Setting up a table or booth at public events can give you a lot of business exposure to a large number of people in a very short period of time. That's the good news. The caution is that not all shows are created equal! In addition, there can be a learning curve and some expenses in doing shows that you need to be aware of.

Equipment

The physical materials you need depend directly on the size of the event, the size of your space, whether it will be an inside or outside event, length of the show, and how often you plan to do shows.

Tables. Cosco tables are light, inexpensive, and come is a number of sizes, from 2'x4' up to 2.5'x8'. Before building custom items determine if you will be doing a lot of shows or not. More often than not, standard items will meet all of your needs. Always use covers, drapes, or table cloths on your table, never have them bare. This may sound like a no-brainer, but you WILL see people that do just that! A simple table cloth with seasonal top covers are eye-appealing and also inexpensive.

Shelves. Wood break-down shelves or the metal shelf units from Costco are wonderful items to use. Low cost, break down easily, and are sturdy enough to last for years. Just as for tables, cover the tops with seasonal and eye-pleasing covers so people do not see bare shelves and stock. On top of shelf units and table you can either build custom stair-step shelves or buy hard-board shelves like those sold at www.gershelbrothers.com. These may seem disposable but we have been using our set for four years now.

Credit Cards. If you do shows or parties on a regular basis, accepting credit card payment is a must. Check out the choices at Scent-Sations, especially the ProPay option.

Decorating. Depending on the length and type of show, adding carpet and signs is good advice. Some use inexpensive carpeting from inexpensive sources. Scent-Sations offers banners and the contracted printer has some very colorful and professional color posters on all of the product lines and recruiting. There are curently  a number of designs to choose from.

Inventory. This is the incalcuable topic with no perfect answer. Shep Kuester has been doing shows since 2001 with Mia Bella products. He has done small one table craft shows, church bazaars, swap meets, short specialty shows, county fairs, state fairs, and large home shows in 11 western states, some of these shows lasting up to 11 days with a 10'x10' booth costing as much as $2,000. A simple craft show table can go for as little as $10. Gage how much inventory you will take by the size, length, and emphasis of the event. You don't have to carry every product or every fragrance. It is highly recommended to have a sample bag in your booth.

Cost & Event Length

There is little risk when doing a small weekend bazaar. A table is $10 to $30 and they last one or two days. Equipment is minimal and you need very little inventory. This risk factor goes up as the size and length of the event goes up. As the venue gets bigger you will need more equipment and decorating to appeal to attendees. You will also need to think about time off from your job if you work, travel time, motels, food, booth costs, and inventory expenses. What if the weather turns bad and the event is poorly attended or cancelled? Can you afford that? If it is a lengthy or really busy event do you have the stamina to be on your feet for that length of time or do you need to bring in help? What happens if you or a member of your family gets sick?

As the costs, distance, and size of the event go up, so should your close evaluation to consider if this is a profitable risk for you or not. Shows, especially those that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, may sound wonderful, but can lead to serious financial hardship of you are not fully prepared.

With the negatives taken into consideration, shows of all sizes can be a lot of fun and very profitable. Shep & Jan love shows and still do a highly successful 5-day Christmas show in Puyallup, WA that attracts people by the bus-load from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. Shows and candle parties got their business off to a very successful start. We do not want to discourage anyone from doing shows. Not at al! What we want to do is make sure you think about all the aspects of shows before getting into them. try a simple small event to see if this is for you. If so, get on the circuit and start having fun. Some shows do well one year and lousy the next year, sometimes for no reason at all. One show in southern California brought in $1,000 one year and $10,000 the next.

Summary

If you prepare properly shows of any size can be enjoyable and can bring in new customers and business partners. Never forget that you are going to meet a lot of people at shows that are looking for other ways to make money. Make double sure that you introduce every visitor to your booth to the business. If you plan well, shows will serve you well.