160 Things to Bring Along to your Events

Product/Packing Related:

• All merchandise clearly priced (best done, before the show)
• Any product information signs necessary
• Boxes for purchases
• Customer bags
• Extra price tags
• Hang tags & care instructions (as required)/ Price Tags
• Inventory list/prices
• String
• Tissue or newspaper for fragile items

Literature:

• Booth signs
• Brochures
• Business cards and holder
• Catalogs
• Company name sign
• Flyers
• Invitations to other shows/exhibits of your works
• Media folder (in case of interview at show)
• Portfolio
• Referral sign - where else can they find your work
• Retail order forms/price list
• Show schedule to use as a bag stuffer & handouts
• Special order forms - 2 part
• Wholesale and/or retail special order forms
• Wholesale order forms/price list

Office Supply Kit:

• Clipboard and writing pad or notebook
• Paper clips
• Paper or index cards
• Paper weight
• Pens and pencils - red one for mark downs
• Push pins & extra tacks
• Rubber bands
• Safety and/or straight pins
• Scissors
• Stapler and staples
• Tape - scotch, masking, duct, packing

Sales Related:

• 800 authorization number for credit card authorization
• Calculator
• Cash box with change, ones, fives & tens or
• Cash register & battery pack
• Cell phone
• Charge/credit slips
• Credit card equipment (if you offer it)
• Laptop
• Receipt book/sales book
• Sales tax chart

Miscellaneous:

• Clear Paper Protector to hold the following:
• Copy of your sales tax certificate of authority to hang in your booth
• Correspondence with the promoter - directions, rules, regulations, phone notes, copy of canceled check, etc.
• Copy of application with date sent and check number
• Any notes about the show - pros or cons
• Guest book- to develop a mailing list
• 3 Ring binder with all your show information in chronological order - this is great for sharing with other crafters
• Rolling drawer unit to keep all office/sales/literature materials in; it's easily accessible and you never have to unpack
• Tablet to record sales and mileage
• Copy of this checklist

For Displays:

Tool Kit:

• Glue for repairs - Elmer's, super glue, tacky
• Hammer (to pound in spikes)
• Hot glue gun
• Knife
• Nails
• Needle nose pliers
• Pliers
• Screwdriver
• Tacks
• Tape measure
• Touch up paintbrush
• Wire cutters
• Wrench

Display Props:

• Carpeting or floor covering for size of booth
• Chairs or stool with a back on it
• Display aids
• Backdrop
• Folding screens
• Grid displays
• Pegboard and hooks
• Plate display stands
• Racks
• Risers
• Shelves
• Wall units
• Fabric draping for riser or shelf coverings
• Folding tables
• Music and tape player
• Table clothes (clean & pressed) - to ground level
• Tables

Display Hardware:

• "C" Clamps (to secure a screen to a tabletop or sheeting to tent in case of rain
• Bungee cords if you're outdoors
• Canopy or tent & supplies
• Extra weights or spikes
• Fishing line (invisible hangers)
• Opaque sheeting or drop clothes to cover display at overnight shows
• Plastic tarps or sheeting in case of rain or overnight
• Shims for table legs
• Side-walls or tarps for overnight
• Tape gun
• Tie down ropes
• Twist ties
• Weights for holding display and tent down in the wind
• Wire

Lighting:

• 3 or 4 extension cords- different lengths
• 3-to-2 adapters
• Clip-on lights
• Duct tape to tape the cord to the floor
• Extension cord at least 50'
• Extra 40-60 watt light bulbs
• Flashlight
• Lamps
• Multi-plug outlets
• Power strip

Cleaning Supplies:

• Clean cloth rags
• Garbage bags
• Glass cleaner
• Other cleaners
• Paper towels
• Small hand vacuum
• Small trash can

Demonstrating:

• All materials/supplies for making your craft
• All tools needed
• Apron
• Candy or cookies for shoppers and children
• Free samples

Miscellaneous:

• Baggies
• Clothespins
• Dolly or cart to transport stock to your booth

For Personal Comfort:

Clothing:

• Change of clothes- anything can happen
• Change of shoes
• Extra socks
• Inner soles for shoes

Food:

• Cooler with drinks & food
• Frozen bottle of water or juice
• Gallon jugs of water can double as weights
• High energy foods and juices
• Napkins
• Paper plates
• Plastic utensils
• Simple food - like crackers or cut-up vegetables that won't be a mess
• Thermal mug
• Thermos
• Water bottle

Weather related

Health related:

Appearance/Hygiene:

Miscellaneous: