#1 - Wear comfortable shoes. You may be use to doing all day shopping marathons in the mall but unlike many traditional retail stores, craft show venues may not have a place for you to sit down and rest. Also, one of those lightweight but strong reusable grocery tote bags would be great to have on hand for all of the fun purchases you'll be making.
#2 - Consider shopping early. If you are a fan of handmade you might miss some fabulous one of a kind items by waiting until later in the day. If you see something you love AND it's in your budget, grab it while you can. I hate to see the disappointment on customers faces when they come back for that piece that they decided they had to have, only to find it's already been sold. Yes, sometimes an artist can make you another one, typically it's not going to be an exact duplicate though so keep that in mind.
#3 - Ask the artist and crafters you meet about the stories and inspiration behind their craft. Knowing how something came to be is often very interesting and makes the piece that much more desirable to give as a gift, even if it's a gift for yourself.
#4 - Grab business cards. Many vendors have online shops and would love to connect with you on social media. They often offer special coupons and discounts that can only be found on the internet. Many of them often have great blogs too.
#5. Even if you can't afford to purchase something you genuinely like, let the artist know you appreciate their work. Vendors often spend countless hours preparing for a show and long days (10 - 12 hours) at the event itself. They will be glad to hear that you see value in what they do.
So grab a friend and enjoy your craft show shopping adventure.
Speaking of craft shows, you can find me at this one Saturday May 17, 2014 in booth H327.
Mention this blog and get a FREE gift with purchase!
Happy Shopping!
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