Question My sister and I were thinking about doing craft shows, but we were curious if we would need a permit for that. Do you have any idea where I can find information about this?
Answer Some of my students have participated in craft shows and I have personally participated in a few.
In order for you to sell items at a show you must be a business with a valid business license to sell at a retail level. This means you may need to collect and report sales tax whether the craft fair is in your state or another state. The coordinators of the particular craft fair will be able to help you with this so that you comply with local regulations. Generally the Craft Show coordinators obtain a permit to hold the Show and you are a store within that format having to comply with all the local regulations as any retailer would.
I don't know anything about your business or what you sell, but you might also think about other sales venues for your products. For example do you have a website? If you have a handmade product do you have an Etsy or Artfire site? Have you started a mailing list of customers, so you can send both online and offline information to these customers? Do you sell wholesale to stores?
I do think shows are a good way to sell products but there are certain drawbacks that you need to be aware of. One big one that I see is that you have to have substantial inventory - and you have no idea whether it will sell or not. If you make anything that is sized it is difficult to know what sizes to bring. Also taking orders for future delivery at craft shows is, in general, not a good idea - customers want to take home what they buy.
If you set yourself up with multiple ways of selling your products you have better exposure to many people and many markets.
Selling crafts is very big in the marketplace - and in order to capitalize on that market it is necessary to know how to market your goods and get to the right customer base.
I wish you much success and hope that I have helped you. You are welcome to sign up for my free weekly newsletter which contains many tips for crafters who want to make money.
Here's to your success!
Jane Button
www.craftabusiness.com
www.creativeproductmarketingsystem.com
