How to arrange a place at a bakery fair. How to prepare for your first handmade fair

A master of needlework, handmade, handicrafts, having achieved certain knowledge and experience, thinks about promoting his work and the next step is participation in the handmade fair-exhibition . And when you participate for the first time, many questions arise about how to prepare so that the fair-exhibition is successful and the first pancake does not become lumpy.

At one time, when I submitted an application to participate in my first fair, I had enough questions, but there are very few answers on the Internet and useful information from craftsmen who have taken part in fairs many times. Maybe everyone learns from their mistakes and takes into account only their own experience. But in order not to experience failure at the first fair, you should prepare and take into account all the nuances.

What needs to be done before the exhibition:

You need to check with the organizers dimensions of the proposed exhibition table, in order to make and prepare the required quantity of goods. If there is not enough goods, you can rent a table together with another master, then the participation fee will be divided in half. Since it is necessary so that the exhibition space of the table is filled with goods, this attracts buyers. Prepare handmade products with a reserve, if the fair is several days, in order to lay them out against the sold works. But if there is a lot of goods, you need to think about its correct placement and additional shelving.

The fair-exhibition is another additional advertisement, need to take flyers. Very often buyers and passers-by ask contact information to be able to contact the master after the exhibition. Place your business cards on the edge of the exhibition table.
Consider whether you will have price tags, many do not use them, and the price is announced when asked by the buyer. But not every client is ready to ask again and distract the master; it is still better to put price tags on it or indicate it directly on the product tag.
One of the most common difficulties is the master’s lack of change, so you need to stock up on small bills and pennies. Very often you see a picture when the buyer is waiting, and the master runs around and changes banknotes. Or, as an option, stock up on inexpensive things and offer them instead of change, as a last resort.
Prepare a blanket, tablecloth, or just a cloth to cover the table. The product certainly looks better and attracts attention when it is placed against a beautiful background.
If you have a small product and it takes a long time to lay it out, come to the exhibition a little before the opening.
Think over and prepare packaging boxes, bags, bags, wrapping paper to fit your product in size and if it is a fragile and large product, then you need to take newspapers or paper with you for additional wrapping. Be sure to have gift wrapping with you if someone purchases a handmade product from you as a gift.
If your product already has a brand, then think about creating a high-quality banner with your logo or simply with the name of your name, surname.
What else might you need at an exhibition fair: a mirror, scissors, thread, tape (to cover the stand at night), an umbrella (if the exhibition is outside), a notepad, pens and an album with photographs of your work.

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To participate in the exhibition you will need specialized equipment. It will help to conveniently organize a retail space and create comfortable conditions for the seller and buyers.

