One of the most important lessons I learned at a craft show this summer is that the right presentation can really increase your bead jewelry sales and make your pieces look much more enticing.

I was at a very large show and after setting up my booth I walked around to “scout out the competition” and to see if my pricing was in line for the area (this show was out-of-state for me). It turns out that I was priced a little higher than some of the other jewelry and bead jewelry around me, but I was generally in the right range. Many of the booths had nothing more than a table or two with an old tablecloth thrown over them and hundreds of pieces just layout out flat.

While this displayed a wide range of pieces, it was almost too much for the casual observer to take it. One table was so crowded it looked like the artisan had just dumped out her entire supply and pushed them around in a mish mash pattern.

My table was only four booths away, but I took a great amount of time and energy in setting up my displays and by the end of the day I clearly had much more foot traffic than her and probably many more sales. Here are some of my pointers and tips for setting up a table at a show…

Some DO’s:

1. DO use clean linens to cover your table and make sure the colors are complimentary to your bead jewelry. If many of your pieces are dark, use lighter linens.
2. DO consider using professional hanging displays. I used to use “homemade” displays that I crafted out of metal racks and wooden dowels, but they just didn’t look professional enough. Professional displays give the impression that “I take pride in my work and I’m here to stay!” I’m glad I spent some money last year and purchased professional displays. You can get some great deals from eBay or discount stores. And make sure your displays are appropriate for your pieces. For example, stud earrings are difficult to attach to displays meant for hanging earrings.
3. DO think about adding “height” to you table. I place down a table cloth on my table and then place foam blocks of different heights all around it. Then I lay down another cloth (usually a different color) and create different level “tiers” for placing all my display pieces. This way the light reflects through different pieces at different times throughout the day and breaks up the visuals. I often have people comment on how nice my displays look.

Some DON’Ts:

1. DON’T feel as though you have to put every single piece of bead jewelry you own out on the table. Leave some “space” for the eye to wander from piece to piece. As you sell items throughout the day simply replenish and move items around.
2. DON’T fall into the trap of thinking that “the jewelry will always sell itself”. Which is a more pleasant shopping experience: Macy’s or the local Dollar Store? Which do you spend more money at? A more professional and welcoming presentation will make people want to linger and browse longer.
3. DON’T be afraid to try new things. When I got my new display pieces I took a few hours and set up two or three “mock” tables and took pictures. A few days later I looked at the photos and picked out what I thought was the best looking layout. Now when I go to shows I just pull out those photos and I can setup my table much more quickly.

The bottom line: how you present your bead jewelry to customers is often just as important as how beautiful your bead jewelry looks! And it could make a big difference in your sales at the end of the day!