Craft Booth Display Tips

Your craft booth display needs to be practical and safe. It can be a lot of fun using your creative energy to design a stunning craft show booth. However, don't forget, a great craft booth display is also practical and safe. The most beautiful craft fair booth will do you no good if it's sitting in your driveway because it won't fit in your vehicle, or blowing across the park because it wasn't weighed down properly.

When you design your craft show booth display, consider that a good craft fair booth is:

Easy to Set Up
Consider the time it will take to set up and break down your craft show display and your canopy. At the beginning of the show, a simple set up will allow you to get your booth together quickly and then focus on your customers. You won't want to be fussing with a million little details in your booth as customers are arriving. A simple setup will allow you to focus your energy where it should, on your customers.

At the end of a show you'll appreciate a craft booth display that is quick and easy to break down. You'll be able to keep your booth open until the very last minutes of the show (which can often be a time when you make several sales). Also, after a long day at a show, the last thing you'll want to deal with is taking apart a complex display. You'll be happy when you can easily disassemble your booth and relax.

Lightweight
When you're transporting your booth you'll be happy if you were careful to use lightweight materials in your display. The easier it is to transport your display, the easier it will be for you to set up on your own if you need to do some shows without an assistant.

Wind Proof
It is surprising how easily a small amount of wind can cause havoc with your booth. When the tarp walls are up on many craft canopies, it's amazing how easily just a little bit of wind can catch the tarp like a sail and carry your tent across the road (yes, unfortunately I'm speaking from experience here!).

If your craft canopy is sitting on cement and you can't secure it with the stakes that are usually provided, it's actually pretty simple to weigh down your craft tent. Some vendors simply fill some large jugs with water and hang them from the top corners of their tent. This is a simple solution, but it can take away from the look of your display if you don't hide the jugs (simple curtains will hide them and can provide added interest to your booth). Other vendors use pvc pipe filled with concrete as weights. If you want to hang these weights, you can insert a hook before the concrete dries. You can also use velcro to secure the weights to the legs of your canopy.

The more you connect things together, the more wind proof your booth will be. Consider using velcro to connect tables to your walls or your canopy, and connect shelves to tables. The more securely display items a connected, the less you will have to worry when a gust (or two) of wind passes by.

Cost Effective
Most crafters are interested in creating an inexpensive craft booth display. Keep in mind that the most inexpensive booth is not always the most cost effective booth. For example, if you buy the cheapest craft canopy you can find, only to have it fall apart, and you're out buying a second canopy, then suddenly your cheap canopy becomes a lot more expensive.

Find a good balance between inexpensive, high quality, durable and attractive when you are buying your craft show supplies in order to ensure your booth is as cost effective as possible.

Portable
Do all of your craft show supplies fit in your vehicle? Using an extra long table as part of your display may seem like a great idea, until you realize it doesn't fit in your vehicle. Consider the dimensions of your vehicle when you are choosing the dimensions of your craft booth display items.

Easy to Store
In between shows, you are going to have to store your craft booth display somewhere. Think through the ways your craft booth will fold down for convenient storage. If you can design your booth so that the components double as storage for your inventory, that can create added convenience for you. For example, risers that double as study boxes for storing inventory are wonderful; they allow you to pack up all of your inventory at the end of your show, so it's ready to go for your next sales opportunity.

Modular
Typically you will have a ten by ten foot space at a craft show. However, the space provided can vary from show to show. Also, if your space is irregular in any way, you may not be able to set up your booth exactly as planned. A modular booth design, using several smaller tables instead of one or two larger tables, will give you the freedom to change your booth design to best suit your space.

Stable
Walls and tables must be as stable as possible. Ensure the walls are secure and won't fall over and displays are not easily breakable in weather or by customers.

Fire Safe
Ensure that any fabric you use in your display is flame retardant. Also, good lighting is a must for a great craft booth display. Do ensure that any fixtures and cords you use are designed to be put together and taken apart frequently and used outdoors if you are doing outdoor shows.

Comfortable
If you do several craft shows, you are going to spend a lot of time in your booth. If you aren't comfortable in your booth, you'll struggle to focus and make a great impression on customers. Ensure that the craft booth you design is a comfortable place, where you are happy to spend your time.