The most functional exhibition furniture is the folding travel one table with a hanging shelf under the tabletop. This option is convenient for transportation, quite durable and light weight. It’s better to purchase lightweight folding chairs to go with it so you don’t have to spend the whole day on your feet. Folding stools can be used as additional space for display cases.
At all exhibitions it is a mandatory requirement to have tablecloths on the table, covering it on all sides. Common types coatings are not always convenient - they fidget on the surface, the corners hang down on the floor and disturb visitors, and it is inconvenient for the seller to use the space under the tabletop. A good option There will be a tablecloth cover, sewn to the size of the table. It looks like a box that fits on top of furniture. The back canopy, facing the seller, can be made with zippers. Then you will get a niche that is closed from strangers for the items you need at hand. Since exhibitions often require a white tablecloth, so as not to get it dirty during non-working hours and not to clean the exhibition every day, you can sew an additional cover. They can easily cover the table at night without moving objects on it.
To display the jewelry you will need coasters– busts. And there should be several of them. Store-bought high-quality ones are quite expensive, cheap ones are very light and small in size. Therefore, you can make the necessary equipment yourself. There are different options on the Internet on how to implement such an idea. The silhouette of the bust needs to be cut out of thick cardboard. Cover the front side with a beautiful fabric that matches the overall style of the display case. From the inside, the edges of the material brought from the face are covered with decorative paper. Sewn ties will help you gather your bust before work. When disassembled, this stand is flat and easy to transport.
The trading table space is often insufficient, so additional equipment is needed. These can be purchased hanging racks and retail mesh with hooks. The mesh, painted in the desired color, is fixed on the rack. Hooks are fixed on it in the right places, on which flat busts with decorations are hung.
For bracelets included in jewelry sets, you can use soft pillows. They are sewn from beautiful fabric and stuffed with loose filler (for example, holofiber). Single bracelets look impressive on racks. For this, a plastic pipe of suitable diameter is used. The length required is covered with fabric and placed on the table.
It is convenient to use a hard folding one for earrings and necklaces. stand. For it you need to make two frames with a fiberboard backing. You can decorate the frames in the most suitable style. The inner surface is covered with velvet, into which it will be convenient to stick pins or jewelry earrings. The frames are connected to each other by two window hinges so that they fold like a box. In this form, the exposure can be transferred without damaging the products.
As packaging Ziploc bags of different sizes are often used. A signature option would be bags for large decorations made of canvas with decoupage and for small items made of organza.
Labels, instructions and reference materials need to be printed on thick photo paper.
Business cards You can order them in bulk from a printing service company, or print them yourself on the same paper as for labels.
Badge It is advisable to design it in the same style as other printed materials. It is easy to buy a plastic base at any stationery kiosk, and on a paper insert it is better to make a laconic inscription with the most up-to-date information- FULL NAME.
Signboard should attract attention to the retail space. Therefore, there is no need to be shy. It should be noticeable, but tasteful. And it is advisable to be located in a place accessible to review.
Advertising will help attract the attention of visitors to the exhibition. In addition to media reports, you can distribute booklets and leaflets. Additionally, each master can distribute printed publications along with your business cards to all your acquaintances, colleagues at your main job, and neighbors.
Mirror with legs will help customers comfortably evaluate the jewelry they are trying on. Therefore it must be large. It is advisable to decorate it accordingly - stylishly and tastefully. Then exhibition visitors will look at it even when trying on bracelets. And they will also want to look at other products. To make it easier to carry and store the mirror, you need to make a case.
Pins with decorative heads will help to fix small decorations on stands, and accounting rubber bands are useful for securing necklaces to busts from the inside out.
Pen and notepad will be needed to keep records of the goods sold, as well as for other business records.
Materials and tools may be useful if there is a need to adjust the size of the product or replace the fastener on it.
Price tags It is convenient to hang on a thread loop on individual large items. Decorations of the same value laid out in rows may have a common price tag. They are easy to make from thick paper by making them in curly shapes and writing the required numbers on them.
Money small denominations will be needed for change. They need to be prepared in advance by exchanging a certain amount. When making payments, you need to be careful, especially with large bills - counterfeits can greatly ruin your mood and business.
Transport packaging for products - zip bags that fit into suitcases for cosmetic kits. They, along with a mirror, tablecloth, coasters and other items, are packed in large PVC shopping bags. Large items - tables, nets, stands - are disassembled and transported separately. During work, all unnecessary items and personal belongings are hidden in the space under the table and covered with a tablecloth cover.
Drink and food can be purchased at the exhibition, but you can take them from home. You can't eat in a retail space, but no one will blame you for using a water bottle. You can eat at any food outlet, of which there are many at the exhibition.
Appearance should be neat, discreet, but not boring. It will be an additional advertisement for the master to have his own jewelry. It is not advisable to wear the products being sold on yourself - some buyers may perceive this aspect unfavorably. You need clothes that are practical and well-protected from drafts, and shoes that are comfortable and familiar. It is advisable to have a minimum of cosmetics with you, as well as a comb.
Minimum first aid kit and a set of hygiene products will help you avoid unexpected troubles.
Friendly behavior and smile will help you communicate with customers. You need to behave evenly even with the most unpleasant clients. They will still leave, but the mood will remain good. Even if visitors haven't made a purchase, they shouldn't leave empty-handed - give them your business card and advertising brochure with information about your store, website.
A photo taken at the exhibition will preserve memories of it and will help in the future as presentations and advertising.

