• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Turning for Profit | Woodturning | Lathe |

Helping woodturners make more money

  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Library
      • Turned Bowls
      • Christmas Projects
  • Inspiration
  • Make Money
  • Woodturning Techniques
  • Workshop Expertise
    • Splinters
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Library
      • Turned Bowls
      • Christmas Projects
  • Inspiration
  • Make Money
  • Woodturning Techniques
  • Workshop Expertise
    • Splinters
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Profit / Trade Show Checklist
Trade Show items needed displayed on a table

Trade Show Checklist

By //  by Robin 8 Comments

divider
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

A clip board with a check list and pen
Hands holding a Clipboard

Trade Show – Checklist

I just got back from a trade show in Vancouver. I wasn’t selling my turnings nor was I in charge of the booth. I was helping out.

I realized that there are so many things to bring when you are at an event, trying to sell your products, or just give out information. This printable checklist will help you to remember all of the little details that make participating in a trade show so much easier.

A trade show, farmers’ market, or craft sale is a great place to sell your products. Have you remembered everything you need? How many times have you arrived at the trade show just to remember “Oh, I meant to get _________!”? In Vancouver we needed safety pins.

 

A clip board with a check list and pen

The checklist is divided into 5 areas.

  1. The Canopy is required when you are doing an outdoor show.
  2. Products relates to your product and how you might increase your sales.
  3. Product Display is how you display your products.
  4. Administration is more of a miscellaneous section that is required to keep things running smoothly for your business.
  5. Personal care is taking care of yourself so that you have a good show.

How you organize your boxes and containers is up to you but I preferred to have product kept separate from the other stuff that I need. Use large plastic totes, shoe boxes, or cardboard boxes, whatever is easiest for you. I would also label the containers with large labels that are easy to read. It is not so important where stuff is put as long as you can find it when you need it.

Print out this checklist to check off the items you have ready for your trade show.  Feel free to adjust the checklist to meet your individual needs.

1.    The Canopy

One summer the weather in Grand Forks, BC, was extremely variable. We had sun, wind, and rain all during the markets. Several canopies went flying as the wind suddenly picked up. Most vendors, including myself, ended up standing and holding our canopies down. Next week I brought weights!

Doing an outdoor fair or market is probably the most challenging of all market or trade show alternatives. You need to provide protection for your products, as well as to display them attractively. Then within your canopy you need to build a display system that presents your products in the best way. Whatever you use it needs to be stable and secure so that it won’t fall over on you or your customers.

My experience is in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. So wind, rain, and heat are my main issues. You will have to adapt to your area.

Trade Show Canopy

Sunshine

If the weather is good then no side or shade cloths are needed. If however, you are in sunlight then you may want to use your side panels to protect your product from the direct sun. I used to sell soap and creams and I had to make sure they were cool and shaded.

Wooden products should be okay but if a thin walled bowl is in full sun, it might warp or crack. This is also something to consider if you are traveling a long way away from your home. The humidity and dryness could have an impact on your work especially your higher end pieces. Your fancy bowl is more likely to be damaged from the sun than a rolling pin.

Wind

You need weights on your canopy if you are going to use your side or shade cloths. If the weather looks like rain you may use three of your side cloths. Putting 3 out of 4 side cloths up makes your canopy like a cup, it can catch in the wind and really quickly get some elevation.

To hold the canopy down you can nail it to the ground (check if this is allowed first), or you can use weights. I used milk jug containers filled with water fastened to the legs of the canopy. These could also be filled with sand as an alternative. Water is nice because you can empty the jugs before going home and at some events the water is also nice to have. In severe wind conditions rip off your side cloths otherwise you could go flying with your canopy.

Rain

It is also hard to plan for rain when it is sunny at set up time. You quickly see where the water is flowing off of your canopy, on to your product, and adjust quickly. You have to tighten your shade cloths and pull the tables in from the edge of your canopy as well. This is especially true when the sprinkler system in the park starts up in the middle of the market. Then you have no idea where the water is going to come from.

If you are dealing with more persistent rain then place sheets of plastic over your product. It keeps them dry and you can lift up the plastic if a customer wants to examine the product closer.

Safety

Each canopy is different. You want to make it secure and safe for you and your customers. Depending on the location you may be able to fasten the canopy to a fence or a wall for extra support. Be careful not to block off exit routes. If you have a couple of spare sticks this can help you reinforce a weak or damaged strut. Put your canopy up at home, before your first event to ensure that everything is working. You don’t want to find holes or a mouse nest as you are setting up.

2.    Products

Forgetting happens to all of us. I recently saw a couple of posts from a fellow woodturner. He was working very hard to have a selection of small ring boxes ready to go for his next market day. The status on market day indicated that he had forgotten the ring boxes back in his shop. Well he gets to sell them next week. It is often your newest product that is forgotten because it is not with the rest of your product.

