table cloths that drape all the way to the floor. You will not want to carry those empty containers back to your car. Just hide them under the table. Make sure the tablecloths are of a solid color and are also not wrinkled! Nothing is tackier than a wrinkled tablecloth.
Tip #3
Invest in a Square card reader. Almost all of my sales are through credit cards, especially my larger sales. Most of the people that are shopping at these events do not have much cash on them, as they do not expect to spend much. Having a form of electronic payment will give them the liberty to spend as much as they would like, which is definitely what you want!
You could also do Venmo, but I have heard conflicting advice concerning the use of it for the sale of goods. I have also sent a PayPal invoice to a customer and let them pay me right there, but that takes much longer. My advice is to try and figure out a way to accept more than just cash.
Tip# 4
Consider the wind. I have had such a huge problem in the past with the wind knocking everything over. You may want to invest in things that will anchor not only your tent, but any displays that are easily knocked over. I definitely recommend getting the tent sides that can attach to your tent to enclose it. This will also be helpful in the colder months or in inclement weather.
Tip# 5
While I recommend trying the enclosure to help with the wind, also consider the layout so that people do not feel trapped inside your tent. I set up my tent so people can get through easily. I’m personally claustrophobic and I would not go into an enclosed tent that was over crowded or had more than 2 people in it. One option would be to enclose a particular corner and leave the opposite corner open to through traffic.
Tip# 6
Create different levels of merchandise to balance out your look. You don’t want to have everything laying flat. Some people may pass by your booth without even coming inside and they wouldn’t see what you have to offer. Draw them in with something eye catching.
Some people build their merchandise upward by using head forms, wooden crates, small bookshelves, tiered shelving or stands, and boxes. I have also wrapped styrofoam balls in yarn and hot glued them down, then attached it to dowel rods at different height levels. Get creative!
Tip# 7
Put your most eye-catching merchandise in what you consider the front of your booth. You want people to stutter to a stop when they are passing by. That does not necessarily mean your best-selling items. For example, my boho bags are the most eye-catching, but they are not always my best-sellers. People always stop because of my bags, but they usually come inside my tent and buy something else.
Tip# 8
I recommend wearing an apron. I have one with 3 pockets in the front. You don’t want to leave your money unattended, but you also don’t want to be stuck to one place in your booth because you need to mingle a bit and be congenial. I like the apron style that is only around the waist (like a waitress, not what a cook would wear) because I can wear my business t-shirts without them getting covered up.
Tip# 9
Invest in business cards!! I cannot tell you how many people contact me after a marketing event because they have my business card. I put it with every purchase and I try to give one to every customer that comes in my booth. You can design one in Canva for free and print them on Vistaprint for relatively cheap. Not only does this help people know how to contact you again, but it makes people take you more seriously as a business and less like a hobby.
Back of Business Card
Tip# 10
Invest in display pieces. You can often find mannequins, clothing racks, and other displays on Facebook yard sales and craigslist from businesses who are going out of business or updating their displays. It’s worth it to help a customer envision wearing what you have made. I have found the majority of my grid panels, clothing racks, and mannequin forms on Facebook yard sale posts for DIRT cheap!
Tip# 11
Have a mirror. I rarely have a customer try on a hat or an item that they don’t end up purchasing. If a person seems extremely interested in an item, but appears to be hesitating, you can guarantee it is because they don’t know if they would like it ON them. Trying it on usually seals the deal and they are more confident in their purchase.
Tip# 12
Put a price on everything. That does not necessarily mean a tag on every item. I often charge the same price for all my chunky winter hats with poms, so I simply use a sign. That saves time and money, and the customer doesn’t have to wonder how much they are. I invest in those smaller chalkboard signs you can find just about anywhere and a chalkboard marker. Have your signage done when you set up your mock setup so that all you have to do is set it on your table!
Tip# 13
Try not to clutter your booth and overwhelm your customers with too many options. I’ll be honest, this is where I struggle. My main source of income is not my marketing events because I am a designer. I usually make at least 3 items of every design in order to accurately write up my patterns and do a video and photo tutorial. That being said, I don’t have the recommended color and style limitations that many wise people tell you to have so your booth looks polished. I do marketing events to unload on all the merchandise I’ve acquired from designing. I definitely recommend listening to those wise people about limiting styles to around 8 and colors that coordinate to around 5 options. I simply cannot do that myself. I try to make up for this by creating the items I design in the colors I think are the most likely to sell. They won’t coordinate, but they will still sell because I took popular trends into consideration.
Tip# 14
Have fun and smile!! I’ve heard conflicting advice on whether you should bring something to crochet or not. I have done so in the past but I always put it down when someone comes into the booth. Address everyone you meet and smile. Be available to answer questions. Don’t pressure people. Just offer a greeting like, “good morning! Let me know if I can help you with anything!” Don’t hover over them. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and treat them how you would want to be treated. If I see a person really interested in an item, I tell them “you’re welcome to try it on if you’d like. I’ve got a mirror over there.” I have discovered that people who feel pressured to buy something from you will leave your booth quickly without really taking a good look around.
Tip# 15
I also recommend wearing some of your merchandise to display your work. I often rotate different shawls or make myself a pair of ear warmers that I can wear to model my makes. I obviously do not do this if I am sweating.
Tip# 16
Don’t overcrowd your booth with your helpers. I would not have more than one other person in the booth with you. It is overwhelming to a customer if there are a lot of people in your booth just hanging out. If you start seeing a large crowd of customers starting to come in your booth, you may even want to step out of it and just hover nearby so that people don’t feel claustrophobic.
Tip# 17
If you have a Facebook business page, I highly recommend going live at some point, and I definitely recommend doing a giveaway at every big event. It doesn’t have to be a big item. Ask people who buy your merchandise if you can take a photo of them wearing your item(s) and post it to your social media. It’s good for business! I usually do a live video showing what other vendors have to offer to try and entice people to come out and check it out. I share it to my personal page so my local friends will see it. I have even sold something on Facebook that a follower saw in my live stream during an event!
Tip# 18
Have snacks and drinks, a phone charger or backup power source, wet wipes, paper towels, kleenex, hand sanitizer, a pen, extra tags, a receipt book, an order book or notebook, extra hangers, your chalkboard marker, packing tape, scotch tape, scissors, garbage bags, plastic grocery bags, S hooks, and zip ties. I also take my crochet bag in case someone wants me to remove something from an item they’re buying. You would be surprised at how much you will use those items.
Tip# 19
Have a checklist of everything you need to take with you the day of the event. I usually charge my square reader the night before, and I keep my money box put away until I’m about to leave the house. It’s important to make sure you have everything you need. Here is my personal check list you are welcome to print off and use for yourself:
Click Here to Download My Personal Market Event Checklist Absolutely Free (No I’m not going to make you sign-up for my email list although that would be appreciated)
Tip# 20
Load up your vehicle the night/day before if at all possible. Most events are very early and it will likely take you at least an hour to unpack and lay out all of your stuff. Being ready to walk out the door will save you time and stress!
