This is a guest post by Annabella Carter Short
Are you participating in any art fair any time soon? Wondering how to set up your booth to attract more visitors?
If you are, check some of our tips for you!
Why artists should participate in Art Fairs and Shows?
Reliable art fairs and shows can attract between 20,000 to 40,000 visitors, definitely a place to be if you want to show off your work face-to-face. Such events gather art dealers, collectors, agents, curators, critics, influencers, and so on. It is the perfect chance for you to introduce your top stuff to all the people who count!
But, although art fairs can aid your art business, it can also become a frustration if you are not well prepared. Even small details might sum up to a negative balance after the show, so to help you take full advantage, check this short guide of how to minimize the friction with customers and maximize your sales.
- Good Looking Setup
Setting up a booth can be challenging, especially if you add the pressure of making everything done by the fair’s opening time. So, set it up a few days earlier at your studio or outdoors, before going to any shows or fairs. This “trial” set up will give you some time to check what tools might be missing, if your booth is intact from previous shows, and if you might want to run last minute changes to it. You can also take a picture of how it should look on the day; this might be helpful if you will have helpers to organize it during the event.
- Giveaways
It is not easy to sell during this type of events, especially if you are working with high-ticket prices. A giveaway is just perfect to gather contacts of potential prospects, whom you might be able to call later or send e-mails. You can offer one of your pieces as the prize and deliver to the winner’s address later. Don’t forget to check the show’s policies regarding giveaways, sometimes organizers don’t allow this type of promotion during the event. Create a powerful mailing list with this technique!
- Eye level is always good
Your art should be visible. Don’t make shoppers bend or overcome barriers to see your creations. Place your best-sellers on eye level. Depending on your art’s size and medium, multi-level displays might be a huge help to assure your work will be easily seen. Also, make sure your booth has sufficient lighting. Lights will help to make your work attractive and enticing to shoppers.
- Label your artwork
All artwork should have its authorship. Create beautiful tags to your creations and use them in your favor while exposing. If it is a painting, add information such as the artist name, title, year, print size, medium, and price. If you are selling handmade pieces, you can add personalized labels and tags. Share your brand’s logo, materials used to craft and how to care properly.
- Live work
If you can, show the audience a taste of your skills and creativity. Everyone loves to see an artist in action, creating the most unique and formidable pieces. If your work can’t be performed live, try to record it and show on a TV screen. People will mostly get curious and stop by to check your process. It’s the perfect time to engage and exchange business cards or contact!
- Don’t Clutter your space
If you have many products to show, try to either get a bigger space to accommodate them all or prioritize them carefully. It is better to have a few highlighted pieces in a clean display than to have a cluttered one. When there is too much information, people tend to be confused and might not even pay attention to any of your work. Give each piece a breathing room. Make each piece look significant and exclusive (as they indeed are!). Cramped tables will only make your art look like commodity items on sale.
- Make your booth entrance open and inviting
Make your booth entrance wide, so it is easy to get in and out. Sometimes shoppers might feel trapped if they see a narrow entryway, and might not even come into your booth. The idea is to encourage prospects to check your art, get to know you, leave their contact, and luckily buy a piece.
Annabella Carter Short is a freelance writer, seamstress of more than 7 years and a handmade lover. She’s passionate about selling on Etsy and starting a handmade business. In her free time, she likes to make DIY projects with her two kids. Annabelle also works with few organizations to provide the best resources for raising and educating a special needs child.
Visit Annabella on Facebook.
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