You need a good selection and a great presentation to improve your sales. Make sure your products comply with the rules of the event. These are just some suggestions to help you out.

Complementary products

If you have a selection of turned kitchen utensils then a local cookbook would be a complementary product. If you are selling honey dippers then local honey would complement them. Be creative but abide by the rules of the event.

Multiple Products

If possible try to have more than one item for sale. This is not as important for high end products. They sell on their individual merit. However, it might be quite hard to sell the last spurtle or dibbler. I found that displays with odd numbers were more attractive.

One other trick is to have strategic holes in your display. If you are showing a full rack of pens for sale a couple missing gives the impression that others have bought pens earlier in the day.

Different Price Levels

Remember to vary your prices. Having product at different price levels will meet the needs of different customers. Not everyone will be attracted to, or able to afford, your high end work. Adding wooden tops or honey dippers will give them a variety to choose from at different price points.

Trade Show Display

Different Physical Levels

Present your product at different physical levels as well. This increases their visibility and presents a varied pattern for the customer. Shelves or covered boxes work to created different levels for presentation. A large flat table is not as attractive as a multi-level display.

Take a moment to walk out front and look at your display.  Is everything the way you want it to be? Restock your product as you make sales.

3.    Product Display

You determine the character of your booth and display. It is easy to want everything out on display but sometimes less is actually more. Placing your product so that it is not crowded, allows your customer to see and identify what they are looking at. Displays change and evolve over time as you consider what works and what doesn’t for you.

The items in this section assist you in selling your products

  • Tables and table cloths are typical trade show equipment. Tables give you a stable surface for your display. The table cloths hide the clutter of empty containers and other paraphernalia that is shoved under the tables. The types of table cloth reflect you. Rustic, plain, fancy etc. — choose what is right for you.
  • If you are selling clothing have a mirror.
  • If you are selling a ball winder, have some yarn there to show how to use it.
  • If you do custom orders have a sign that says that and a brochure on how to order custom work.
  • Laminated pictures of you producing your work could be displayed.
  • Make sure you have bags and tissue paper for wrapping the purchases.
  • If you are inside make sure you have lights for your booth and display. Lighting makes a huge difference in making sure your product is seen and not passed over.

4.    Administration

Once in the middle of the summer I forgot the coinage for my pouch. I had small bills but being in Canada, I had no coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, or toonies). I was not really sure what I was going to do but I couldn’t drive back home and get the coins. I figured I’d be borrowing off of other vendors if needed.

My first sale was just under $ 20.00 and the customer paid in loonies and toonies, that is, 1 and 2 dollar coins. My next sale was just under $5.00 and this person paid in quarters. Well that took care of my coin problem. However, that was a solution I wasn’t going to rely on. The coinage made it on all the remaining trips that summer.

These items help you to serve your customers

They also help you fix or adjust your display as the day goes on.

  • If you sell all of your dibblers you could make up a sign for special orders.
  • Brochure and business card holders give you an easy way to present your information to your customer.
  • Make it very clear what you are charging for your products. Some customers don’t want to ask how much something costs. Use small labels to put prices on your products.
  • Sales books, calculator, and cash are all necessary to make and record your sales.
  • Trade Show Sales Book
  • I prefer an apron for handling cash. For me I was less likely to leave the apron unattended. I also moved larger bills out of the apron and into my pants pocket to reduce the amount of cash I was seen to be working with. A cash box is an option but make sure you know where it is at all times.
  • If you are doing credit card sales make sure you have all of the necessary equipment to capture the sales information. Ask for personal information if you need to. Cheques and credit cards don’t always work so a phone number to connect with the customer is always handy.
  • If you need to have a business license make sure it is displayed appropriately.
  • If you are also developing an on-line presence you could have an e-mail sign up list to receive your newsletter.

This is the opportunity to connect with your customers. Take advantage of the opportunity.

5.    Personal Care

One of my first trade shows was an outdoor event. This was a music festival. An unexpected twist happened at the start of the second day. On the first day there were a few wasps around but they weren’t troubling anyone.

The second day when the music started the wasps had had enough. Within a few minutes there were several stings near my booth. I had hand cream and the cream soothed the stings very quickly. I was able to help out both vendors and customers that had to deal with the irate wasps.

Unforeseen events will occur

  • A first aid kit is helpful along with a bee sting kit.
  • Bug repellant and sun screen will make the day more enjoyable for you.
  • A cell phone / clock / and camera are just nice to have and useful in emergencies.

Personal comfort is important

  • If you take care of yourself at a trade show you will feel better and be better able to serve your customers.
  • Have a good folding chair that you like to use.
  • If you are standing on a hard surface then a square or two of an anti-fatigue mat will make all the difference and your feet will thank you for it later.
  • Eat and drink water on a regular basis. It is easy to become dehydrated during a long show.
  • Dress in clothes that are comfortable.
  • Shoes should be supportive and again comfortable.