Exhibitions and fairs require a certain investment of effort, time and money. But even without them, craftsmen spend their efforts searching for clients, selling online, and purchasing equipment. Therefore, it is impossible to say that participation in the fair is an additional expense. Rather, it is a redistribution of investments. In return, the exhibition provides an opportunity to expand the circle of acquaintances, both among artists and clients. In addition, an attentive person will study consumer demand, monitor modern fashion trends and the taste of a large number of new people. It is important that the fair is an opportunity to immediately receive a significant amount of money, which is especially important for beginning craftsmen.

Important condition successful trading– wide range of goods. The showcase should include expensive exclusive works of art, inexpensive crafts, and small items. For every product there is sure to be a buyer. And the master will receive a lot of new impressions, ideas and ideas.

The formation of public space in the shopping center leads to a rethinking of most short-term entertainment programs and events taking place in mall galleries. The founder will talk about fairs of handmade goods, their significance, dangers and prospects management company public spaces Pavel Mazhorov and CEO management company of the Reutov Park shopping center Dmitry Karavaev.

In the last six months, we have had to closely encounter such a phenomenon as a fair of handmade goods in a shopping center. Work on the formation of a public zone of a shopping center cannot do without including various hobbies and interests in it. And a fair is an event that brings together enthusiastic, caring and active people.

Oddly enough, among all the possible options for events, the theme of fairs turned out to be one of the most interesting and confusing. On the one hand, what could be simpler? Stylized, festive tables or carts with souvenirs and accessories, jewelry and sweets, handmade and small-batch goods, gifts for every taste. You can always find a fair organizer who is ready to hold their event in the gallery of the shopping center.

A fair for a shopping center, if properly organized and information support, is not so much a source of additional income as a good information opportunity and social activity - it allows local craftsmen (district, regional) to attract new customers without advertising costs, that is, to earn money and introduce their product to their audience. But it's not that simple. For the simple-minded and broken appearance Fairs are fraught with serious problems.

We had to go quite a long way. Talk to dozens of craftsmen and entrepreneurs, sellers and resellers until a real picture of the state of affairs is formed. Despite the incredible number and apparent diversity, fairs or, as they are also called, markets, have a fairly clear division into groups.

“Closed” fairs for their own

The first and main group are handmade fairs, working for permanent target audience lovers and fans. These are events for true fans of handicrafts. They take place quite often and attract audiences of thousands. These are “Lambada Market”, “Dunyasha”, “Art-Flection”, “Ladya” and several other similar events. These markets are distinguished by a fairly strict selection of participants and large investments in advertising in central city media. At these events, master class areas, food courts are organized, concerts and performances are held. For these markets, separate exhibition spaces are selected, such as “Trekhgornaya Manufactory”, “Artplay”, “Central Telegraph”, “Exhibition Center” on Krasnaya Presnya and others. Each of them attracts tens of thousands of visitors who come with purpose. It’s sad to say that shopping centers are not used for these events; the organizers prefer not to scatter the attention of the target audience. We communicated with several organizers of fairs of the target audience, trying to lure them to the shopping center, but their answers were negative and categorical.

The composition of participants in this group of fairs is formed in advance and mainly consists of regular participants. These are highly qualified craftsmen for whom handwork, production and sales are their main profession and income. The organizers of the fairs are professional teams consisting of experienced employees.

In the shopping center we have a completely opposite picture. Under the guise of a fair or market of handmade goods, a certain special format of events is held, which has absolutely nothing in common with the fairs described above. Fairs in shopping centers can be divided into two types: markets announced as an event for young designers of clothing and accessories, and a market for handmade goods. Let's look at each of them.

Fashion fairs

A fashion market for young designers: from the outside it looks like an island made of rails, standing in the middle of a shopping gallery with several prefabricated fabric fitting rooms. They sell clothes made on small industries, at affordable prices. These are clothes for a narrow segment of the consumer. Sharply fashionable, sometimes provocative, almost always bright and not always practical. Such fairs can enliven the space of a shopping center. Sometimes they are accompanied by fashion shows, creating a full-fledged event with a guest presenter, reviews in lifestyle blogs and criticism in the press. Or they simply build a palisade of rails, and are more reminiscent of a “fishing net”, in which a visitor to a shopping center accidentally gets caught at the mercy of smiling and annoying sellers.

