How to Make More Money at Craft Shows Selling Handcrafted Jewelry

Hammered Copper Rings RG-03

How to Make Money Selling Handcrafted Jewelry at Craft Shows

Please find some tips on making more money at craft shows selling your handmade jewelry. Selling handmade jewelry can be a great way to turn your hobby into a profitable business. With hard work and creativity, it is possible to make a good living making and selling handcrafted jewelry.

Flower bracelet made from copper with black patina background
Copper Flower Bracelets handmade from copper in the silver colors flowers and black background

If you enjoy traveling then craft fairs and other public events are a route you may even have fun with. Many handmade jewelry artisans find that art and craft shows are excellent venues to sell their artisan jewelry. Preparing for the first few craft shows can be intimidating, but with careful planning and a little practice, craft shows can become a major source of income. The most important factors to consider are:

1. The quality of the handmade jewelry offered by you and other exhibitors.

2. The originality of your handcrafted jewelry and your target market for your handmade earrings and unique bracelets.

Almond Blossom Hair Clips Famous Paintings by Van Gogh
Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom Hair Clips

3. The price range greatly affects your sales so you should have pieces in various ranges but keep in mind that lower price points always sell more so be prepared.

4. The demographics of the place where you are exhibiting which means you need to consider the age of the people attending and how much money they make.

Painted Pony Bracelets
Painted pony bracelet created with native inspiration

5. Customer traffic directly affects handmade jewelry sales at craft shows. A well-established show will have more traffic while a first-year show may be slower.

Wild Mustang Horse Bracelets
Handcrafted Jewelry Bracelets, Horse Filigree Bracelets

How to make more money at craft shows, the way your handcrafted jewelry is displayed might be more important than any of the above-noted factors. Here are some tips to increase your handcrafted jewelry sales at craft shows. Once you are known in the area with your original jewelry, this will be the best advertisement for your handmade jewelry business as customers tell their friends about your wonderful selection. You will be surprised to see people will be coming long distances for unique artisan jewelry, handmade jewelry, and handcrafted unique jewelry. Then your craft business becomes a success story. No matter how beautiful your jewelry is, it must be displayed well in order to sell.

Gold and Copper Feather Dangle Earrings
Unique Handcrafted Jewelry, Gold and Copper Feather Dangle Earrings

The setup of your booth should be welcoming and open. Try setting up tables in a u-shape so that people can come into your booth. Booth space is small so you must use every inch wisely. Always welcome people into your booth, being friendly and sincere will increase your sales. People come to craft shows to meet the artist so each handcrafted jewelry piece has a special meaning when they have talked to the artist. People love to hear the story behind the design which adds value to your handcrafted jewelry.

Unique Bracelets, Handcrafted Flower Bracelet
Handmade Bracelets, Flower Bracelets

Group your items so people looking for certain designs will easily find the matching handmade bracelets and necklaces for the earrings they have chosen. Your unique jewelry should be organized in an orderly fashion. Customers like to browse, but may not realize that there are multiple colors of an item or matching sets if the jewelry is not displayed well.

Stunning Copper Etched Foal and Horse Earrings
Handmade Etched Foal and Horse Earrings

Make sure to have a mirror close at hand. Ladies love to hold up the handmade earrings close to their ears to see how they will look when worn. Along the same lines, wear your own handmade jewelry. People love to see what handmade earrings and handmade bracelets look like. Many times sales are made of the same items you are wearing at the craft show, especially to men buying gifts for their special lady.

Unique Turtle Magnetic Copper Bracelets
Handcrafted jewelry, Magnetic Turtle Copper Bracelets

Lighting is very important. Craft shows are known for poor lighting so you must use extra lights to make sure your booth stands out from the crowd. Well-placed lighting can make an incredible difference in your sales. Make sure that cords are neatly hidden and the lights securely mounted.

Copper Feathers Earrings Created in Shimmering Colors
Copper feather earrings handmade in colorful artwork

You can go to craft stores and jewelry findings stores or wholesale craft suppliers to get ideas. You can get pieces from these places and join them with your handmade earrings or other handmade creations just you have the best unique jewelry collections for your customers to choose from. More selections will increase your sales. If one item is slow in one craft show the sales of other jewelry gifts will increase your craft show sales.

Blue Patina on Eagle Jewelry Bracelets
Handcrafted Jewelry, Cut Out Eagle Bracelets

If there is a break in the traffic, have some work-ready. Nothing attracts people to your booth than seeing you making the handcrafted jewelry right there. Carry a box with some tools, and supplies as well as handmade earrings and handmade bracelets pieces. People who stop to watch will soon become customers.  Having jewelry-making tools is always a good idea just in case a customer requests a special handcrafted jewelry necklace or wants a shorter length of the handmade bracelet. The more adaptable you are the more your sales will increase.

Moose with Northern Lights Alaska Earrings AK-37
Handcrafted Jewelry, Moose with Northern Lights Earrings

Every little thing counts when displaying handmade jewelry at craft shows. Try a few of these tips and see the dramatic effects small details can have on handcrafted jewelry sales. Every booth at art and craft festivals has its own unique style and feel. Each well-planned tent is a one-room store. Good booths are attractive and inviting. Good booth displays will increase your handmade jewelry sales.

Cut Out Gold Copper Elephant Necklaces
Elephant Necklaces Handcrafted by Etching

People who visit craft shows are looking for something special and also like to meet with the artist. Be open and friendly making your customers feel happy. A happy customer is a repeat customer! You can make handmade Christmas ornaments which are great sellers for grandmothers as they enjoy buying one for each of the grandkids. Especially if you personalize them by putting their names on the back of the Christmas tree ornaments.

Buy Christmas tree ornaments created in colorful Wise Men design
Wise Men Christmas tree ornaments

Every little thing counts when you are selling your items at craft shows. Have your sales been less than you hoped? Try displaying them differently with better lighting and see the dramatic effects you can have on your handmade jewelry sales by just changing a few small details.

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