How to set up a craft show booth like a pro (part two)

Do you ever wonder what goes into prepping for those craft shows you visit? Have you been thinking about selling your work? We asked Jenny and Sabrina of The Pig and The Peacock for their expert advice on being a vendor. And they delivered! Check out their earlier post if you haven't already …

Prep for Doing Business

One or two weeks before the show, gather everything you need to do business and ring up transactions. Pens, calculators, invoice/receipt books, shopping bags, are must-haves.

Make a bank run to get change – think about your price points and plan your change based on that. If you take credit card payments via Square or any other device or app, make sure they are in working order and that you remember passwords for apps. Another thing we do is create a cheat sheet of all of our items pricing with tax. At the bottom we have every price point from $1-$100 with tax added for quick reference.

Prepare for the Day

Bring bottled water or soda and snacks even if there will be food/drinks on site. You may be too busy to take a break! Be sure to snack when you can so you don't run out of energy toward the end of the day. It's also great if you can recruit friends to help, whether it is to drop off lunch, give you a break or support.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Know that no matter how much planning you do, you can't plan for everything, but you can try your best to be prepared so if the unexpected does happen, you have it covered. We always bring a disaster kit. In this kit, along with our pens and invoice books, we keep the following:

• Stapler
• Scotch tape
• Duct tape 
• Packing tape (no joke we bring 3 kinds of tape with us and have used them all!)
• Kleenex and napkins
• Safety pins
• Advil (you will be glad you had it)
• Calculator
• A multi-use tool
• Lighter
• Power strip
• Extension cords
• Bungee cords
• Band-Aids
• Purell
• Sharpies
• Blank index cards (for ad-hoc signage)
• Business cards
• Notebook – we like to take notes of things we forgot or wish we had and items customers asked for that we currently don't make
• We also bring a hand truck and a thick floor mat to stand on

Have Fun Selling

The best part of being at a craft show is being able to talk with your shoppers, and tell them about your process and your passion for your craft. Have fun selling and they will have fun shopping.

If you are on the shy side, think about an opening line to break the ice – perhaps something that makes your items special or what inspired you to make it. Instead of answering questions with a yes or no, take advantage of the opportunity to tell people more about the item too. Even a simple hi and a smile will go a long way to make people feel welcome. We like to chat with people and ask them how they are enjoying the event as a whole, and find out what cool things they have seen at other booths. 

How to set up a craft show booth like a pro (part one)

Do you ever wonder what goes into prepping for those craft shows you visit? Have you been thinking about selling your work? We asked Jenny and Sabrina of The Pig and The Peacock for their expert advice on being a vendor. And they delivered! Check back soon for part two …

Craft shows are a great opportunity to boost sales and meet your customers face to face so you can show them what you are all about. In order for you and your shoppers to have the best experience possible, you need to plan ahead and prepare.

Make Enough Product

First and foremost you need product – and plenty of it. You should aim to still have a relatively full display toward the end of the show. If your booth looks empty, you might get passed by. Depending on your price points, you should expect to sell 1/4 to 1/3 of the inventory you bring. The best way to be prepared is to make a production schedule and try to stick to it. Then bring everything to the show, even if you aren't sure you will sell it.

Lay Out Your Booth Space and Displays

About three weeks before the show, plan your booth space. Decide what your table layout will be, how your displays will be set up and where chairs and product storage will go but still be easily accessible. Tape off the booth space on the floor or driveway and be sure everything fits. Once you have a "floor plan," decide how your goods will be displayed.

You want to be sure your displays hold enough product, are easily shop-able, and add height and interest to your booth. Anything can be used as a display, from old crates and quirky vintage suitcases to simple metal hanging racks or risers. Bring tablecloths for your tables to create a visually appealing display that allows you to hide stuff under the table. Remember to consider lighting needs. Check out this Flickr Craft Show Group for ideas.

Create Signage

On average, a customer will ask the price of items only twice before they feel uncomfortable asking again. Put them at ease by creating signage or putting price tags on all of your items. Make sure the sign is easy for them to spot and big enough to read from a distance. Also be sure you have business cards handy and in a place that is easy for shoppers to find. 

