7 Proven Ways to Get Noticed at a Craft Fair According to Redditors

Want to stand out at your next craft fair? See 7 proven vendor tips from Redditors on color, layout, signage, and connection that boost booth sales.

Are you an artisan or a small business owner who creates and sells handmade items like jewelry, candles, ceramics, and other unique artwork? Then, you shouldn’t miss out on craft fairs and shows if you want to connect with your target audience.

But in a crowded event brimming with handmade treasures, unique crafts, and captivating artwork, it’s not easy to grab people’s attention. To help you stand out at craft fairs, we’re sharing helpful tips we got from a Reddit discussion where vendors and shoppers shared their insights and practical advice.

A Redditor said that bright, vivid colors that stand out from the surroundings are “instant magnets.” Essentially, it comes down to how our brains are wired—our eyes are naturally drawn to them.

If your brand colors are a bit subdued or the craft fair you’re joining has a neutral color theme, you may still want to add small color accents to give your booth a warm and inviting vibe.

One shopper noted that a cluttered booth is a deal-breaker, adding that “Lazy vendors throw their products on a table, making it look like a donation bin at Goodwill.”

Maintaining a clean and organized booth ensures that all your products and their price tags are visible to shoppers. You can do this by using vertical displays with varying heights and incorporating props to highlight certain products.

Experiment with various mockup setups at home until you come up with something that looks visually appealing and interesting.

Open layouts, like an L-shaped table arrangement, create an inviting and accessible environment that encourages casual browsing and interactions between shoppers and vendors.

Also, consider placing the most eye-catching products or props at the front of your booth to encourage people to check out your handmade items.

Think of a theme as your visual anchor, helping shoppers understand your brand and products and creating a cohesive and memorable display that stops shoppers in their tracks.

Using props is one effective way to reinforce a theme. For example, a vendor who sold handcrafted jewelry used faux ice and netting to create a “fish market” display. Another option is to use a large “showstopper” piece that demonstrates craftsmanship or reflects your theme.

Shoppers said that items with interesting and unique textures, such as ceramics, glasswork, and foil art, could help booths stand out in crowded aisles.

They also mentioned using high-contrast patterns and bold graphics to catch people’s attention.

However, many Redditors said that interesting and unique crafts remain the real showstopper, so make sure you display your artisanal products in a way that highlights their textures, colors, and patterns.

Aside from visually captivating booths, shoppers also respond to friendly and accommodating vendors, especially if they offer live demonstrations or explain their products with enthusiasm.

Using eye-catching signs and banners helps shoppers understand your products and brand, remember and recognize your business, and ultimately, encourage them to buy from your booth.

• Vibrant colors to draw attention. Even small color accents can help you stand out in a beige- or neutral-colored environment.
• Clarity wins. Products and pricing should be easily visible.
• Layouts matter. Open and accessible booths and table arrangements can encourage casual browsing.
• Theme creates a memorable space. Interesting props, cohesive colors, and table displays with a theme can stop shoppers in their tracks.
• Add a hero piece. Display a large and captivating piece to draw attention.
• Engage with shoppers. Friendly greetings, warm smiles, and live demonstrations are the key to high customer satisfaction.
• Invest in signage. Signs with compelling designs make your booth easy to spot.

It can be challenging to stand out at busy, crowded events where shoppers are bombarded with countless options and distractions. Moreover, it only takes about a few seconds for most people to decide if your booth is worth visiting. Consequently, you need to invest in signs and banners to catch their attention.

These are some of the most common (and must-have) promotional tools at craft fairs and trade shows:

• Banners and flags can help make your booth stand out.
• Professionally printed price tags elevate your products.
• Custom tablecloths and backdrops reinforce your theme.
• Signage with bold typography conveys your brand message.

From bold colors and organized table displays to eye-catching props and compelling signs, combining all these elements can encourage people to check out your booth and buy your handmade items.