For a shopping center, the role of such events is ambiguous. Among the advantages, one can note the creation of a certain zone of interest with unusual clothes that cannot be bought in shopping center stores, one of the options for attracting traffic to the “dead” zone of the shopping center, or an additional informational occasion when the marketing budget is reduced. Also, additional rental income cannot be discounted. However, there are also disadvantages. Direct competition with regular tenants of the shopping center, who can make well-founded claims about the overlap in assortment.

The problem can be the lack of professionalism of the organizers, who sometimes use different-sized, unsuitable commercial equipment, on which the clothes resemble the collapse of a junk shop. And also, the proposed range of products, which may not correspond to the price segment of the target audience of the shopping center. Fashion events are quite acceptable in a shopping center, but to hold them, the organizers of fashion fairs must be given clear rules and restrictions regulating the assortment, design and form of the event, and, of course, an event script is needed.

Handmade goods fairs

And if everything is more or less clear with fashion markets, then with fairs of handmade goods in shopping centers, something simply unimaginable is happening. These events raise questions. More precisely, one - why is this necessary? Under the guise of craftsmen selling handmade goods, often in shopping centers there are sellers with goods purchased at clothing market. Chinese scarves, backpacks, leather goods and accessories, jewelry and honey by weight, cookies in boxes and everything that cunning sellers could come up with. Low quality goods and market pricing. Do you think this can't happen? Maybe. Moscow hosts at least a dozen such events every weekend. We can provide the list to everyone (upon request through the editors - editor's note). We have been trying for a long time to determine why such events became possible. Like in modern shopping mall this phenomenon penetrates. We settled on the fact that there are several main reasons - the lack of control on the part of the shopping center, a decrease in the level of impulse purchases, as well as interest in unique goods due to their higher cost.

A lot has been written about the fall in demand. A handmade product, designed for a narrow segment of lovers of a specific topic, is very vulnerable to all manifestations of the economic crisis. Teddy bears and dolls, jewelry and handmade souvenirs are expensive and do not find sufficient demand among visitors to the shopping center for the craftsman to be able to recoup the high enough rent for the place. Organizers of fairs in shopping centers are not shy about increasing their prices. For them, these are one-time events, the main purpose of which is to collect rent from the participants. In such conditions, only resellers can work profitably. They buy goods at the clothing market and quietly sell them at fairs. They do not need cash registers and checks, certificates and invoices. Cash only. And the buyer buys it. It's located in a shopping center. That is, the shopping center covers these entrepreneurs with its reputation.

As for the lack of control, it is most likely caused by the fact that employees of the management company do not have the opportunity to directly interact with fair participants. All issues are resolved through a representative of the organizer. And also, as a rule, it is possible to clearly see the works of participants only on the first day of the fair directly in your shopping center.

Fairs in Moscow shopping centers have turned into parodies of themselves. Their enormous social potential was wasted. And most of the blame lies with the organizers of such fairs, who, with their irrepressible greed, unwillingness to develop and see the future, turned a bright, fun, exciting event into a boring melancholy of low-quality consumer goods.

Organization rules

In our opinion, fairs and markets can be held in shopping centers. When properly organized, fairs and markets not only become additional income, but also significant savings in the marketing budget.

1. First of all, a fair of handicrafts or a fashion market is an event that should attract visitors and arouse their interest. Therefore, it is important to carefully select market organizers. The size of the shopping center's income from the fair is important, but is not the only selection criterion.

2. Besides design commercial equipment and design of the fair area, market organizers must present a scenario for the event. Performances, master classes, concerts are a must! This the most important part market.

3. Market participants must be approved by name, indicating the goods they produce. This list should be checked by employees of the management company. The contract must clearly state restrictions on the sale of factory-made goods. Control of this part of the agreement should be carried out by the management company of the shopping center.

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How to organize an exhibition - why it is needed + 10 steps for organizing + 4 common mistakes.

There are many marketing tools for promoting goods and services.

It’s quite difficult to take each one into account, let alone use it at once, and it’s not always necessary.

