Selling Pottery at Craft Fairs: A First-Timer's Checklist
Your first craft fair is a mix of excitement and logistics. People will pick up your work, ask questions and, if you are lucky, buy it. The difference between a great day and a stressful one is mostly preparation.
Use this checklist to prepare. Rules about permits, taxes and insurance vary by place, so check what applies to you.
Choose the right event
- Look at the previous year's vendors. Is there other pottery? Is the work similar to yours and at your price?
- Ask about the audience. Do visitors buy, or mostly browse?
- Check the cost of the booth, the application deadline and what is included (table, tent, electricity).
- Start small. A local market is a better first test than a large, expensive show.
What to make
- Bring a range of prices. A few small, affordable pieces (cups, spoon rests, ornaments) bring in impulse buyers. Add mid-range mugs and bowls, and one or two showpieces.
- Lead with what sells. Mugs are the classic craft fair product.
- Make sets. Four matching mugs sell better than four different ones.
- Quantity. For a first show, aim for 50 to 100 pieces, depending on the event. It is better to have too many than to look empty.
Our guide on pricing your pottery will help you set prices that cover your costs.
Display
- Use height. Boxes, crates and shelves covered with cloth make tiers and lift pots to eye level.
- Keep it simple. Neutral cloth lets the pots stand out.
- Group by type and color. Don't scatter.
- Label prices clearly. Customers walk past if they cannot see the price.
- Make a sign with your name and logo.
- Put a mirror or tray on the table if you want people to try something, like a ring dish.
Booth gear
- Tent, weights and a table (if not provided)
- Tablecloths, display boxes and risers
- Packing material: newspaper, tissue, boxes and bags
- A tape measure, scissors and tape
- A chair, water, snacks and sun protection
- A repair kit: super glue, cloth, a small broom
Taking payments
- A card reader and a smartphone with a charged battery.
- A cash box with small bills and coins for change.
- Price tags in round numbers make the cash side faster.
- A receipt method, whether paper or digital.
Check any tax or licensing rules for events in your area.
Talking to customers
Be present, not pushy. A friendly hello and a comment like "feel free to pick things up" is plenty. Be ready to answer: "Is this dishwasher safe?" "Is it food safe?" "What clay did you use?" Read is my pottery food safe and handmade pottery in the microwave and dishwasher so your answers are honest.
After the show
Take ten minutes that evening to write down:
- What sold, and what didn't
- The price points that moved best
- Questions customers asked
- What you would change next time
Good records beat memory. Keep sales notes next to your project logs, so the next batch of pots can reflect what people actually bought. Claybook helps you keep production details in one place.