Trade Show Pin

Typically my administrative stuff grows over the market season. Every time I forget something that item gets included the next market day. This checklist should cut down on the number of missing items, for you. Feel free to drop or add items as you see fit for your circumstances.

I found that when I was prepared I usually did not need all the stuff that I brought to the market. However, on many occasions, I was able to help fellow vendors out. This makes the market more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Going to a trade show really needs a checklist because many times a trade show will be away from home and finding missing items is a real challenge.

Do you have a checklist that you use for a trade show? Have I surprised you with any of my suggestions? What have I missed? I appreciate your feedback.

 

 

Save

Filed Under: Profit Tagged With: craft shows, customer relations, selling crafts, Setting up for shows, the business of craft

Related Posts:

You may also be interested in these posts:
Pricing a beautiful wooden yarn bowl can be a real challenge.

5 Pricing Mistakes that Cost You More than Just Money

5 Tips for a Positive Attitude at Shows

5 Tips for a Positive Attitude at Craft Shows

Money Mindset Issues that Woodturners face

5 Money Mindset Issues Artisans Face

Foundation - all sales are based on a relationship

Build a Solid Foundation for your Sales

Amazon Prime for woodturners

Amazon Prime Can Help You as a Woodturner

Craft Show 6 steps to master craft shows

6 Steps to Master the Craft Show Season

Previous Post: « Bird Feeders – Turning Project Part II
Next Post: Heart Vase: A Turning Project Mothers Day Gifts - Heart Shaped Vase »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Richard Ray

    March 18, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    Thank you, very well organized.

    Reply
  2. Sarah Lane

    September 17, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    Keep the set up time at ur booth to a minimum of 30 minutes or less, remember what u put up u have to take down. Just make sure items u put out r ready to b displayed, and nothing will fall apart when a customer picks it up to look at it. That can and will b very embarrassing to u and the customer.

    Reply
  3. Richard Ray

    June 24, 2019 at 4:15 am

    I really enjoy reading your emails, always find helpful advice. Thank you again for your time.

    Reply
  4. Ann Ciero

    August 16, 2019 at 4:45 am

    I will be attending my first craft fair in November. I am a genealogist and make large framable colorful family charts. I have been researching craft fairs for months now and your article was the best help for me. Of course I will have to change this around a bit as I have nothing to sell but my knowledge and researching skills, but great article, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Healthy Snacks for Shows and Events - Turning for Profit says:
    April 10, 2016 at 11:35 pm

    […] snacks are just one of the requirements for being successful doing shows or events.  Here is a downloadable checklist to help you make sure you have everything that you need.  In addition to the materials you bring […]

    Reply
  2. 6 Steps to master the craft show season - Turning for Profit says:
    November 14, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    […] doing shows for 10 years, I’ve learned to go through a craft show check list, both when considering whether a show is a good fit for my work, and also considering how best to […]

    Reply
  3. 7 Mistakes that Kill Sales at the Show - Turning for Profit says:
    June 6, 2017 at 10:17 pm

    […] One of the keys to being ready at a show is not forgetting something important at home.  At one show I forgot all of my coin.  Managed to get through the day but don’t make the same mistakes I did, use a craft show checklist. […]

    Reply
  4. How to Sharpen Your Competitive Edge | Turning for Profit says:
    February 20, 2018 at 9:25 pm

    […] competitive edge.  Other business articles include: 5 Tips on Handling Cash at a Sales Event, A Trade Show Checklist, and 5 Reasons Appearance […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA
Refresh

*

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

About me:

Welcome to the Turning For Profit Community! I'm Robin. Turning for Profit is about helping you find hope and joy in your woodturning hobby. It's about projects that fill your inventory and inspire your creativity. It's business help to get you set up and making a profit quickly. If you've always wanted to work from home playing with wood, let me help you realize your dream of Turning for Profit. Read More…

Help for Beginner Woodturners

Learn to use 5 different wood turning tools, with confidence, while you turn 7 projects, building your wood turning skills sequentially.  Includes tips and ideas for marketing your wood turning, when you are ready to move forward.


Footer

Inspiration:

You don’t have to be good to start.  You just have to START to be good. — Joe Sabah

Handmade with Care Stamp

7 Gifts for Men Made on the Lathe

7 Gifts for Men Made on the Lathe
Christmas Projects Title

Christmas Ornaments: Build Your Inventory Fast

Christmas Ornaments: Build Your Inventory Fast
Finished Niddy Noddy with yarn.

Niddy Noddy – A Woodturning Project

Niddy Noddy – A Woodturning Project
  • Start Here
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclosure

Site Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · Mai Lifestyle Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in