Pretty up your pics at the Etsy Craft Party

It’s time for the annual Etsy Craft Party and you’re invited! Etsy Dallas and City Craft are hosting a local gathering. Come join us for snacks, drinks and photo crafts. This free event includes three craft projects.

Choose your own project:

1) embroidering directly onto photographs or photocopies of photos;

2) embroidering on photos that have been printed onto fabric (we have two photos, courtesy of our amazing and talented Yony of YLK Photography, on fabric for you to choose from: blue bonnets and Big Tex);

3) and especially for kids: making photo collages with cropped photos, scrapbook paper, etc.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own photos to use for the projects. We will have some supplies for those who don't bring photos. And be sure to get your photo taken in the photo booth too.

In addition to the photo crafts, City Craft is opening their sewing machines to those who may want to try sewing. How amazing is that?!? It's going to be a great night. We can't wait to see what you create. Save the date!

Time: 7 - 9 p.m.

Date: Friday, June 6, 2014

Place: City Craft

2104 Irving Blvd.

Dallas, TX 75207

Etsy Dallas on The Broadcast: DIY Repurposing Picture Frames

Karen from Pinwheel Fair and Kathy from Kathleen Care Jewelry joined the hosts of The Broadcast to show off beautiful ways to recycle your old picture frames. 

Karen makes all kinds of gorgeous chalkboards, pushpins, and pillows in her Etsy shop. We are so happy she shared some of her talent and creative skills with us on the show today and gave us all the details for her Framed Magnet Board. 

Framed Magnet Board:

Supplies:
- Frame

- Sheet metal & tin snips (Home Depot or Loews)

- Ruler & sharpie

- Spray Paint

- Decorative paper or fabric

- Mod Podge & sponge brush

- Foam core

- Duck tape

- Utility knife & cutting mat

- Magnets

1. Remove glass, frame backing and spray paint the frame the color of choice - for best adhesion, lightly sand and prime first.

2. Measure inside of frame from the back - this will be your sheet metal dimensions. If your frame has a glass insert, simply use it as

an easy template to draw onto your sheet metal. Be careful - the sides will be SHARP!

3. "Paint" a thin layer of Mod Podge on to your sheet metal insert and smooth out your decorative paper/fabric carefully removing any air bubbles.  (Don't worry about the overage yet...)

4. Let dry overnight.

5. Cut off paper or fabric edges using your utility knife & a cutting mat to protect work surfaces. 

6. Carefully place your steel insert back into your frame.

7. Cut layers of foam core board to fit, until the frame back is level to the frame.

8. Seal all edges with your duck tape to complete!

Kathy from Kathleen Care Jewelry designs and hand crafts beautiful jewelry. How lovely it would be to make one or two of her display boards to organize all of your jewelry. Here's all the details Kathy shared with us:

Jewelry Display Board: 

Supplies:
- Fabric
- Frame
- Spray Paint
- Cotton batting
- Straight Pins
- Pearl Pins

- Duct or heavy duty tape 

- Double sided tape or glue dots

1. Pick a frame large enough to display your jewelry, hair bows, etc, and make sure the fabric you use extends at least 2 inches on each side.
2. Remove glass, frame backing and spray paint the frame the color of choice
3. Adhere cotton batting to the card board back of your frame. I use either glue dots or double sided tape, cutting off any excess batting.
4. Tautly pull the fabric over your frame backing and secure with either duct tape or framing tape (some people even like to use a heavy duty stapler)
5. Put newly covered frame cardboard back in the frame without the glass.
Done!

See Karen and Kathy in action on The Broadcast!

Studio Snapshots: Kathleen Care Jewelry

Ever wonder where all the lovely things you see on Etsy are made? It’s time to take a behind-the-scenes look at the workspace of Etsy Dallas teammate Kathleen Care of Kathleen Care Jewelry.

Kathleen created has converted a corner of her bedroom into her own studio space. It’s about 5’ x 4’ and a step up from the early days. “I started my business working on my couch with four plastic storage bins filled with gemstones, metal wire and chain,” Kathleen said. “My husband felt sorry for me (or maybe he was annoyed) and bought me a proper desk.” She has since added a second desk. 

In her current space, Kathleen uses two different size torches (fire), Dremel tools for sanding, buffing, polishing, etching, texturing, etc. She has a solid wood desk, a plywood desk and a granite surface. “Each of my surfaces work differently with the metal and gives me the ability to do a range of texturing on the jewelry,” she said. 