But there is one method of communication that combines several promotion tools at once.

And these are exhibitions familiar to many.

Despite the fact that many entrepreneurs have already assessed the effect of their implementation, some are still afraid to participate in such events.

And first of all, this is due to ignorance and misunderstanding of the organization of the entire process.

If you want to know how to organize an exhibition and get the maximum result from it, then continue reading this article.

What is an exhibition and why is it needed?

The exhibition is one of the key marketing communications, which includes many promotion methods that are carried out at the same time:

presentation of a product or service;
tasting (if necessary);
sampling;
competitions.

What does an entrepreneur ultimately get when he decides to take part in the exhibition:

communication with potential buyers or clients;
studying competitors and comparing yourself with them;
creating a positive image of your company;
obtaining new orders and negotiating future supply contracts.

Thus, by taking part in such events, the enterprise receives unique opportunity not just study the possible sales market and show yourself in the best light, but also immediately after the results of the work, work on mistakes - improve the quality of goods, hire more qualified personnel, engage in more active advertising.

Advantages and disadvantages of the exhibition

An exhibition is a rather specific marketing tool that has its advantages and disadvantages.

Let's start with the good stuff:

organizers use only high-quality and large-scale advertising;
For the most part, the exhibition is attended by a truly interested audience;
participation in such an event provides an opportunity for an entrepreneur to establish new connections with local authorities, other enterprises that may be suppliers of raw materials, and advertising companies;
maintaining the image of your company.

But along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages:

high cost of participation;
long preparation time;
expensive exhibition stand design;
human factor (only proven and trained marketing department employees should be sent to the exhibition).

How to Organize an Exhibition: Step-by-Step Process

To organize an exhibition, a lot of work needs to be done. Western analysts argue that it is worth spending about one year on preparation; our compatriots agree that six months will be quite enough.

The process of participating in the exhibition will consist of several stages.

Here are the main ones:

Choosing a suitable exhibition
Drawing up an action plan
Selection and preparation of employees who will present the product
Budget planning
Selection of samples
Development of handouts
Exhibition center design
Installation work
Direct participation
Summarizing

Let's look at each stage in more detail.

Selecting an exhibition and submitting an application for participation

The marketing department of an enterprise must constantly search and study information about where, when and what kind of exhibitions will be organized.

If you are new to such events, then, first of all, pay attention to specialized exhibitions that are held in your region.

If there is nothing suitable in the next six months, then it is worth considering the option of exhibitions where manufacturers can show themselves various groups goods.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing an exhibition:

subject;
number of participants;
the target audience;
ways to promote the exhibition;
requirements for exhibition stands of participants;
Cost of participation.

Submitting an application and paying for participation depends on the scale of its implementation:

at the regional level - you must contact the organizer directly;
at the federal level - find intermediaries.

Also prepare everything in advance Required documents, since some expo centers have strict requirements and carefully select participating enterprises.

Exhibition planning

Organizing an exhibition will not work without careful planning.

First of all, you must draw up a calendar plan of action, calculate a budget to understand how much money you are willing to invest in this method of advertising, and prepare your employees.

Also at this stage, it is necessary to determine the main goals of participation in such an event and focus on them.

Strategic tasks will be:

increase in sales volume;
attracting new customers;
market research;
assessing the activities of competitors and studying their target audience;
searching for new connections;
conducting preliminary negotiations with potential clients.

Tactical tasks are as follows:

determining the size of the stand;
sample selection;
exhibition stand design;
search suitable place for installation of a stand at the expo center.

Selection of employees who will work at the exhibition

If the director or owner of a business is interested in its development, then his presence at the exhibition is mandatory.

Firstly, you can see the potential sales market with your own eyes, and secondly, make business contacts.

As for the personnel who should be directly responsible for organizing the exhibition, they will belong to the sales or marketing department.

It is worth sending specialists in their field to the exhibition who:

“from” and “to” know the selected products,
have good communication skills;
will be able to sell the product and describe its positive characteristics.

Also at the stand should be the head of production, the head of the marketing or sales department.

