The Rickie Report has taken notes while walking through juried and non-juried shows.  It is clear that the artists’ approach to displaying their work, be it jewelry, sculpture, paintings, hand turned wooden objects, or hand made clothing makes a significant impact on the viewer and potential buyer.

We want to share some of the best ideas and some suggestions for those artists who are happy to have been accepted into a show but are overwhelmed  about displaying their creations.

1. Make your display stand out among your fellow artists.  Everyone has a white tent but yours can sport a colored flag attached to the valance.  When a customer wants to “think about” a potential purchase, it is so much easier for them to find you again in a sea of people and tents.  Better yet, have the flag show what you are selling!

2. Are your signs written in an easy-to-read font that is large enough to read at least 10 feet away?  They can be colorful and theme oriented depending on what you are selling.  Looking professional with typed or computer generated signs cannot be stressed enough!

3.  Is your space easy to access?   Bringing your display to the inner reaches of the tent will give more people space to explore your wares.  Do your shelves hamper exploration? Can you hang some items from the inside top of the tent to free up floor space?  We’ve seen hand made pillows hanging from the tent top which was quite eye-catching.  The display itself was so colorful, we stopped in to speak with the artist and hear more about her work. Clever marketing!

4. Are your walls so full of artwork, the pieces begin to blend into one another?  Choose a few key pieces for a focal point.  Move pieces around during the show.  You have an opportunity to surprise the foot traffic passing by your booth with different work. Put one piece on an easel and keep switching it out to keep your display fresh and noticeable.

5. Jewelry displays are easily purchased through many companies.  The Rickie Report, however, finds the best ideas are ones that use ordinary objects for a different purpose.  A metal colander place upside down is a great earring holder and makes your jewelry more accessible than being pinned on a wall.  We’ve seen a mesh metal wastebasket turned upside down for the same purpose.  Now you have space on top ( actually the bottom of the wastebasket) to put a sign or another display.

6. A floor mat makes your space feel more professional.  You don’t have to get fancy or expensive.  Purchase some sail cloth and use decorative duct tape to seal the edges.  Voila!  You have a “rug”.

7.  How many show attendees hang out at a tent because the vendor has a fan?  A lot!  A battery operated fan not only helps YOU keep your cool, but invites lookers to stay longer and become shoppers.

8. Florida is dog country.  Be kind to your furry friends.  Have a bowl of water nearby.  Consider wrapped hard candies for throat parched customers, too.  Put the candy bowl next to your sign-up book to capture email addresses so you can reach out to people when you are going to be back in the area.  And if you sell via the internet, you have their information so you can send them a jpg of your “newest work since the show”.

9. Is your display family-friendly?  It is understandable that no one wants children running through an exhibit with glass pieces.  How do you keep their parents there long enough to inquire and buy while the kids are itching to move on?  Show a video loop of how sand becomes a piece of glass.  Have a small box of objects available for children to touch.  They will be the future buyers.  Teach them while you entertain them in a safe manner.

10. Keep your mess outside.  Store your packing materials, extra business cards, and food in a container outside the back of your tent.

The Rickie Report is always eager to share new ideas with our readers.  If you have a great display idea, send us a jpg and a short memo about how and why you use it.

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact The Rickie Report at:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

The Rickie Report

P.O.Box 33423

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420

Rickie@therickiereport.com

561-537-0291