Save the date: Etsy Craft Party 2014

We are happy to announce our location for the annual Etsy Craft Party is City Craft. The theme this year is all about taking your photographs to new artistic levels. It's BYOP (bring your own photos) but we will have extra photographs for your use, if you don't have prints on hand.

You don't want to miss this little shindig. It's 7 to 9 p.m. on June 6. You can RSVP now for Etsy Craft Party 2014: Recapture. Enjoy an evening of food, drinks and crafty fun. We can't wait to see what you create.

Watch: Spring Bash recap video

We want to send big fuzzy thank you hearts to everyone who made the 2014 Spring Bash possible. Thank you to our vendors, volunteers, sponsors and shoppers. You all made Saturday magical.

 
Check out the awesome video Christina and Keith put together from the day. And if you missed the show, don't worry. You can browse the shops here.

Delightful Discoveries: Best Mom Ever

Show mom a little love this Mother's Day with one of the lovely handmade finds from our Spring Bash artists. Bonus: You can browse the works in person today at The Shops at Park Lane!

Got a grad you need to buy for? We have you covered there too. And why not do a little shopping for yourself while you're browsing? Come on over and say hello. 

 

Texas Bluebonnet State Flower Print from Anna Tovar

Dots Mug by Blue Flame Studios

Purple Iolite Teardrop Ring in Silver from EstieMade

Abstract Art Print by Liz Wiley

Sweet Citrus and Lavender Pure Soy Wax Candle from The Pig and The Peacock

Turkish Fig Glycerin Soap from The Pig and The Peacock

Spring Bash Bags for the first 50 shoppers

More than a few of you know about the Bash Bags, and if you don't ... make sure you come early to find out.

We kick off the Spring Bash at 11 a.m. (officially), but some start their Bash celebration hours earlier. Why? To get one of the free Bash Bags we hand out to the first 50 attendees of course!

This super cool tote bag is filled with Etsy Dallas swag just for you. Our artisans put on their creative thinking caps and come up with some really neat stuff.  Here's a sneak peek at the goodies inside! 

We hope to see you bright and early Saturday. It's going to be a blast!

Thanks to the following artists:

Bunting – In Your Bones

Pens - Made by Rori

Buttons - Mama Said Studio

Original Art - Liz Wiley

Postcard - Blue Flame Studio

Head Scarves - Freckled Chicken

Magnets - K8Made

Hot/Cold Packs - Regal Cottage

Soap - The Pig & The Peacock

Stickers - Etsy Inc.

Turquoise Charms - Kathleen Care Jewelry

Greeting Cards - Magnolia Tree Paperie

Mirrors and Fabric Swatches - Cykochik

Spring Bash Sponsor Spotlight: The Shops at Park Lane

We at Etsy Dallas are super pumped to return to The Shops at Park Lane for the 2014 Spring Bash! Located in the heart of midtown Dallas, The Shops at Park Lane pairs the best in shopping with distinctive dining and entertainment options, in a modern urban environment.

Find us in the Spring Bash Pavilion and on Springtime Avenue to discover the more than 40 handmade artists who will be selling their goods. It’s free fun for the whole family. There is even a playground area for the little ones.

In addition to all the handmade goodness, you will get to meet some of The Shops’ premier tenants. Gordon Biersch is our official beer provider. Bowl & Barrel will be selling food on site. And Whole Foods (the largest Whole Foods in North Dallas!) is providing some yummy samples. 

Plan to spend the day at The Shops at Park lane. Our vendors will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but before that you can stroll through some of the flagship stores, maybe get a mani/pedi, take your kids to the playground, and find some delicious food. After the Bash, you can grab some groceries or meet a few friends and compare Bash finds at one of the five restaurants on site. (And that’s not including the food and fun to be had at Bowl & Barrel.)

Located directly across Central from North Park Center, The Shops at Park Lane is a destination for fun and great finds. Add the Spring Bash to the mix and you are guaranteed an awesome Saturday. Oh, and there’s plenty of free, on-site parking. 

Check The Shops at Park Lane for store directories and maps. We will be on site April 26, 2014.

