Many people go to state fairs while they’re on vacation. But the fair never takes a vacation. When the rides are quiet and the midway is empty, the fairgrounds remain. They are maintained, governed, staffed, and waiting. Permanent buildings stand after the tents have folded and the crowds have gone home. The fair itself is not a pop-up. It’s an institution that has a … [Read more...] about The State Fair Never Takes a Vacation
Booth Business
Booth Vendors: Have You Done the Financial Math?
Link & Comment A useful reminder that booth fees are only the visible part of the equation. The real business question is whether your sales, margins, and average ticket can carry everything else that comes with showing up. One reason I wanted to flag this piece is that it gets at something many small vendors learn the hard way: a booth fee is not the cost of doing an … [Read more...] about Booth Vendors: Have You Done the Financial Math?
Is The Booth Economy Growing?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that it depends on which part of the booth economy you're talking about — because the booth economy is not one thing. It has three distinct modes of temporary commerce, each with its own dynamics, its own vendors, and its own relationship to growth. Understanding which mode you're looking at changes the picture entirely. It has … [Read more...] about Is The Booth Economy Growing?
Six Vendor And Booth Facebook Groups That You Might Find Helpful
If you sell at craft fairs, farmers markets, or pop-up events, you've probably already found your way into at least one Facebook group. There are dozens of them — some enormous, some tiny, some genuinely useful and some that will eat an hour of your day without giving much back. I can't guarantee that you'll want to be a regular on all six groups, but after you've checked … [Read more...] about Six Vendor And Booth Facebook Groups That You Might Find Helpful
The Gap Between Booth And Store Is Starting To Blur
Brick-and-mortar stores are showing up at fairs and festivals — and in many cases, out-boothing the original boothers. What that convergence reveals about how both formats are evolving. "Real retailers" didn't use to pay much attention to boothers — people they perceived as sellers of homemade preserves, baseball cards, and artwork made from discarded plumbing … [Read more...] about The Gap Between Booth And Store Is Starting To Blur