Well, I've survived...

My first season as a vendor at farmers' markets and outdoor craft shows and fairs, and I've learned a few things...

1. Buy a decent tent. The bug tent left over from your husband's best friend's bachelor party/camping trip will NOT cut it in 35 mph wind gusts.

2. Sunblock. Lots and lots of sunblock.

3. Ditto ice.

4. No matter what you make, you cannot predict what everyone will want. Prepare yourself for weekly hearings of, "Oh, it's too bad you don't make..." Don't kill yourself trying to fulfill everyone's wishes.

5. Make what you love and it will sell.

6. You must attend every event with the attitude that you cannot predict how good or poor sales will be. You just do not know until you get there. What may have been your best show the year before may turn out to be your worst this year.

7. Make friends with the other vendors. Bartering is goooooooood.

8. Rocks are very handy for holding down displays in 30 mph wind gusts. Ditto heavy duty alligator clips. Always carry lots of both.

9. Rubber bands are cheap and a neat way to keep your business cards and brochures from flying all over the place in above mentioned wind gusts.

10. Smile and greet every single person who passes by your booth, whether they buy something or not!

And above all....HAVE FUN!

thanks for sharing it :D so when you barter, you value your jewelries as the price tag or make it lower?

That is very good advice, Jen.  Bartering can be a lot of fun-I've used it many times.  Matter of fact, my last tattoo was a barter deal.  I made a couple of Swarovski cuff bracelets for my artist in exchange for my tattoo, and we both thought it was a good deal.  The actual price doesn't matter as much as both parties getting what they want out of the deal.  Bartering is a great idea especially if you don't have a lot of spare cash-it's amazing sometimes what goods/services you can trade for.

Vanbeads:

10. Smile and greet every single person who passes by your booth, whether they buy something or not!

Can i categorize it as flirting? :-))

 Great advice! I agree with the sunblock. The only outdoor event that I went to, I had sunblock. However, the medicine I was on at the time caused a reactino with the sun so I was BURNT! Lobster red burnt almost purple. When I went to work on Monday, almost every person said to me " Did you get sunburnt?" DUH! Finally after about 2 hours, I put on a mask ( like the dentists wear ) so that it was not so obvious. People just thought I had a cold or something.

I agree with acknowledging everyone. Just a simple Hello How are you is great. If nothing else, sometimes this will make them pause just a few seconds and look! My hubby is great at this. He is such a talker to everyone about anything. 

Thanks for the advice though. It is appreciated. There were a couple of shows that I did not do very good at last year and I have been debating about going back this year. Maybe I will give it another try. The booth rentals are minimal $20-$25.  

Greating everyone is great. Just be sure you aren't pulling them away from your neighbors booth. I did a car show last spring where I had a neighbor that evertime someone was even remotely close she would call them over and tell the story how her son was selling these things to earn the money to go to summer camp and yada yada yada. To make a long story short it really got on my nerves after all the person had stopped at someone elses booth to take a look and she would come right up and start taking about what her 10 year old (brat) son was selling. I say brat because he didn't want to even stay in his both and sell he wanted to go look at the cars and run around. He found some playmates and was running around the two booths. I finally after bitting my tongue for several minutes had to ask him to please not run around my booth that I had expensive jewelry on my table and didn't want it knocked over.  I got a dirty look from Mom but I didn't care I was just holding my tongue from telling her off. If I had to do it all over I would have pointed out to her in the very begining that what she  was doing was not acceptable behavior at a sale.

Anyway I will get off that wagon and just say, be welcomeing but also repect your neighbor. Remember your neighbor also paid a fee to sell there wares and you should not interfer with them selling what they have to sell. Be a good neighbor.

 Very good point Sue. I alway wait until they are at the edge of my table. First I don't want to be one of those like you describe but also I don't want to appear too eager if that makes sense. That may not be the best word to describe it.

I know that people have come out to stroll around, have a look and have a great time. And hopefully buy stuff. I don't want to be that one vendor that they try to avoid at all costs from then on.

 Hi, I agree with number 10 - smile and greet as I think it's so important to make people welcome (I've been to show where the exhibitors are so busy chatting and make it clear that you are interupting them). 

On the other hand I have walked away from a lot of stalls that have had thing I've been really interested in because the person wouldn't leave me alone to look so I supose it's a question of finding a happy medium.