Need gear? It can be tough to decide what to get and where to get it from. If you’re striking out locally your best bet may be to shop online for your basic supplies. Here’s a shopping list to get you started. If you’ve found a great deal online on some craft show must-haves, post them in the comments!
Canopy Tent
This is one of the biggest investments in your setup, so choose wisely.
Some shows require a white tent and while you may not be doing any of those specifically white is generally the way to go. No matter what you do with your branding your white tent will match. Stay away from anything that looks like it belongs at the beach – it’ll make your booth look odd and out of place.
Check to see if the tent you’re buying has removable sidewalls. If it doesn’t, bring a few clear shower curtains and clothespins along with you (a tip we got from Crystal J) to use in case of rain. They’re cheap, small, and come in extremely handy in the event of bad weather. You can pick one up on Amazon
If you can’t find a tent locally, Amazon.com has some nice white ones for under $120 including shipping, but we haven’t tested them out. If anyone has tried this particular tent, leave us a comment!
Tables
Tables are available in a dizzying array of shapes, sizes, and materials. What’s best for you will depend on the type of shows you do, what you’re selling, and how you plan to transport it all.
For vendors who don’t have a lot of cargo space, center-folding tables are a great option. These tables fold in half for easy transport and storage.
Consider what size tables you want. Indoor shows tend to have a little less space, so one 6′ or 8′ table should do the trick. Outdoor shows give you more room to set up your “store” so you may prefer two or three 4′ tables to one big one, arranged however you see fit.
Inexpensive camping tables will work for light use, but tend to warp and look uneven at the seam with extended use. Look for tables made of resin. They’ll cost more but will last much longer.
Here are a few to get you started:
6′ Resin Center Fold Table
5′ Coleman Center Fold Table
If you’ve got the room, a table without a center seam will be more durable than hinged ones – it has one less moving part to break. Again if you’re planning on doing a lot of shows look for resin tables – they’re lightweight and durable. Particle board and vinyl tables are inexpensive, but a bit heavier and the vinyl tends to get torn up over time.
A few basic models are available at Amazon, but you may prefer to shop locally to get a feel for the dimensions of the tables.
4′ Plastic/Resin Folding Table
4′ Particle Board / Vinyl Folding Table
Bed Risers
Raising your table up a few inches can give your booth a visual boost. Bed risers are an inexpensive solution. They’re sold at most stores that carry linens, or you can pick them up online. Look for risers that will stack within themselves for travel.
Make sure your tablecloth is big enough to compensate for the extra few inches! Don’t let your table look like it’s preparing for a flood.
If you’ve found a craft-show must have at a great price, let us know in the comments!
