Now That The Craft Shows Are Over

Well now that the art and craft shows are all over for the year, it is time to think about this coming years shows. But before you do that here are some things you need to do.
You need to start by getting all your receipts gathered up so you can get your book work finished for your taxes. Don’t forget to figure in your booth or space fees. Ask your tax person on what all you need.
Now it is time to start planning for this next year.
Usually January and February are pretty slow months. So now is the time to go back through your paper work and inventory and see what you have, and to figure out what was your best sellers. Things that didn’t sell well you need to discount them so you can get them out of your inventory. The things that where your best sellers, which you probably don’t have any left of are what you want to restock for this next year.
Look and see if you need to replace tables, or fix anything that you use to display with. Maybe you need to add more displays or table skirts this is the time to do this while you are not having to run off to a show.
Set your booth up at home and practice setting up to see how you can improve your display. Take pictures of your display change it and take more pictures now look at your pictures and see which ones you like and change what you don’t like. Go to mycountrytreasures.blogspot.com and primitivecountrytreasures.blogspot.com to see some pictures of displays.
Set down and make a list of the shows you want to go back to and make sure you are on their mailing list for this next year. Make a list of the new shows you want to go to this year. Call the person in charge and get the new show dates and fees, and get put on there mailing list for the shows application. Be sure to ask if you need a city sales tax license and who to get hold of for this. Ask this person if there are any other shows in the area and who to get hold of. There might be some you haven’t heard of that you might like to attend. If you need information on who to get hold of for a new show you want to attend, get hold of the Chamber of Commerce in their town. They can usually tell you of someone to get hold of or even when the shows are. Some county fairs are great places to set up .
Now make a list of these shows and start planning your inventory for these.
You can make your fall and Christmas things now and put them in storage totes and they will be ready for your fall shows and you won’t be in such a rush in the fall and you will know they are done. Label your totes so you know what is in them, and maybe which show you are taking them to. I like to put labels on mine that tell what’s in them for instance primitive snowmen, or wreaths or what ever, it just makes it easier so you don’t have to dig threw every tote to see what’s in it.
If you are doing spring and summer shows now the time to work on these.
Maybe you need table covers that look more spring time or some displays that look more like spring.
Just remember no matter how nice your inventory is it won’t sell will if you do not have it displayed will. So now is the time to work on a eye catching display. You don’t have to spend money on this use things you already have and your imagination and practice setting up.
Carol Owens from Country Treasures Wiley, Co