Sponsor Spotlight: YLK

She’s an Etsy Dallas member, a self-taught photographer and a true artist. We love Yony and her work. That is why we are so honored to have YLK Photography as a sponsor for the Spring Bash coming up this Saturday, April 26, 2014.

Yony specializes in lifestyle and portrait photography. The mesmerizing pieces she creates conjure feelings both nostalgic and timeless. 

Be sure to check out her shop. And you can also follow YLK Photography on Instagram and like it Facebook to see more of Yony's work. 

Sponsor Spotlight: Freckled Chicken

If you’re shopping for a little girl, prepare to fall in love with Freckled Chicken. We love Holly’s sweet handmade pieces, and we are very happy to have her as a Spring Bash sponsor. 

We love the unique and whimsical clothing from Freckled Chicken. Looking for something specific? Holly offers custom pieces too. 

Holly earned a degree in fashion and spent much of her career focused on grownup clothes. Then she began making clothing for her daughter and something magical hatched. “I have to say children’s wear is a lot more fun,” she said. 

Holly joined Etsy in late 2010 and said she immediately recognized its importance. “Etsy has definitely been a game-changer for many artisans,” Holly said. She is looking forward to another great turnout for the bash.

Stop by the Freckled Chicken booth at the Spring Bash 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 26, 2014.

Sponsor Spotlight: K8made

We just adore the stunning clutches from K8made, and we are so excited to have our own Kate as a sponsor of the Spring Bash. Mother’s Day is coming up and we know lots of moms who would love to rock one of these exquisite clutches.

K8made bags are sold in boutiques across the country and are especially popular for bridal parties and brides. 

We caught up with Kate for a quick chat about the handmade shows…

“I believe the bash is one of the best handmade shows in the Dallas area,” Kate said. “As part of the team, I enjoy doing what I can to help make the event a success for everyone.”

Kate said the bash provides a great opportunity for local artists to interact with the community and to share their work with a much larger audience. “This can be instrumental in furthering the handmade movement and each individual artist’s business,” she said.

She is also a big supporter of independent artists. She loves to buy handmade when shopping for gifts for friends and family. “When you buy handmade, you’re guaranteed to get a unique product that was made with care and purpose,” Kate said. “When you shop at the Spring Bash, you’ll never be disappointed.”

We couldn’t agree more. Be sure to visit the K8made booth at the Spring Bash on April 26, 2014.

Sponsor Spotlight: DFWChild

Etsy Dallas is thrilled to welcome back Spring Bash sponsor DFW Child. Parents in the know are likely already familiar with the go-to magazine for families in the DFW area. DallasChild, FortWorthChild and NorthTexasChild area available online and in print. Each issue of the monthly publication focuses on a specific part of DFW and lets readers know what is going on around town.

The award-winning free magazines cover everything from prenatal through adolescence. They also publish two special print resources – Thrive and DallasChildBaby. Thrive is a quarterly publication for DFW area families  living and thriving with learning differences and special needs. DallasChildBaby is a biannual publication for new and expecting parents that provides specialized resources specifically targeted to first-time parents.

You may want to check out their Contests page (*hint hint*) for a chance at some pretty fabulous prizes. And you will never again have to look for something fun to do if you read their Things To Do page.

Child(ish) is their fabulous blog. Sign up for blog newsletters and never miss out on the latest local events and news. Can't get enough? Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for even more great info.

Be sure to check out their table and pick up a copy of the magazine at the Spring Bash 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. April 26.

Delightful Discoveries: Best Gifts for Grads

Graduation season is here, and the Spring Bash is the place to find unique gifts that every graduate will love.

How about this handmade card to commemorate that glorious hat tossing moment from Happy Cactus Designs?

This inspirational letterpress art from Ma Joie is perfect for the graduate whose fire is just beginning to ignite into a career.

This Wooden Periodic Table Clock from miniFab is sure to delight the chemically inclined.

Join us at the Spring Bash on April 26th to find something your graduate will adore for years to come.

Sponsor Spotlight: Forever, Always Photography

Etsy Dallas is delighted to have Forever, Always Photography back as our official photographer for the 6th Annual Spring Bash. Megan will be on hand to snap photos in the free photo booth and will capture all of the Bashy fun of the day too. 

