I decided to share some visual merchandising tricks & tips for making your booth at a craft show look amazing. Here are some tips to make your craft show booth stand out.
The type of artwork you create will determine how you display it, but you can use these ideas to get started. You’re an artistic person, so be creative!
What is visual merchandise?
Visual merchandising should be something you are familiar with if you manage, own, or work in a retail shop.
Visual merchandising is about making your store (or craft or art booth) look great. Look great. This includes how you display your products and how they are viewed to increase sales!
Visual merchandising can be used for various purposes, not just in retail shops. Sell handmade art at craft fairs in your area? Visual merchandising can help your booth look good and make you more money. Learn how to market hair products related to each other in a way that appeals to customers.
Visual merchandising only applies to the artistically inclined. Visual merchandising is less about artistic ability than you might think. Its primary purpose is to promote your company and make your booth or store design and layout assist customers in finding what they are looking for.
Visual merchandising is meant to meet your customers’ needs as they shop. Store design and layout allow shoppers to move around the store quickly and comfortably and find what they want. If you own a small gift shop that aims to please tourists with locally-made items and unique products, your layout should reflect the vibe of your business.
Brand image & Store Design
A retail store is not an exception. Branding is essential for any business. The layout and design of your store (or booth at a craft show) should be based on the brand image.
Some people believe that branding has a great logo. Branding is not just about a logo.
Consider how significant chains’ logos, brand images, and store designs are interconnected. Victoria’s Secret is pink and girly because they sell women’s underwear. GAP is simple, modern, and fresh because they are known for their classic, essential clothing. Hot Topic is a retailer that aims to appeal to edgy teens. Their stores have darkly colored elements and play music like alternative rock, punk, or metal.
Fixtures
Fixtures are the things you use to display and hang your products. You can do this in a variety of ways! Many companies sell wall fixtures, such as Slatwall and Gridwall. These can be used to create a variety of displays. You can build it yourself.
You’ll need racks for clothing if you sell clothes. At a local hardware store, I’ve seen some excellent DIY versions for store merchandising made from various piping. One day I would love to build shelving units like this for my home, but they could also work well in a shop!
Your booth display should be positioned so your customers’ eyes are drawn upwards and around it. This can be done by varying the heights and levels of your booth. It’s less appealing to have a table with everything laid out flat than it is one where some items are displayed at different levels. You can create groups with other retail displays.
You can prop up your product at different heights using clear risers. You can use portable jewelry trays to quickly set up and break down your jewelry.
Some crafters use bed risers for different heights of their tables.
This shelf was made by my friend using PVC pipe and plywood. These materials are readily available in any hardware store. It was used to display bags that my friend Kendra from Bonga Chop made out of vintage bedsheets.
Some of the artists I know display wooden boxes to increase height and as display props. You can display items inside or hang them from the slats. Stack more displays on the top.
I also love vintage suitcases used as display props.
Display at a craft show featuring a vintage suitcase for displaying greeting cards.
My bag is used to transport things to and from events and display greeting cards and other merchandise. I added some ribbon to the fabric lining to hang things from it.
I also use an old shutter for hanging earrings. (Ubiquiti made most of the ones pictured). I attached two shelf brackets on either side and clamped them to my desk from behind.
I had a jewelry display booth with freestanding displays of necklaces, earrings, and flat stacking trays. The back of the booth was decorated with pink and blue sheer curtains, a handmade banner, and colorful pink &blue sheer curtains.
Signs
Visual merchandising relies heavily on signs and price tags. You may have been frustrated by a need for signs or price labels in a shop. Your characters’ font, color, and layout should reflect your store’s brand image.
Signs can let people know what you do and how much your work costs. Make sure your booth has a manageable amount of characters. Use them to inform, but not as clutter. Use them to tell (and even entertain!)
Making or buying a banner with your company name and website is also a good idea to identify your booth quickly. You can order banners that are custom-printed or make your own.
My friend, Kerry’s business has a rustic feel. She displayed her leather and lace cuff bangles in vintage wooden soda crates while displaying handbags in a vintage wire basket.
Displaying individual products
The type of store and what you sell will determine how you display your items. Sometimes large, expensive, or unique things can look fabulous displayed on their own to make them appear more notable. Most often, store displays are best when similar items are displayed together. This is especially true for smaller items. Suppose you are selling jewelry and have several different cases to show it, as well as various jewelry designers or brands. In that case, you can group your displays according to the designer or style. This will make your presentation look more organized and appealing than if you jumbled all the necklaces.
