Thursday, November 19, 2009

Craft Fair Tips for Reducing Costs

In honor of the craft fair I have coming up this weekend, I have decided to finally blog about what I have learned already.  The focus is Saving Money when preparing to do a craft fair.  The costs add up (I learned), so you have to save where you can!  My first stop?  Our local dollar store! 


I found white paper bags with handles in different sizes...cost = 2/$1.00.  I then bought some tissue paper to place inside, hole punch, and tape ($1.00 each - dollar store, remember?).  I then used ribbon I already had to tie my business cards to the bag handles.  Total cost was less than $0.60/bag.  *I use small white or colored paper bags for smaller items.



Next, I needed pieces to display my creations on in my booth.  I called family and friends for table cloths to cover my ugly tables.  Cost = free and some I was told I could keep!  So my tables looked good, but I need to go vertical.  I found this shelf on craigslist and paid $5.00 for it, then painted it white with paint I already had sitting in the garage.



Last 2 ideas (for now):
  • a coupon holder to hold your cash so that you can sort it by amount and not have to search for change ($1.00 at...yep - the dollar store!


  • business card holder from a garage sale = $1.00!


I am very happy with my finds, but am always looking for new ideas.  Feel free to leave your ideas here to share with others!

4 comments:

  1. Coupon holder! Brilliant!!

    I am doing a big 2-day craft show this weekend in Seattle. I normally use a cheap "pencil holder" pouch (like the kind that kids snap into their 3-ring binders) for my loose cash but it is large - and the coupon holder will fit right in my apron pocket! You're a genius! And I happen to have one sitting in the junk drawer of my kitchen!

    Thanks for the tips. I'll be blogging about my craft show experience next week. :)

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  2. Thanks so much for posting this! I have a show coming up later in the year and have never done one before.

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  3. Great ideas !! Thank you for posting your suggestions: I have never had a show but maybe next year I will have one.... and I am a little bit scared about all the things I will have to prepare .... and furniture I have to use .... and so on !!!! Your suggestions are really good!
    Blessings,
    Laura

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  4. Wonderful suggestions! My lifesaver when setting up is my survival box (i.e. tape, stapler, trash bags, alligator clips, sticky tack, wipes, etc). Happy Crafting! LBsSewingSanity.Etsy.Com

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