SAVE FOR LATER
Standing behind your craft show table and watching people walk by without stopping hurts. You spent weeks creating inventory, carefully planned your display, and invested money in your booth—yet sales aren’t happening. Sometimes the problem isn’t your creativity or prices—it’s the products you chose to sell.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours at craft shows, both selling and observing what works. Through my successes and mistakes, I’ve identified specific types of products that consistently underperform or create unnecessary headaches for vendors. This guide will help you avoid these common product pitfalls so you can focus on items that actually sell.
Also See: What Sells at Craft Fairs?
1. Fragile and Perishable Products
When I first started selling at craft shows, I learned this lesson the hard way. Setting up delicate items only to pack them back up with chips and cracks taught me some expensive lessons about durability.
Watch Out For:
- Glass items that require excessive bubble wrap
- Delicate ceramics that break during transport
- Food items needing refrigeration
- Products with short shelf life
- Items that can’t withstand summer heat
Between transport, setup, and the hours of people handling your products, fragile items often cost more in damages than they bring in sales. You might price them higher to account for breakage, but then they become harder to sell.
Also See: Insider Craft Fair Booth Setup Ideas
2. Size and Setup Issues
Large or awkward items present unique challenges that can affect your bottom line. Through my craft show experience, I’ve noticed these items often lead to the dreaded “I’ll come back later”—and most shoppers never do.
Watch Out For:
- Large furniture pieces
- Bulky home decor
- Items requiring complex display setups
- Products needing climate control
- Anything that’s difficult to restock during the show
The reality is that most craft show shoppers aren’t prepared to transport large items home. Even if they love your work, they might pass simply because carrying it while shopping is inconvenient.
3. Price and Competition Issues
One thing I’ve learned about pricing: people will always assume you’re overpricing your items. Your craft is worth much more than whatever ideal price they have in their mind. But there are some products that are particularly challenging to price competitively.
Watch Out For:
- Items competing with mass-produced alternatives
- Products requiring expensive materials with low perceived value
- Goods that other vendors commonly sell
- Items commonly found in retail stores
- Products requiring significant equipment investment
From my experience, smaller items priced between $5 and $15 often sell better because they feel more affordable to shoppers. If you can make them efficiently and maintain healthy margins, these can be great additions to your inventory.
Also See: How to Price Handmade Items
Pricing Pitfalls:
- Products with tiny profit margins
- Items requiring extensive time to create
- Goods with high material costs but low perceived value
- Products competing with dollar store prices
A note about pricing: Don’t give in to pressure to lower your prices. I’ve seen too many talented artisans undervalue their work because they’re worried about what shoppers might think.
Choosing Your Product Line
People love giving suggestions about what you should make. If I had a dollar for every time someone said “you should’ve made more of…” I’d be rich. Don’t feel pressured to make more of something just because people tell you to.
Important Factors:
- Make what you enjoy creating
- Don’t force yourself to make tedious items
- Consider your energy levels
- Focus on products you can consistently produce
- Balance market demand with your interests
Making products you don’t enjoy is draining and often shows in the final product. It’s better to have a smaller selection of items you love creating than a wide range of products you resent making.
Better Products to Sell
Instead of struggling with challenging products, consider these alternatives that typically perform well at craft shows:
- Mid-sized items that are easy to carry
- Products that solve common problems
- Unique items that aren’t easily found in stores
- Seasonal products with appropriate timing
- Items that can be customized at the show
- Products worth their price
- Items that sell well together (aka in a bundle)
The key is finding the sweet spot between what you enjoy making, what sells well, and what’s practical to transport and display. So, when planning your next show, consider each product’s true cost—not just in materials, but in time, energy, and potential problems.
Fill your table with items you genuinely enjoy creating. Skip the oversaturated markets, pass on products that cost more to protect than they’ll earn, and ignore pressure to make things that drain your energy. Your next craft show can be more profitable and less stressful when focusing on products that make sense for your business.