Hey friends! If you've been following me on social media for any length of time, you'll notice that this post is not my usual post. Normally you'd see some card idea or technique I'm sharing, but today I wanted to post how I set up my booth space when I vend at scrapbooking retreats as the Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I know there are fellow demonstrators out there looking for ideas on how to arrange their space and trying to figure out what to bring to a crop since we are limited on our cash + carry items. Below are some photos of my most recent event, (Creative Design Retreats, Wrightsville Beach, NC) and how I set up my space, along with some details and ideas with each photo...
I typically bring two 6-foot folding tables and two 4-ft folding tables as part of my set-up. My favorite display is a "U" shape using the two 6-ft tables and one of the 4-ft. The additional 4-ft I use inside my booth as a work surface for myself. I bring kit prep and past Paper Pumpkin kits to work on when things are quiet at the crop. This display isn't quite a "U" because space was limited and the vendors were spaced tightly together, but I made it work!
I also have an old, Lay's potato chip rack from the 50's that I purchased at an antique show for about $50. This rack is light-weight and it folds up so it's easy to transport. The best feature is that it works great for the Stampin' Up! kit collection and extra Paper Pumpkin kits I sell at these retreats. It also fits perfectly in the little nook that's created when I set my two 6-foot tables in an "L" arrangement. Antique fairs and yard sales are great places to shop for display pieces, just keep in mind what you're looking for and you'll likely discover it!
Although the Stampin' Up! product line works great if you're trying to create conventional scrapbooking pages, I don't currently have any samples to show of completed scrapbook pages using our suites of product (it's on my list to create some for my next vendor event!) but I do share the Memories + More cards and how they work great for pocket scrapbooking, but also work great for cards and other crafty projects.
I offer a paid make + take when I vend that usually involves a past Paper Pumpkin kit refill. This makes prep really easy but it also gives me a great reason to talk about PP and share it with those who participate in the make + take project. I show the latest kit during my make + take demonstration, explain how the membership works and what's included in the kit, and normally mention an "Event Special" offering anyone who purchases a 3-month prepaid subscription receives a free stamp Shammy in the mail. I was even able to create a QR code online that takes the person directly to my shopping cart for this item to make shopping easy! I also have a basket with sample cards from past Paper Pumpkin kits, and the latest flyer with my contact info for ordering.
The grids shown in this photo were purchased on Amazon. They're photo display grids for the wall, however I just used white zip ties to connect them and I arrange them in a zig-zag pattern on my table. They are great for displaying handmade cards and the corresponding stamp set to show paper-crafters ideas for using a specific stamp set. As we know from experience, samples sell, so having lots of samples to inspire makes for a great display and will hopefully lead to catalog orders!! I also created a small display of Online Exclusive products for guests to see in person, hoping it would lead to online orders.
I purchased this ladder shelf on Wayfair a few years ago. I normally have in set up in my home studio with card samples and a basket of adhesives for sale during my card buffet event each month, but I also bring it to craft fairs and vendor fairs. This shelf folds relatively flat and it's easy to transport, but best of all, it adds height to my display. This creates a more interesting visual display and it uses vertical space rather than precious, limited table space. I normally use the narrow top shelf to collect sign up slips for my newsletter and offer a chance to win a prize, in this case the wreath project from the kit collection. (They'll win the kit, the finished project is just for display). The middle shelf highlights a relevant theme, in this case the Easter Bunny stamp set and punch, since Easter is a month away, and the bottom shelf has a tray that I set up with watercoloring supplies and samples, to show that stamping can be more than stamps and ink pads. On the table are JOIN flyers/folders with more information about the Demonstrator Opportunity.
One last close up I'd like to share are what I call my "business boards"... These are two framed cork boards that my husband added hinges to so they close like a book for transport and storage. I decorated them with some handmade graphics and a page from one of the catalogs that talks about the JOIN opportunity. I put a bin of catalogs near it and some flowers (or in the case of Spring, a nest) to draw people's attention to it--- the little paper party banner I created helps with that too! I also sell retired embellishments during scrapbook retreats, too, so I have a tray of those available.
I hope you've enjoyed the close-up look at my vendor set-up for Stampin' Up! I would love to know if this post was helpful to you and if you are inspired to try any of these ideas for your own vendor space. Please leave any comments or questions below in the COMMENTS area. I'd love to hear your thoughts!! ~ Kristine