Rain rain go away and come again another day……Unfortunately sometimes that is not the case and we have to plan for the event to go on rain or shine. Fortunately there are some things you can do to help prepare yourself and your items for inclement weather.

1. Stating the obvious here, but have a strong tent with weights. Double check that there are not any obvious holes for water to get through and weights are a MUST HAVE! 40 pounds per tent leg is a good recommendation. Make your own with 4 or 8 gallon water jugs and zip tie them to the base of your tent legs. Do not just set the weights on the ground, that will not do any good.

2. Help prevent rain from pooling on your canopy! The weight of the water can cause the canopy to sag and leak, and when trying to get it off you can soak your neighbor and yourself in the process.

NOTE: If your event is multiple days. it’s best to pack up your belongings between show days and actually take the top off of your tent if you see rain or storming forecasted between show days. When you’re not there to watch for pooling, it doesn’t take much to break your tent if a little pooling begins and isn’t dealt with.

**In the event that your tent does pool with water, please be aware of your neighboring booths when you attempt to push water off your tent and do not push it into others.

Take a look at Accessory Alchemy’s booth tips for rain:

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A post shared by Ali (@accessoryalchemy)

And check out this pool noodle hack to help prevent sagging.

3. Bring extra tarps/shower curtains and trash bags in case you need to cover your display in a hurry. Tent walls are also a great way to help prevent rain from getting into your display.

*You can try to place the shower curtain between your tent fabric and the frame to help avoid any leaks that might appear.

4. Make sure your display is weighted down. Have tall shelves? Maybe incorporate some heavier items into your display, but make sure to place them on the bottom- you don’t want to make the display top heavy. Think cinder blocks, cool stones, heavy potted plants etc.

5. Close up your walls. Make your tent have a single opening. That way, water from neighboring booths will less likely slosh into your space on accident.

6. Don’t put all of your product out. When you can tell rain is on the horizon, it’s a good time to not have EVERYTHING out. Be more selective about what products you have displayed and keep the majority of your work secured from the rain,

7. Bring an umbrella, change of clothes, rain boots and towels…lots and lots of towels.

8. Host a rain sale- maybe offer a special rainy day discount to entice shoppers!

9. Keep a positive attitude. Rain is not an ideal scenario for any of us but we are in this together. A sour attitude won’t make the rain go away any faster :)

A smaller booth space does not mean that you should forego a good display. A booth should feel as though the shopper is stepping into a brick & mortar shop, and that is still possible even with just a table display.

Just as in a large booth, it is important to create a display that allows the eye to roam. The shopper will get a feel for your brand and products based on your initial presentation. You want to stop them in their tracks!

Here are our best tips when setting up for a smaller booth space.

1.  Branding & Signage:  Don’t skimp on the signage even when going tiny. Utilize the space behind you for a banner, or how about a custom branded table cloth. Think outside of the box when it comes to signage.

 2. Utilize Vertical Space: You can only go so wide, but how about up! If using a table, set shelving on top of it to help draw the eye up and display more product.  You can also utilize shelving behind you, or grid panels to store more product/signage.

3. Decorate:  Don’t just set your items out, carry your brand throughout your display. Use multi levels and keep it tidy and inviting. Do you have a rugged vibe, maybe use wood and metal throughout your display. Adding greenery, table linens, and other personal touches can help you to stand out.

4.  Think outside of the box: Use non-traditional elements when displaying product. Think peg-board, grid panels, bookshelves, room dividers, apple crates, and more when creating a display.

5.  Avoid Clutter: This is especially important in a smaller booth space. Make sure everything is tagged and labeled, customers can be too shy to ask for information so make sure it is easy to identify.

6. No tent, no problem!  If you are outside and want a booth covering in case of weather, how about using a patio umbrella. Here are a few cool option for a smaller space.

Core Instant Straight Leg Canopy Tent with Adjustable Sun Wall, 6 ft x 4 ft , Gray

Wondershade Ultimate Portable Sun Shade Umbrella, Lightweight Adjustable Instant Sun Protection - Blue

Sport-Brella Versa-Brella 4-Way Swiveling Sun Umbrella (Firebrick Red, Regular

Funsite 6ft Tiki Umbrellas for Outside, UV Protect Thatch Umbrella with Tilt Design, Thatch Patio Umbrella for Outdoor Tiki Bar, Tropical Palapa Tiki Hut Hawaiian Hula Beach Umbrella

6 Ft Outdoor Patio Umbrella, Easy Open/Close Crank and Push Button Tilt Adjustment - Sand Market Umbrellas

Punchau

Keep track of some of our favorite booth display ideas on our Jackalope Pinterest board, "Artisan Display & Branding Inspirations!" 