Budget planning

The budget for organizing an exhibition should include the following expense items:

participation fee and rental of space in the expo center;
cost of the exhibition stand (design, transportation, installation);
cost of samples;
preparation of handouts;
travel and accommodation expenses for employees;
force majeure expenses.

Selection of product samples

The samples must be the same products that go on sale.

Anyone who approaches the company's stand should have the opportunity to try the product.

Also have a few units ready to give to potential clients.

On the prospectus, be sure to leave complete information about the product and company contact information.

Preparing handouts

Handout material should be presented in the form:

leaflets with information about the company and its products;
price list;
full catalogue.

It is worth noting that the costs will be quite large, so do not rush to say goodbye to handouts easily.

Place a stack of leaflets next to the stand, but save the price list and catalog for those who are really interested in the company’s products.

Exhibition stand design

The most important stage in organizing an exhibition is the design of the exhibition stand.

The success and effect of participation in such an event depends on how the product is presented.

To provide visitors with all the necessary information, use recommendations for designing an exhibition stand regarding the following points:

Name and logo.

They should be visible and immediately catch the eye.

Therefore, be sure to place them on the stand.

There is no need to make people wonder what kind of enterprise is in the right corner.

You can also develop some kind of customer-oriented slogan that will immediately attract the attention of visitors.

He should be the center of attention.

Therefore, avoid a bright stand design, where the goods may get lost.

It should also be placed in such a way that anyone can approach it from any direction.

Place in the hall.

The sooner you apply to participate in the exhibition, the higher your chances of renting a good place.

The most successful stand placement is:

to the right of the entrance;
in the middle of Hall;
in the corners of the hall.

Stand size.
The stand should occupy a third of the rented space, the rest of the space belongs to employees at the rate of 1.5-2 square meters. m. per person.
As a rule, 5 seconds are enough for a person to catch his eye on a certain stand and decide to approach it.
You need to know a few “tricks” that will help in this matter.

So, how to design an exhibition stand so that it certainly attracts attention:

the stand can be of an unusual shape with a bright, but at the same time unobtrusive design;
you can add a ticker, play a video on the screen demonstrating the product in action, place moving objects that are indirectly related to the company’s activities;

It is imperative to provide text information on the stand itself and ensure that the stand with handouts was not empty.

But it is important that visitors still have questions that company representatives can answer;

if the conditions of the exhibition organizers provide for the rental of large areas, then do not skimp and organize an “island” with a table and chairs.

Try to give your stand a certain style, let it be concise and not overloaded with many objects and unnecessary text.

Anyone would prefer to test a product in real conditions than just see it in a photo or read a bunch of information about it.

Installation work to install a stand in the exhibition hall

It is necessary to prepare in advance for the delivery of the exhibition stand: select and fully instruct workers.

To carry out installation and dismantling, you need to set clear deadlines: one day at a time.

Allowing employees to relax can increase costs.

On the days of the event, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the stand and its contents.

Participation in the exhibition and summing up

Well, all the stages of how to organize an exhibition have been completed, all that remains is to participate in it.

And here everything depends on the workers who will conduct the presentation.

There should always be people at the stand that visitors can contact.
First of all, it is worth paying attention to wholesale buyers, and then to retail buyers.
Potential clients are asked to fill out a questionnaire, after which they are provided with a catalog with a full range of products and price lists.

The completed questionnaires will serve as the basis for summing up the results of the exhibition.

They can also be used to track how many buyers are actually interested in the company’s products.

After this, you can work on mistakes, as well as evaluate strengths and weak sides work done.

A few more tips on how to hold an exhibition are collected in the video:

Main mistakes when holding an exhibition

Many people do not fully understand what it means to organize an exhibition, which is why many questions arise, ignorance of the answers to which leads to negative results.

An exhibition is just work at the stand.

This is wrong.

This is a set of consistent actions that will lead to success.

It is important to take a responsible approach to each stage of the organization - preparation, direct participation and summing up.

Participation in the exhibition is only for the sake of participation.

The management of the enterprise must clearly set the goals that need to be achieved from participation.

The main attention should be focused on the stand.

Even the most beautiful and eye-catching stand will not save you if the employees are not prepared and cannot communicate with customers.

