The Various types of Vendors and Artisans

 The variety of vendors and artists/artisans out there is as limitless as the variety of goods to be sold. If it can be made, found, grown, or built - someone is selling it! For our purposes vendors can be categorized in three main groups:

1. Artists / Crafters

2. Food Merchants

3. Re-sellers

 There are multiple sub-groups and cross-overs, but let's keep it simple.

Public domain. Photo by A. E. Crane

  Let's look at the first group, the artists and craftspersons. These are the people almost everyone thinks of when you say "Arts & Crafts Fair" - of course they are because this is what that venue is all about; hand made and original works of art, jewelry, crafts and other merchandise. One-of-a-kind items you cannot buy at the local mega-store . Their wares cover the broad spectrum from beaded earrings to soaps, from quilts to handcrafted birch log settee's and everything imaginable in between. They make their own goods and they market them from booths they man themselves. They generally prefer to be referred to as "artisans" or "crafters" rather than "vendors."

 The sub-set here is "Artists." These are the fine arts purveyors. They are at the upper end of the spectrum and generally only do the more upscale Fine Arts Shows although there are exceptions. They usually have a very dedicated following of collectors.

 The second group is the Food Merchants.  They do not mind being called "vendors." I love these guys. Here we find a few categories within the category. There are pre-made merchants; they make their product ahead of time and sell it on-site. Candy vendors. Jerky, hot sauce, ice cream, pickles. You name it. They also include the franchise folks. Pizza Hut, Pepsi, Quiznos, etc.

 The other category is the cook-on-site crowd. These guys grill ribs, dogs and burgers.  They cook teriyaki chicken, kabobs, noodles and pulled pork. They can add a tremendous appeal to an outdoor show. Mmm, just smell that? Nothing like it.  I was one of them; I made, baked and sold fresh sourdough bread and other baked goods on-site. I did Philly CheeseSteaks for a time, too. Sold out nearly every day.

 Sidelines for all food vendors can include their own varieties of marinades, BBQ sauce and herb or spice mixtures. A good show will feature a food court with a good balance of food vendors. Food vendors typically will pay more for their space. They also have unique needs and requirements such as water, electric, more space for tables, supply trailers, etc.

Take care of these guys. They keep your customers from leaving site to find lunch. Once they leave they will not usually come back. Happy well-fed customers buy more, which makes happy, well-fed artisans and crafters!

 Love and treat your food vendors as the assets they are.

 The third group is the re-sellers. They sell stuff they have purchased. They did not make it themselves. This runs the gamut from rubber swords to T-shirts and sunglasses, day-glo hats and printed blankets. You name it, they are probably selling it.

 These vendors have their place. It is up to you to decide if that place is your show.

 I do not believe they are appropriate in a show billed as an Arts & Crafts Fair. If you promote your show as a bazaar or flea market, fine. If it is a state or county fair, fine.

But what they sell is neither an art nor a craft and as such has no place in such a show. It is also worth noting that there are re-sellers out there who are actually selling hand-made crafts. They buy them in huge lots and re-sell them. I am not a fan of this approach, either. My rule is if you yourself did not make it with your own hands - you cannot sell it at my Crafts Show.

You will find that your customers - the buying public - greatly appreciate that.  When they see an arts and crafts fair advertised they have an expectation - a perfectly reasonable one! - that the goods offered for sale will in fact BE arts and crafts. Items made locally, not imported from Honduras or China. They are coming to find unique hand-crafted items, not mass-produced ones. The vendors also appreciate it, too. Not just the genuine craftspeople but also the re-sellers themselves. They know when they are out of place at a show and they do not appreciate it. I know, I was one of them once, too. I do not look down on them, they definitely have their place. At the right type of show.

So do everyone a favor and decide early on what sort of show you are producing, plan a theme and set a tone for your show and adhere to it strictly. You will have far, far more successful shows if you do.