Scam Alert!

A number of different scams have been going around recently centered around craft fairs, and we want to keep you all in the loop so you don’t fall victim to these scams yourself.

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Email offering attendee lists (or any other list of email addresses) for purchase:

Please be aware these offers are fraudulent. These scammers do not have any relationship with Jackalope and they do NOT have the data they are attempting to sell. The email may look something like this:

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Facebook comments / messages about vendor spots available:

This particular scam starts out innocently enough, but if you engage with the scammer, they will next send ask you to send them a deposit to their Venmo or PayPal.

No one from Jackalope will ask you to submit payment for a booth space via PayPal or Venmo. You can always find active applications for our upcoming events here: www.jackalopeartfair.com/apply

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Hotel Booking Scam:

It has been brought to our attention that fraudsters are sending emails from "RESERVATION TEAM" and "HOTEL RESERVATION". They are contacting attendees and exhibitors claiming to be representatives able to obtain discounted hotel rooms. These individuals ARE NOT affiliated with Jackalope and are not authorized to use our name, the name of our events, or the name of partner hotels.

What happens with this one is they likely actually book you a room at said hotel, getting you a confirmation email and everything. Seems legit. Then, they cancel the booking themselves, keep your money, and the hotel has no record fo your stay at all.

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Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed people fall prey to these various scams, so we want to keep you aware of anything we know about that could be a potential scam.

We will continue to update this as we are made aware of any further scams. Be vigilant everyone!

It’s officially craft fair season! With that comes tons of prep for the big day. It’s easy for craft fair vendors to put countless hours into the creative process and product preparation but fail to prep themselves in small ways that make the day go by smoothly.

Below, we’ve created a video with tips from some of our seasoned craft fair veterans on how you can set yourself up to have the best event experience possible.

(email blog subscribers, you must click through to view the video)

Applying for a fair can be daunting, especially with so much competition out there. Here are our top tips for putting your best foot forward when applying for your next fair, (hopefully with Jackalope!).

It’s craft fair season! And with that, we’ve compiled a list with some of our favorite must-haves for your craft fair booth, as well as a checklist to keep you organized on show day. Help yourself stay stress free and be prepared to present your best booth this holiday season.

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Battery Pack for your Phone

No one wants to get stuck at their booth unable to process credit card transactions, or even call a friend for backup. A battery pack to help keep your phone charged during those long days at events can be a life saver.

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LED Spotlights

Sometimes you have a particular product that needs just a little extra. These spotlights are perfect for that!

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Battery Operated String Lights

Add a little ambiance to your booth with string light decor. These lights are battery operated so you won’t have to worry about cords or whether the venue has electricity for you to use.

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Battery Operated Clip Light

Spotlight your items and give your booth some light. Even during day events, shade inside a booth can make it difficult for customers to really see details on products. Having a few clip lights on-hand can really help illuminate your booth. Pro tip — these are also great for when you’re packing up after an event and need some light as the sun goes down.

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Standing Battery Powered Light

Need a more powerful lighting option, or something that is free standing? Check out this LED portable light.

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Grid Panels

Can be great for visual artists hanging their work. These can also be used with clip on shelving or hanging rods to display fashion and accessories.

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Chalk Board A-Frame

Let customers know if you have any specials going on in your booth right when they enter. We like this sign because it’s a little higher up than a traditional sandwich board making it easier to see, plus it has a shelve for display.

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Felt Letter Board

Perfect for a special message you want to relay to guests without having to chat up every single person that enters your booth.

Something as simple as “Ask me about custom work” can start conversations with interested buyers.

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Multi-Position Cart

What’s awesome about this cart for lugging your gear is that you can use it as a cart or as a stand up dolly. Perfect for all kinds of loads that you may need to carry.

You can even pay a few extra bucks to get it in pink so you’ll never mistake your dolly with another vendor.

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Pop-Up Tent

Buy your own pop-up tent so you’re self sufficient for shows. This is a no-frills tent, so you’re going to need to get your own walls and carry case if you need one, but for the price, you can’t beat it!

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Need weights for your booth?!

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Prevent forgetting to pack last minute valuable items with our craft fair checklist:

We hope that these have helped give you some ideas as you plan your booth!

We wanted to provide some insight on how to better build and grow your small business by sharing some of our favorite advise as well as some from our own Jackalope Vendor Community! Here are some tips we gathered:

“I’ve always been inspired by the quote “Success is never final and failure is never fatal. It’s the courage that counts.” (Rumored to be from Winston Churchill, perhaps) It’s the perfect example of the struggle business owners face as they put their passion into the forefront and strive for success, sometimes stumbling along the way.” - Sara Diederich with Jackalope Arts.

“Branding is important. It’s how people will pick you out of a line up and remember who you are. Make sure you have a consistent aesthetic when designing your brand and advertising.” - Dena with Fiber Relics

“Sometimes you may be underestimated, especially being a woman entrepreneur, but remain confident and strong. I always like to remember that I will prove my naysayers wrong!” - Melissa with Jackalope Arts

“Social media is your best friend!” - Chesa with Ramblin’ Woman Silver

Ramblin’ Woman Silver at Jackalope Denver

“It can be easy to fall into the trap of constantly working hard but don't neglect your wellness during your business adventure. Take time for yourself and reflect on your achievements and the things about your business that make you happy.”
- Holly with The Watercolor Naturalist

“Don't sweat the small stuff, you will make mistakes but that is all part of the process to make your business better. Also, you may never feel "ready" to launch your business or launch a new product or service but do it anyway. There will never be "the right time.” You will learn as you go!” - Kynsi with Kompass Apparel

“Be kind to yourself. Ask for help when you need it.” - Angela with Cute Laces

Cute Laces at Jackalope Pasadena

“Remember that your business and products will never appeal to everyone… but that’s perfectly okay. Focus on daily self improvement in yourself, your business, and the quality of the products and services you provide. It’s okay to receive constructive criticism from others, but no matter what they say, never, ever, for any reason.. undervalue yourself, your work or your TIME. Understand that as artisans, our passion and dedication to our respective crafts are priceless and admirable.. and that your work and your time are worth something. As long as you’re creating the best products/services you can produce, seeking improvements, and researching your market thoroughly, the right customers and crowds will come.”
- Rachel with Atelier Emi

“Take time to decide what you're business is going to be. When I decided it was time to leave the commercial textile world, I took over a year to work on designs and product before I started selling. It's important to have a well thought out product. Also, decide how large you want your business to be. Are you interested in growing it to include wholesale business to stores, are you able to keep up with supply and demand if you choose this route? If you decide to do wholesale to retailers, research this. Make sure you understand how selling wholesale to retailers works. Or, do you want to do as I have done. I decided to keep my business a very small boutique size business where I do shows/fairs like Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair throughout the year and also have my product at several small boutiques around California on consignment. - Donnett with DishRagStudio

Dishragstudio

“Spreadsheets will become your best friend, it is important to remain organized and notate everything. It makes staying on top of deadlines possible, especially as you grow and things expand.” - Melissa with Jackalope Arts

Melissa Shipley and Sara Diederich, Founders of Jackalope Arts

“Like most folks all of this started as an on-the-side thing I was doing in addition to a well paying full-time job. Once I realized it was going well - money was coming in and it seemed to have potential - I started thinking about quitting the day job and going full time. However, the good thing I did was to sit down with a friend who is really good with numbers.

She had me come up with my true "monthly nut" - an honest accounting every regular bill I had: mortgage payment, power, groceries, gas, etc
Once I had that we looked at exactly how much I would have to sell in order just to make that "nut"  which was sobering. And then, almost more importantly, we also broke down exactly how much product I would have to make (not sell - just make) to meet that financial goal.

I realized that I needed to raise my prices.  I realized I needed to streamline how and what I made because it actually wasn't physically possible for me to single-handedly produce enough product (let alone sell it).  I realized I needed more sales avenues - online, wholesale etc.

It wasn't necessarily a "fun" series of realizations but it was incredibly valuable.”

- David with Cheltenham Road

Cheltenham Road at Jackalope Summer Nights

“Fake it until you make it. The thing that many people don’t realize is that you don’t have to be an expert in your field before you start your business. A lot of this stuff is learned and earned over years of actually doing it.” -Sara Diederich, Jackalope Arts

As you start to dip your toes into events, you'll find that many cities have a sea of choices.  It's your job to weed through events and determine which ones are a good fit for you.  

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you evaluate potential events:

What's the event's target demographic?  Different events lend themselves to different audiences, so you want to make sure you find one that aligns with who you are as a brand. There is a distinction between Fine Arts, Arts & Crafts, and Flea Markets so what a show calls themselves can also be a good indicator. 

Jackalope Pasadena

What does the event's marketing look like?
You don't need to reach out to the event manager to answer this question.  It can be as easy as a quick google search of the event, can you see if and where the event has been featured.  Who is covering the event can be a big indicator on who is coming. After all, they should be marketing to their target demographic. 