The exhibition ended and that was it.

Nothing is finished until a full analysis of the received data has been carried out and the errors have been corrected.

After all, what was the point of spending so much time and money and then not taking into account the information received.

If you are ready to reach a new level of promoting your business, then be sure to study any information related to the issue, how to organize an exhibition.

It's really very profitable and effective method Express yourself.

But without knowing certain points, it is unlikely that you will be able to get a “return” from the work done and the money spent.

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Hello, needlewomen!

Do you like going to exhibitions? How about participating in them? It’s very sad to leave the exhibition without even paying for your participation, isn’t it? And this very often happens with beginning craftswomen.

It is not enough to just come to the exhibition as a participant; it is important to prepare well and be ready for anything.

Today I will tell you:

Why is it necessary to participate in exhibitions? What do they give to the master?
About my first experience of participating in a handicraft exhibition.
About the main mistakes that every second needlewoman makes when preparing for an exhibition.
About little tricks that will help you achieve success at any exhibition.

So, let's go!

And those useful tricks that I learned after participating.

What does an exhibition give to a master?

If possible, you should definitely participate in exhibitions. Now I will give a few points about why:

Participation in creative exhibition will help you, the needlewoman, find new clients and potential buyers. Even if they didn’t buy anything from you at the exhibition itself, your offered business cards and brochures will remain with the person. And perhaps someday he will become interested and follow the link indicated on the business card or dial the phone number.
Participating in an exhibition can also help you show off all the types of goods and products that you have. As a rule, at exhibitions there is no certain number of works that the author is allowed to show.
The exhibition provides you with the opportunity to provide more information about you as a master and your work in general. Potential buyers ask questions about your products and how you make them.

Don't miss this opportunity. Tell as much as possible about your work and try to interest people.

By participating in exhibitions, you will be able to analyze prices for products. Perhaps you are sometimes faced with the question of what price to set for this or that product. Observe how other craftsmen rated their products based on your topic. And draw a conclusion. By the way, in one of the previous articles we looked at one of the options for calculating the cost of your product. I recommend reading the article “Determining the cost of a handmade product.”
Participation in exhibitions will also help you attract the attention of the media, journalists and reporters. I don’t think it’s worth explaining here.

The bitter experience of my first exhibition.

I will say right away that I am not a fan of going to exhibitions and various fairs. No, I’m all for going and watching, but I don’t like to participate. Why? This is probably a big responsibility and time.

I'm not saying that I'm ashamed of my products, on the contrary. But preparing for the exhibition itself takes a lot of emotional component, a lot of personal time, etc.

I will tell you how my first ever handmade exhibition took place.

This was in the spring of 2015. Just recently, Sofia was born to us. Quite by chance, I came across the news that a handicraft exhibition would be held in my city.

Maybe out of boredom or because spring was calling, I applied to participate. Participation in the exhibition cost ridiculous money, only 300 rubles. I thought: “I’ll go and unwind.”

The event took place in a time cafe in the very center of the city. It was assumed that there would be high traffic and, accordingly, sales.

How did I prepare for the exhibition?

First of all, I put in order all my jewelry that was supposed to be included in the exhibition. I checked that everything was in place, that the chains and clasps were not torn, that the threads were not sticking out (even the most experienced craftsman makes mistakes).
I made business cards especially for the exhibition. I took a ready-made template, stylized to match my theme. I printed as many as a hundred pieces.
I set a price for each piece of jewelry in advance. Why in advance? I don't think it's worth explaining. It won’t turn out well when a potential buyer asks a question about the cost, and you hesitate, like a schoolboy.

That's all my preparation. To put it mildly, the first damn thing was lumpy.

The exhibition went more or less well, there were sales that were not what I had planned. After the exhibition ended, I, of course, analyzed my preparation and came up with several key mistakes that should not be made.

What mistakes should you not make when preparing for an exhibition?

1. Never be late for the start of the exhibition.

It will look ridiculous when, with a lively audience, you burst into the hall and start laying out your products in front of everyone. 2. Do not use price tags made “by hand” (written on a piece of paper in a box, with a simple pencil etc.).

