Craft Fair Success: Tips to Maximize Sales

I am not a "crafter" who travels from fair to fair across several state lines trying to make a living by selling something creative I make. I am not a successful business person promoting my wares with a flashy website. I am mom who works forty hours a week at a desk job and works the rest of the time attempting to keep my family fed and my house clean (not always as successful as I'd like to think I am, but then, I'm no Martha Stewart, either...) But, I do have a creative side that likes to come out now and then. My confession? I like to make soap the way my grandma used to make soap.

I have also discovered a recipe for a product that people go wild over. But, I'm not here to give out any secret recipes over the internet. If you want to taste my pumpkin butter, you will have to come to Pumpkintown, South Carolina for the Pumpkin Festival second weekend in October. The 2007 Pumpkin Festival will be my third year selling soaps and jars of pumpkin butter. Our first attempt in 2005 left me excited beyond words. I brought about 25 jars of pumpkin butter and a bunch of soaps. I sold a few soaps, but the pumpkin butter - Ah, the pumpkin butter! I had no idea it would be popular. My 25 jars were sold out in about forty-five minutes. I had people coming back during the day asking about it. I was amazed. The next year, I made 80 jars of pumpkin butter and put the price up a dollar. I sold out in a little over two hours. I also managed to sell almost all of my soap. This year, I'm bringing over 200 jars of pumpkin butter, and a lot more soap. I'm hoping the pumpkin butter will last until lunchtime. Guess we'll see...

My secrets? Are there 4 magic steps to selling out? The answer is - probably not. But, I have discovered some tips and an idea to ponder that will help to maximize your sales.

Tips:

1) Be friendly! People naturally respond favorably to friendliness. Offer a "Good morning!" to folks as they pass by. Comment on a child's cute face or neat outfit. Go out of your way to be friendly.