What other types of artisans participate in the event?  Can you find an artisan roster from past events?  Or perhaps a quick scroll through the event's social media can show you photos. This will give you a good look into what people are shopping for when they come to these events and what is selling successfully. Look out for how they curate the event and make sure not one category is overly saturated. If you can visit the event in person first, that can help too! 

Jackalope Denver

What is the average price point for an artisan selling? We always recommend featuring a variety of price points to attract a wider demographic. However if the event has an average price point of $5 and your lowest priced piece is $250, well that may not be a good fit. 

Does the event have qualification parameters?   And do you fit into those parameters?  Is the show for handmade artisans only?  Is it juried?  Does anyone who pays a fee get in?  These are important things to consider before you send in an application.  It will also give you an idea of the quality of work that is expected. 

No, not this kind of Jury! 

Creating a logo can be an exciting time when launching your business.  It's a chance for you to show your audience what you're all about with one quick visual cue.  There's a whole lot of pressure that goes into creating something that's relevant to you and timeless to represent your brand as your business continues to grow. Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating your logo!

Introducing Your Brand

This is your chance to introduce your brand to the world.  Your logo should speak to your target audience, and when designing, you must keep this in mind.  A good way to start planning this is to write down what comes to mind when you think of your brand.  Come up with some visual elements that you think represent what your brand means.

Be Unique

Your logo is your quickest chance to set yourself apart from competitors.  It's important that you stand out from the rest.

Fonts

Selecting a font can be a daunting task, with an every-expanding array of choices. Remember to choose fonts that have a timeless quality to them, and really speak to what your brand is. Don't be afraid to use rare and unique fonts to enhance your branding.

Colors

The color palette that you choose to work with can mean a lot about your overall brand.  Do you want to be bright and showy?  Or muted and sophisticated?  You want the colors you work with to represent your brand's message.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/438749188683435550/ 

Keep It Concise

While you want your logo to be interesting, you don't want your audience to have to spend too much time analyzing subtle nuances in order to understand it. If you have a tagline, make sure that doesn't take away from your logo by adding too much wording, your logo needs to be visually appealing. 

Meet Stanley the Jackalope!

How did we choose our logo? We wanted the Jackalope to stand out and make a statement that was easily remembered. We also wanted to choose a font that was a bit edgy and colors that would reflect our brand and would carry into our remaining graphics and marketing materials. We worked with Ventura CA artist, Jonathan Blackburn, to create our logo. Stanley is with us throughout all of our event posters and promotions materials to help with brand recognition.

Customized products personalized for your customer can be a huge draw. However, they can also be hard to sell.  Here are some tips our Jackalope team has outlined to help you turn your custom work into sales.

Keep it simple

This might sound counterintuitive at first, but less custom options = less decisions to be made by the customer before ordering.  This can really help you retain interest for a larger base.  So many people can get overwhelmed with options, that they just give up entirely.  Don't let your products be so personalized, that your customer can't make a decision quickly and easily.

Provide Examples

People are visual. If you offer different font or color options, show them.  That way people can see what the color will actually look like. Are you an illustrator with customizations of different subject matters? Show a range of subjects in your examples so potential buyers can know what to expect.

Take your custom options into consideration when setting up your online shop. Make it easy for people to navigate. You can provide drop down boxes, and try to think ahead of any mistakes someone may make when inputting their order.  Sometimes you need to be specific. It can also help to create a few different listings instead of one listing with a million options.

The Navigator Handmade created a separate listing for each different jewelry piece and then it's customizable from there. 

Promote  

Make sure people are aware that they can customize a piece from you. A lot of times people are too shy to ask and because of this you may miss out on a possible opportunity. If you are doing a fair, make sure you have signage letting shoppers know that this is an option! When promoting use the word custom, personalized, or made to order in your product title, it also adds an element of exclusivity to your product. 

Folding Hands Art at Jackalope Denver

Set Expectations 

Does going custom increase the price? Notate that. How do returns or exchanges work? Also make sure you outline your timeline.  How long will it take for someone to receive their purchase? Make sure you are communicating with your customer throughout the process.  Sending them an image or sketch of the product before it is finalized can help with any possible issues and makes them feel that they are being included in the process! 

Peyote Coyote offers custom pet portrait necklaces and she clearly outlines her process: "This is a collaborative process— we begin with a sketch and will communicate with you throughout to ensure you are in love with your portrait. Please allow 4—6 weeks for delivery (holidays may require additional time). Need it faster? Send us a note with your order. We are happy to accommodate rush orders ♥️.

Going custom can be a lot of fun.  Just make sure it doesn't negatively impact your sales by making ordering too confusing or cumbersome. We hope these tips help to drive you forward in this new route.