Self Promotion Before, During and After Craft Shows
Don’t rely on the exhibitors to do all your marketing for you. Instead,
you should actively promote yourself and your attendance at a craft show.
Get information from professionals like SMALL
BUSINESS ADVERTISING TUTORIAL which will help with
low cost advertising strategies. Written by a professional
with 20 years of experience this affordable guide is packed
full of inspiring advertising ideas and practical advice designed
to boost your bottom line.
Tell The Story Behind Your Crafts
Buyers of your jewelry and other craft creations will want to know a
lot about your craft background. They will want to know about the piece,
how you thought about it, what kinds of techniques you used to make
it, what makes the piece special or original.
They might want to know who taught you and how you learned your craft.
They might want to know if you make your items full-time or part-time.
They might be interested to learn where else you sell or have sold your
pieces.
You should be prepared to tell your story orally.
But you might also want to create a short hand-out, as well. If you
have a web-site, you should post this story there, too.
Sell yourself, the crafter, as well as your craft creations.
Get 250 Free Business Cards - More Than 400 Designs To Choose From
Mailing/Emailing List
Generate a mailing list and use it!
At craftshows, have a Guest Registration. Or better yet, have people
fill out a slip of paper to win one of your craft items. Ask for their
name, phone, email address, and physical address. You might try to document
if they have particular interests, as well, so you can follow up with
particular people on specific items you have for sale. Think of other
creative ways to generate mailing list names. Look for directories of
local bead societies, craft guilds, artist guilds and the like.
Before you go to a show, send out an annoucement to everyone,
post flyers and enourage other participants to do the same.
E-newsletters are also a good way to keep interested buyers informed of your upcoming shows. Visit this link to learn about how to create an email newsletter for your business.
At the Craft Show
Take every opportunity to promote yourself at the craft show. Have well-printed postcards or business
cards, and be sure to include your show schedule.
Greet everyone with a positive, up-beat attitude.
Don't be pushy.
Post Craft Show (specially for those selling
wholesale)
Don’t bury your head in the sand between shows! Instead, take
a more holistic approach. Time between shows is ideal for building relationships.
Pick up the phone, lick that stamp, send those email newsletters and
promote, promote, promote. Keeping your head above the sand and showing
a consistent face is crucial between show appearances.
If you are a regular exhibitor you have the added advantage of being
able to immediately jump into promoting the NEXT show. Regular exhibitors
can use free show stickers on outgoing shipments and may even supply
their retailers with sneak-peaks and advance buying opportunities for
new work to be officially unveiled at the upcoming show.
Approaching year-round show promotion is essential for your business.
Don’t just print postcards with specific show dates listed.
Instead, print a list of shows and 800 numbers or web sites where one
can register to attend.
Don’t just talk about the shows you are attending in
the next 2 months. List your yearly schedule all at once.
And, most importantly… Don’t just promote the shows YOU
are excited to finally be accepted to. Instead, bank on the dependability
your customers seek and promote shows you will regularly be seen at
year after year
Graphic Design and Production Information:
design principles: http://www.typography-1st.com/typo/prnc-des.shtml
design and color: http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
Design Rules of Thumb: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/ET650_online/MAPPS/GDBasics.html#Rules
color theory: http://www.wpdfd.com/wpdpal3.htm
balance in design: http://www.tacoma.ctc.edu/home/mberg/unit3/u3_lecture3_2.htm
http://graphicdesign.about.com/library/weekly/aa021000a.htm
typography: http://www.will-harris.com/use-type.htm
taming wild words (type as art): http://www.ideabook.com/typeasar.htm
rules of typography: http://www.fontsite.com/Pages/RulesOfType/ROT0997.html
rules of layout:http://www.typography-1st.com/typo/layouts.shtml
consistency in design: http://graphicdesign.about.com/library/weekly/aa022400a.htm
theory of logo design: http://www.designertoday.com/tabindex-4/tabId-7/itemid-693/DesktopDefault.aspx
| 