Megan is offering a special right now on 1 hour sessions with all photos released for $100, and her mini sessions in the bluebonnets are a steal (only $50) for a Texas spring time essential.

Megan also does event photography. She recently photographed a family event for me, and I can tell you that she is really great with kids and all those crazy relatives too! She is a real professional: prompt, polite, and so very talented! She somehow seemed to be everywhere at once, capturing all of our memorable moments at once. 

See more of Megan's beautiful work on Facebook and swing by the photo booth at the Spring Bash to meet her. 

Sponsor Spotlight: Midnight Snack

It's snack time! Don't worry. Midnight Snack has you covered. Snuggle up with some yummy pancakes or a juicy steak. 

We are thrilled to have Christina as a sponsor for the Spring Bash. (We are also hungry from browsing her shop. Ice cream, anyone?) Seriously, her handmade plushes are works of art.

Christina's shop is stocked with whimsical plushes and pillows perfect for your favorite foodie. All items are handmade to order. Which is your favorite Midnight Snack? 

Sponsor Spotlight: Regal Cottage

A royal adventure awaits! That's the motto of Regal Cottage. And it's a perfect fit. There's no better way to welcome baby or delight a child, than with a gift from Regina's lovely shop. 

Regal Cottage’s toys are both classic and modern. From her signature plush Russian matryoshka nesting dolls and fabric rattle balls to this adventurous trio, Regina has lovingly handcrafted something perfect for your sweet little one. (She’s an expert on little ones—she has four!)

Sure, we may be slightly biased. Regina is one of our teammies, after all. But we adore those plushies. Be sure to stop by Regina's booth at the Spring Bash on April 26, 2014.

Which sweet handmade toy will you choose? Just be sure the camera is ready to capture the moment when you present your lucky little adventurer with some Regal Cottage goodness.

Volunteers wanted for a day of handmade awesomeness

Want to spend a Saturday with some of the most creative and fun people in Dallas? We would love to meet you!

Etsy Dallas is on the search for volunteers for the highly anticipated Spring Bash. Come hang out with some awesome and fun people. The Bash happens 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at the Shops at Park Lane. We are looking for volunteers for the following shifts: 

• 9 a.m. to Noon
• Noon to 3 p.m.
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sign up to volunteer for a few hours. We would be super-excited to have you on board and make this the very best Etsy Dallas Spring Bash ever.

Painter shares 5 tools of her trade

Liz Wiley creates beautiful paintings using oils and acrylics. She is sharing five of her favorite tools with us. If you're expecting something obvious like paintbrushes and fixative, you're in for a surprise. And if you're a budding painter, you may want to add these to your art supplies.

Thrifty Trowel  
This is my most used tool. I think it’s traditionally used for tile work. It’s a square piece of plastic that has different designs on each edge. One is smooth and the other three have different spacing notches. I use it to apply, smooth and scrape paint. It's wonderful at applying the paint without leaving brush marks. Tube Wringer

This little tool is great for getting every last drop of paint out of a tube. You pay a lot for that paint. Don’t throw it out because you can’t get it out. They make a plastic one, but I use the heavy duty metal one. It will be the only one you need to buy, because it will last forever. 

Bottles

These little bottles are great for creating thin continuous lines. The tips are closed so you have to cut them to get the paint out. There are also bottles with metal tips. You can get an extremely thin line using these. The secret to using these is that you need to thin the paint so it will come out. I use Liquitex Fluid Medium. Try to limit mixing your acrylic paints with water. Using water will weaken the paint and it may flake right off the canvas. 

Catalyst Tools

I love these tools. They are like a brush only they don’t have a brush head. It’s a flexible silicone.  They are just so different. Almost like a soft palette knife. Think baking spatula. These are amazing at applying paint in a smooth finish. They are also useful for mixing paint. 

Camera (in my case, a cell phone camera)

I know this is a little unusual for a tool, but I find that I use it for every painting. Taking in-progress pictures helps show the evolution of a piece. Looking at the picture on a computer provides a different perspective. I can easily catch things that need to be changed. Reviewing the photos makes any design problems more obvious. I think of it as the modern day mirror. And after you've finished the painting, you have an image ready to post on Etsy so you can start making sales.