1. Stock up on groceries in advance. The last thing you may be thinking about when preparing for a craft fair is food, but trust me, having all your grocery shopping done ahead of time is a really good idea. Make sure to get items that you can quickly and easily turn into meals, because the last thing you’ll want to do when you get back from a long day of selling your wares is cook.

2. Bring snacks. Even if your craft fair has a cafeteria or food vendors, if you get busy you may not have time to go buy anything. Having things to snack on right at your booth can make the difference between a great fair and a tiresome one. Pack healthy things like granola bars, trail mix and fruit, but don’t forget to throw in a few treats like chocolate or hard candy for an occasional extra boost (just don’t try to subsist on only junk food!). A bottle of water and a hot drink in a thermos or travel mug will also be welcome. Just try not to stuff your face while talking to customers.

3. Get plenty of sleep. I know this is the one tip that everybody mentions, but that’s because it’s the most important. You may be tempted to stay up late finishing more things to sell, but your time is better spent getting some good rest. While a good night’s sleep is most vital the night before a fair, make sure to get rest in the days leading up to the fair, too. It’s easier to stay well-rested than it is to catch up on not enough sleep over a period of time. You’ll be glad of it.

4. Have a buddy. Not all of us have friends or relatives that we can convince to come with us to a craft fair, or even show up to give us an occasional break. But if you do have someone you can get to watch your booth every now and then so you can stretch your legs and see what other crafters are selling, make use of them. Alternatively, see if you can get a booth or table close to someone you know, who can keep an eye on things if you need to dash out to the bathroom.

5. Have plenty of change. If you don’t have to charge sales tax, price your items on even dollar increments (or whatever your local currency is); it makes giving change much simpler. If you do charge tax, consider including the tax in the prices and rounding up to the nearest dollar (or down, if you feel like giving a discount). And have a good float on hand. Lots of ones and fives (and twos in Canada) plus a few tens should see you through, but if you’re not going to be able to get to a bank during the fair, get more than you think you’ll need. Too much float is way, way better than not enough.

Photo by Niko Silvester.