8 Tips for Customizing Products at Craft Shows

8 Tips for Customizing Products at Craft Shows

Verify that You Have Electricity Available in Your Booth or Table

You can’t personalize items if you can’t bring your Silhouette or Cricut machine with you. Similarly, make sure that you have enough space in your booth or table to be able to set up your machine and still have plenty of room to display products. It’s always a good idea to bring extension cords and a power strip.

Collect Payment Before You Personalize

Just like any other product you sell, payment should be collected before you start customizing a product.

Bring a Helper

It’s even better if you can bring a trained helper. Ideally, your helper can run your machine and apply the customization while you interact with customers and sell your products.

Offer a Limited Number of Personalization Colors and Fonts

It’s not practical to bring every color of vinyl or material that you own to the show. Instead, stick to the basics. (For me: this usually means black, white, and the colors of the rainbow.) Similarly, offer only a handful of fonts – preferably ones that cut well and don’t need editing before cutting.

Cut Out as Much as Possible Ahead of Time

Example: If I am offering a circular frame with a monogram inside to be placed onto a tumbler, I cut out the frame ahead of time and I’ll only have to add the monogram after the customer orders.

Don’t Have Your Customer Wait for Their Items

I work better when I’m not distracted. If you are personalizing a product, invite the customer to walk around and shop and return at a later time to pick up their product. This also gives you time to package the product before pickup.

Have Order Forms Ready for Customized Orders that You Cannot Complete Immediately

If you are personalizing orders at an event, you are going to get a customer or two that wants to make several changes or wants an entirely different design. Instead of using all your show time creating one product, have a form available to capture the order and arrange shipping to the customer.

Don’t be Offended When Customers Ask What Type of Machine You Are Using

If you are using your machine while at a show, you are going to have customers asking about the process. You certainly don’t have to share your secrets or teach them how to use it, but don’t be rude when they inquire.

Have you ever offered personalization on demand at shows or fairs? How did it go? Share your experience in the comments. Read more about craft shows on Cutting for Business.