3. Do not stack products on top of each other.

It looks at least unattractive, and at most careless.

4. Do not snack or drink in front of customers.

Exhibitions, of course, do not last an hour or two, and you will still want to eat, but so that you do not have to answer a potential buyer with a bun in your mouth.

5. Don't focus only on yourself.

Don't praise or praise yourself. Don't miss the opportunity to chat and meet other artists and learn about their work. This will be useful to you in the future.

6. And lastly, be confident in yourself and your creativity!

How to prepare for the exhibition?

Rule 1. Selecting an exhibition.

When you decide to take part in an exhibition, you probably don’t go to the first one you come across. You choose from the proposed list.

What should you remember? Choose an exhibition with at least 500 people. Less – there is no point, since there may be no sales at all.

The cost of participation may vary depending on the region and the scale of the exhibition. But let the average participation price be 500-1000 rubles.

If you have large products, for example, you sew plush toys, it will probably be difficult for you to get there by bus. Therefore, if there are problems with transport, choose an exhibition closer to home.

Rule 2. Product packaging.

Packaging gives your product a marketable appearance. You should not pack the goods in plastic bag or a gray box. It's not aesthetically pleasing.

Theoretically, you should have a packaging box or bag for each product. Prepare this at home in advance. Lay everything out so that it’s easy to transport and doesn’t get wrinkled.

Also think about the fact that after the end of the exhibition you will need to collect all these boxes.

On a note!

It is very convenient to pack products in boxes in advance and present them in this form to potential buyers at the exhibition. In addition, you can discreetly attach them with needles. This way you will be sure that nothing will be stolen and nothing will fall off the table.

Rule 3. Organization of the place.

In order for your products to look attractive, not the least attention should be paid to the workplace where you will offer your products.

To begin with, lay a blanket or tablecloth on the table, which you will naturally bring with you. These little things are rarely provided at exhibitions.

Carefully place all the products on the table. Experiment at home in advance to see how the products will look best. Record the time you need to lay out the products on the table in order to get everything done.

If you feel that there is not enough light in the room where the exhibition is taking place to appreciate your products, take a lamp with you. Make sure there is an outlet nearby in advance.

Place business cards and brochures about your products on the edge of the table or at your convenience.

Also, for aesthetics, it would be good to decorate a small vase with artificial or even fresh flowers or a plate with sweets.

Design your place so that you want to come up to it and look at it. It's worth thinking about this in advance. Your table is now ready.

Rule 4. Personal comfort at the exhibition.

This is mandatory item in preparation for the exhibition. Many needlewomen overlook this.

It’s not often that craftsmen are treated to food and drinks at exhibitions and fairs. As a rule, this procedure comes down to coffee from the machine.

Therefore, in order to be in good mood and enjoy the exhibition, take care in advance about what you will eat and drink.

Take fruits, water, and other non-perishable but nutritious foods with you.

Your clothes should also be comfortable. You'll sit or stand in it all day. You should not wear high-heeled shoes; at least have comfortable replacement shoes with you.

If the exhibition takes place during the cold season, then let you have a warm thing on hand that will prevent you from freezing.

If the exhibition takes place outside during the rainy season, have oilcloth in stock so that you can cover your exhibition table in time.

Rule 5. Promotions and gifts.

You should think about this point at home in advance. Or upon purchase you will receive a 10% discount on your next purchase. Or for some individual species products, for example in my theme necklace, 30% discount on the day of the exhibition.

For example, when purchasing two products at once, the buyer receives a gift. A trifle, but always pleasant and unexpected.

Perhaps this is all I wanted to tell you, craftswomen. Preparing for an exhibition is a process no less painstaking and exciting than the exhibition itself. Be prepared for anything and don't worry.

Uncertainty is your main enemy. I hope you found the article useful. If you have any questions, be sure to write in the comments. I'll be happy to answer.

And don't forget to subscribe to blog updates. There is still a lot of useful and interesting information ahead. Bye bye!

P.S. Describe your experience of participating in exhibitions. What did you find most difficult about preparing and participating? Did your participation live up to your expectations? Tell me, it’s very interesting.