{"id":278,"date":"2021-07-16T15:34:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T15:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penblanks.ca\/blog\/?p=278"},"modified":"2024-05-14T11:25:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T15:25:28","slug":"craft-show-tips-to-maximize-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penblanks.ca\/blog\/index.php\/2021\/07\/16\/craft-show-tips-to-maximize-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Craft Show Tips to Maximize Sales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Craft shows are a beast of their own. They require hours of turning wood lathe projects weeks before to beef up inventory, booking tables, packing product in bubble wrap and often convincing a partner to put a weekend aside to help you at your booth – but are they ever worth it! They allow artisans to explain to new customers face-to-face why they have the best custom pens by giving them the chance to teach shoppers about the skill of wood turning.\u00a0 It often creates repeat customers and is the catalyst for word-of-mouth sales. So, if you\u2019re going to go through the effort of becoming a vendor at a craft show, maximize your time there by maximizing your sales! (Also, more income means a bigger pen kit<\/a> allowance – Halleluiah!) We\u2019ve got some tips to make that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aesthetics- Make your table stand out!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is common to hear conversations of passing shoppers in the aisles of craft shows, and if it\u2019s your booth they\u2019re talking about you\u2019ve hit the lottery. Become the talk of the craft show by creating a table that draws people in and makes them want to check out what you have to offer. Even if you have a small surface area you can take advantage of your table by playing with vertical space. Use props like wood boxes and upright vertical pen display stands<\/a> to maximize space. This way, you can display as many finished pens as possible. A full table will attract more customers. Use different stands to separate your best ballpoint pens from rollerballs and fountain pens so customers can better narrow down what they\u2019re after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also organize your finished wood pens by price range. We can tell you right now the lower price ranges often do the best. This means shopping from our Budget pen kit<\/a> line and acrylic pen blanks<\/a> is key. Shopping weekly specials<\/a> or using volume discount pricing<\/a> will also make a huge difference by allowing you to keep your prices low without absorbing the costs yourself.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Make things obvious. Putting price tags<\/a> on each item will take away the awkwardness sometimes associated with asking for a prices. Offer a variety of items with a wide range of price points so you have something for every budget, like acrylic pens, ballpoints and fountain pens. Display more expensive items like rollerballs<\/a> or fountain pens<\/a> in a display case<\/a> or box to set them apart as a higher end option (also a great option to keep pens safe for travel to and from shows).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shop Displays here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Draw em\u2019 in<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Craft show shoppers are food motivated. Okay, maybe that\u2019s a generalization. But seriously, offering candy on your table will draw people in. If there are kids wandering around you can bet your butt they\u2019ll drag their parents over. Sometimes you have to play dirty. KIDDING!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But offering something to snack on at your booth will entice shoppers to wander over and in turn get more eyes on your products. Typically, out of politeness, shoppers will ask questions in return for your candy and that\u2019s your chance to hook them! Explain what you do, how long it takes and show them how great it looks in a gift box or how classy a Calligraphy pen<\/a> or Capstone Gift Set<\/a> looks when finished and ready to wrap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2 or 3 piece Capstone Gift Set
comes complete with gift box<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Make it hands on<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A wood pen is a tactile thing. People are hands on and they\u2019re going to want to take their potential pen for a spin before purchasing. Scatter scratch pads around your booth and encourage customers to try out several different styles. Customers will see firsthand why the rollerballs are double the price of the ballpoints and show them which styles are the best pens for writing. Use the time they\u2019re spending doodling to offer a custom turned pen, explaining the unlimited potential for pen blank<\/a> and pen kit<\/a> combinations. Keep those tables stocked up too! Have extra inventory on hand so your display doesn\u2019t become sparse as pens sell. It may even give you the opportunity to offer a customer an \u201cexclusive\u201d pen that\u2019s perfect for them that isn\u2019t yet displayed on your table. People love exclusivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another huge selling point is a fountain pen<\/a>. Even if it\u2019s not a kit you typically dabble with, fountain pens are key. They\u2019re nostalgic for the older shoppers who remember learning to write with them in High School and haven\u2019t tried them in 30 years. They\u2019re exciting for the younger generations who have never tried them before, and they appeal to the artsy crowd who see handwriting as a hobby. It gives shoppers another thing to do at your booth and it prompts conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Browse fountain pens here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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