| I
hate to admit it now but my first craft show display booth was pretty
lame. I didn't have much money at the time so I pieced together some
standing displays out of wood and wood fencing. I figured wood looked
more natural than metal and would attract more visitors. When the first
windy day blew everything down, I recognized that money or no, I had
to get a decent display. Outdoor
craft fairs can be brutal for several reasons, including exposure to
the sun for eight or more hours a day. You just about have to have sturdy
canopy tents to shade your pieces and your body from the sunlight or
rain.
Equally important, a well-built display and canopy cover conveys a professional image and can help instill confidence in shoppers and show reviewers. Some juried art and craft shows require a picture or slide of your booth before accepting you into the event. Canopy TentsThere's a wide range of canopy tents and covers out there. I know you probably want to save money, but when it comes to your craft show display, you will not save money going cheap. Of course, shop for the best deal, but realize there other important factors to think about like appearance, size, sturdy construction, protection against weather, ease of set-up, durability, and weight of the canopy tent. Think of canopy tents as an investment that will pay you back over time. Tip: Increase your sales at craft fairs with mobile credit card processing Some models of canopy tents market themselves as "easy setup." That's fine except that the lighter and faster you can set it up, the easier it is for a strong wind to blow it crashing down. Wind is probably your biggest challenge when planning and building your show display. You should set up your booth ahead of time in your backyard or somewhere where it can get exposure to wind, rain and sun to see where any weaknesses might be. Then fix the vulnerable things before you get to your craft fair. Some outdoor craft shows are on grass lawns, so you can stake down your tent. But those events held on streets mean you need some kind of weighted anchors to hold your tent poles down when the winds pick up. A flat canopy will tend to pool rain in the middle. Go for a peaked or top center roof like canopy so water can drain off to the sides.
The more well-built canopies may take a little longer to set up but if you consider how much time and money a weather disaster will cost you, it's worth taking an extra twenty or thirty minutes setting up so you can enjoy a safer craft fair experience. Personally, I always choose a white canopy tent or tarp. My items sell because of their colors. I don't want a blue or green tinted light shading my work. Depending on where in the country you are displaying, sunlight and heat will play a role in your personal comfort, not to mention your customers. Some canopy tent covers are vented to let heat rise up and out of the tented area. Some units come with attachable sides, which you can remove for hotter days and let nature blow the heat right on through and out.
When doing indoor shows, I've almost always been required to use flame retardant materials in my booth display. Outdoor events, not so much. But be prepared ahead of time by getting a canopy or tent that comes with a label clearly stating it is flame retardant according to the national fire safety code (NFPA 701). I know addressing the above factors add to your final cost. But as I wrote earlier, look at your craft booth display as an investment rather than as a mere expense. A well-thought out display and canopy cover can pay you back many times over through the years. Here's an interesting thread on Etsy about canopy tents and people's experiences Resources for Often Searched For Pop Up Canopies:
Crafts fairs - tips for having more successful crafts fairs
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Directory
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