It may be time to take the next step in your creative business venture by selling your wares at an arts and crafts show. Many artists and artisans can bring in thousands of dollars in revenue from the right arts trade shows, but it is important to do some research and make the wisest choices before jumping in head first. Once you find a successful trade show, returning each year can develop a loyal customer base that looks for your booth each year, prepared to spend money on your arts and crafts.

Before making the choice to pack up your arts and crafts to head for a show, use this arts trade show advice:

1. Decide whether you would rather attend a juried or non-juried arts trade show. While non-juried shows are a sure bet, juried shows are more prestigious and attract a higher end audience.

2. Set up a merchant account through the bank and rent a credit card machine to maximize sales by accepting credit card payment at the arts tradeshow.

3. Display merchandise creatively and make sure it is well-lit and visible to attract customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend the arts trade shows that attracts your niche audience

Do plenty of research talking to other artisans, in an arts trade show guide or arts trade show directory to find the tradeshows that attract your market. There are fine arts tradeshows for those willing to spend large amounts of cash on one-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures, shows selling highly-crafted functional art and traditional arts and crafts shows selling lower-priced handcrafted unique items. Think about where your product fits in.

I recommend: Apply to the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair. Download applications for up to twenty national crafts tradeshows at CraftProducers.com.

Set up a great arts trade show booth as a backdrop for your art

Having an attractive and professional-looking display booth that does not distract from your products is essential for trade show success. Your display booth should be simple, sturdy, and easy and quick to put up and take down. Use displays that work well with your style of arts and crafts, such as rustic wooden shelving to display handwoven baskets, brightly-colored fabric panels to hang bright abstract paintings on, or black backdrops for black and white photographs.

I recommend: Select the booth with the right layout options and price at the New York International Gift Fair. Customize your booth with an exhibitor kit for the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show.

Draw customers in with free promotional items at an arts and crafts trade show

Everyone loves free stuff, and free promotional items are an effective form of advertising. Pass out promotional items with your business name and logo on them and everyone will be looking for your booth again next year, but choose something that is unique to your business' particular arts or crafts genre. For art and photo galleries, magnets printed with artwork reproductions are great attention grabbers, or offer promotional arts and crafts kits for the fairs' kid attendees.

I recommend: Order sample boxes of modeling clay imprinted with your name or logo from Motivators, or custom design magnets with original artwork from Custom-Magnets.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for arts trade shows that have little or no admission fee and free parking, which leaves more cash for attendees to spend.
• •  Look for arts trade shows that have little or no admission fee and free parking, which leaves more cash for attendees to spend.