{"id":30095,"date":"2026-10-12T18:39:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avery.com\/blog\/?p=30095"},"modified":"2026-10-19T18:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T01:48:43","slug":"craft-fair-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.avery.com\/blog\/craft-fair-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"First Holiday Craft Fair? My Best Advice After 10 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spoiler: You need different craft fair ideas for holiday markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I wish I had an easier answer for you, but selling at craft fairs is one thing and selling at holiday craft fairs is a whole different animal. Of course, I didn’t learn all of this in one go. In fact, I’ll admit that I had my vendor booth ideas<\/a> worked out several years before I figured out Christmas markets. But after a decade of selling my handmade creations, I’ve learned that the best craft fair ideas need a different approach during the holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, I’ll give you my best ideas and advice for selling at your first holiday craft fair so you can skip past the beginner mistakes I made. At the end, I\u2019ll also share the three low-lift additions I think give you the most bang for your buck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I prepare for my first holiday market?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For your first holiday market, there are three things you need to be ready for: more foot traffic, people looking for gifts, and people there for the vibes<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Smiling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And I’m not joking about the vibes. The festive experience is part of the draw, so you’ll need to prepare to add to the atmosphere or risk being overlooked. With this in mind, when I want my booth to feel like it belongs, I focus 30% on festive decor and 70% on a cheerful attitude. The other big difference is that holiday markets bring heavier foot traffic and more people shopping for gifts. That affects how much inventory I bring, which products I choose, and how I package them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much inventory should I bring to a holiday market?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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For a holiday market, I recommend bringing enough inventory to fill your booth display at least twice, and ideally three times. As products sell, restock your displays so your booth continues to look full and inviting throughout the event.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The goal is to have enough product to keep your booth looking full while giving shoppers plenty of giftable options. No one gravitates to a sad-looking table that looks like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. If that’s all you take away from this article, you’ll be miles ahead of other holiday market newbies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this is your first time selling anywhere and making inventory is expensive or time-consuming, aim for at least two full displays\u2019 worth of products. You might have an awesome event and sell through most of it. That’s great because you\u2019ll have enough products to keep selling instead of spending half the day behind an empty table. Sales might be slower than expected. That’s okay too because now you’re already started on stocking your next event. No starting from scratch for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I choose which products to sell at a holiday market?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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I choose what to bring to a holiday market based on two things: giftability and product mix.<\/strong> I bring plenty of proven sellers, a small collection of seasonal products, and gift bundles. I also bring products at a range of price points, from low-cost add-ons to higher-priced items.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Yes, a single well-thought-out holiday collection can draw eyes and snag sales. But if you only stock Christmas stuff, anything left over has a very short selling window. It’s also much easer to prepare 2-3 displays’ worth of merchandise when it’s a mix of seasonal goodies and products you can sell year-round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my best craft fair ideas might seem counterintuitive: don’t skip older or slower-moving inventory. It\u2019s good table filler toward the end of a market, and there are a couple of ways to give it new value during the holiday season. Here’s one great craft fair idea: do you have small items that didn\u2019t sell particularly well on their own? Guess what, that\u2019s now a \u201cfree with purchases of $50 or more\u201d promo. Bundling items that might not have sold otherwise, is another great idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What type of packaging works best for holiday market purchases?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In my experience, most holiday market packaging only needs to do two things: protect the product and make it easy to carry. The exception is gift sets and bundles, where special holiday packaging can add the most value.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

My advice is to focus on high-impact details and avoid what I call “but it looks good” traps. Christmas-themed shopping bags are one of those detail traps. By the time someone gets one, you\u2019ve already made the sale. Instead, focus on sturdy packaging that protects fragile items and simple shopping bags, so they aren\u2019t juggling a box around the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those evergreen products that haven’t sold as well as you expected? That’s where holiday packaging can really turn things around. Take a look and see how you can bundle them together into gift sets. Products that go together, some Christmas-themed labels<\/a> or a holiday tag, and voil\u00e0\u2014you\u2019ve added value. Those are the packaging details I\u2019d invest in because they directly impact whether or not something sells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Holiday<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How can I keep holiday market packaging on brand?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Keep the core of your brand recognizable, then choose one or two branded elements to make seasonal.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For example, my logo is a simple black-and-white owl that I sometimes pair with a floral wreath. To make it seasonal, I simply swap the usual flowers for poinsettias and Christmas greenery. The rest of the design stays the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But you don\u2019t even have to do that much. Tags are one of my favorite craft fair ideas that make regular products feel seasonal.<\/strong> Keep your usual branded product label or price tag, then tie on a Christmas gift tag. If the item doesn\u2019t sell, remove the tag and reuse it on another product\u2014or save it for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If design isn\u2019t your thing, this approach is especially easy. Start with a Christmas gift tag template<\/a> you like, personalize the text, maybe add your logo. Then just let your regular branding do the heavy lifting. The tag can add that festive layer without needing to match every color, font, or detail of your brand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How to Make Gift Tags: Easy Tips for DIY Success<\/a><\/blockquote>