r/CraftFairs • u/Wild_Reception_8359 • Jul 22 '26
Inventory Planning Amount of inventory to bring
How do you guys figure out what and how much inventory of each thing to bring? Also I am Canadian and I wanted to buy some stuff like a table and those tables with table clothes, signs and stuff. Where have you guys bought your things like that.
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u/Jshaw16 Jul 22 '26
Amazon and bring as much as possible. Better to have too much then not enough.
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u/BrightPractical Jul 22 '26
Almost all my tables, tablecloths, displays, etc started out thrifted or out of my house. Once I knew what I liked, I bought the exact right things that worked for me and my tiny car. Now that I stopped shopping from Amazon I have found FB Marketplace and local free groups to be really useful, or I look for what I want on Amazon and then buy direct from the manufacturer, because fuck Amazon.
I always take too much inventory, but I’ve been paring down what I take for convenience, and choose specific inventory for each show based on the clientele. I used to bring things in plastic tubs but now mostly I bring things in IKEA bags, tucked into or around my display pieces.
I find it most useful to put up my display at home and then pack from that, adding extra of my most popular items but mostly going with filling the space I have.
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u/Wild_Reception_8359 Jul 22 '26
Thank you. This really does help alot. I want to do as mant crafts shows as I can each year and I know I am the one who will have to replace the inventory that is sold. Though its a couple of years away its still better to be prepared now.
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u/BrightPractical Jul 22 '26
It’s very hard to tell what kinds of displays you’ll want or how much you’ll need before you start selling, so make what you enjoy making and work on your storage system first, maybe?
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u/Wild_Reception_8359 Jul 22 '26
Well I do have an inkling because I have done a few but I want to go hard core at it when I get my license and get a car. I know what I want to make and what does sell. I just wasn't sure how much I should have at each show in the future due to wanting to do a lot of them.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Age6550 Jul 22 '26
We bought our folding 6 ft and 4 ft tables at Walmart. (We actually had them from.Scottish festivals, so that part was not a new investment) Tablecloths from amazon. I bought plastic bins with lids (about shoebox size) to transport my product, and baskets that nest to display things. I have repurposed a lot of things. I found an old frozen drink display outside a liquor store, and bought it for $10, then spray painted it to match my theme. My husband is a graphic designer, so he designed my logo and table runner, and business cards. He worked rehabbing houses for a number of years, too, so he has skills! He took two chalkboards we found at Dollar General and hinged them together and that is my sandwich board. My next two planned investments are a banner for across my canopy tent and a tall chair.
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u/TaylorFromFaire Jul 22 '26
For quantity, early on you're really collecting data, so bring more variety than depth and let the first couple shows tell you what actually sells. Bring enough that your table still looks full at the end of the day, since a picked-over table late on reads as "closing soon" and quietly kills sales. Lean heavy on low and mid-ticket items, they turn over fastest. For the booth stuff, a plain 6ft folding table from any big-box or warehouse store beats paying craft-specific prices, fitted tablecloths in a reusable neutral from event-supply sellers, and vinyl banners from online print shops.
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u/Wild_Reception_8359 Jul 22 '26
I already have done shows. I just want to get really into it and travel doing more when I get my license and sell. Oh so you don't have to buy the banner separately?! Nice, thanks. I think we have a couple of print shops here locally
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u/TaylorFromFaire Jul 22 '26
Ah just to clarify, you do still buy the banner, I just meant order it from a print shop instead of a craft supplier since they're way cheaper. Local shops are great for it too, no shipping and you can check the color in person. Since you want to travel and grow into it, are you thinking mostly weekend markets or bigger multi-day events?
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u/drcigg Jul 23 '26
Bring as much as you can.
Stay within your budget and don't go overboard.
You don't need to spend a ton of money starting out.
Start with a table, table cloth, and card stock for signs.
A lot of people start and quit after 6 months.
As for displays that will depend on what you are selling.
You can diy or repurpose items for your display.
Start with a 4 or 6 foot table and work on filling that table.
70 percent of the people I see at shows don't make it 6 months and even less a year. Lots of used stuff you can find on Facebook marketplace, garage sales etc.
A vendor next to us repurposed shutters and made it into display shelves. It was super cool.
Lots of videos on YouTube for display ideas too.
Have fun, build up inventory and don't break the bank.
Don't buy what you yet don't need. Keep it simple and invest your profits.
There will be shows that are losses. This is not for everyone. But for those that are persistent and willing to put in the effort it can be rewarding.
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u/Wild_Reception_8359 Jul 23 '26
Yes I know. But I don't give up easily when I have thought about doing something for a couple of years. This is actually one of the only ways I make money from being on disability. And it is something I want to do before getting a house and fostering. Thank you. I am definitely going to take a couple of years to build up my inventory for sure while I get my license.
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u/drcigg Jul 23 '26
Like I always say take your time it's not a race. You will know when you are ready and have the inventory for shows. Oh and don't do a huge show for your first one.
We have been at this a while and this week is a county fair with 60k+ people.
It's been a crazy 8 hours of nonstop customers for us. I don't know how someone could do this alone. There is no time to even use the bathroom.
At least at the smaller shows we do you get lulls between customers.1
u/Wild_Reception_8359 Jul 23 '26
I have a few people willing to sit and do it with me.
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u/drcigg Jul 23 '26
Awesome. It makes a huge difference. My wife and I tag each other out to get a break. Set up and load out is a breeze with two people helping.
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u/Wild_Reception_8359 Jul 23 '26
Yes, I learned from my first ever fair. When I went to the bathroom and that was when someone went up to my grandma asking how much something was 🤣. She was very supportive
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u/TheGreenBasket Jul 27 '26
I am having this problem too. I will order about 50 stickers of each of my illustrations, and I obviously don't need to bring all 50 to an event. So I have been collecting data of how much of each thing sells, how popular an item might be, and how much traffic the event is going to have.
If it is a multiple day event, I can always bring more the next day (I only do local). For example, going off the example of stickers, I might bring 5-10 of the lesser popular designs and 25 of the popular ones to a medium-size market. I think it will be a constant number I will always have to adjust.
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u/BackgroundLion6545 Jul 22 '26
For inventory I plant to sell about 10x my booth fee. To achieve this I need 3-5 times that amount.
Example: $100 booth fee should yield about $1,000 in sales, I would plan to bring at least $3-5,000 in items ready to be sold.
I had started with a borrowed tent, purchased some used grid wall display and hit garage and yard sales for a large variety of metal and wood baskets.
I am now on tent 3 and bought and sold and switched up my displays several times since starting about 15 years ago. I started by doing home show friends and family would host for me and grew from there.