The 2015 International Gift Show in Atlanta

One of my regular jobs is as a production assistant for local jewelry designer Freshie and Zero. Three days a week, I hammer, shape, bend, and wrap to help create this lovely line of jewelry.

The biggest gift show in the world takes place in Atlanta, about 250 miles from Nashville. I've been assisting Freshie with her booth in the Boutique section for a couple of years now, and it's always an inspiration to see how she displays her wares. 

If you're a maker, whether you're on the craft fair circuit or have a thriving wholesale business, your display can have a huge impact on your sales. Below are a few suggestions for making your booth as engaging as it can be.

Choose colors that are eye-catching but not overwhelming

Freshie and Zero items are dainty, so potential buyers need to be drawn in with some punch. Freshie has chosen a palette of mint, gray, and pink to add some color to her booth. The decor she has chosen corresponds with her website and her packaging. 

The booth! It's such a fun, cheerful environment. Note the use of bunting, flowers, and small accessories to incorporate color into an otherwise neutral line.

Mint is incorporated on the tags with the item information, as well as in the ampersand on the letterpress earring cards and hangtags.

Invest in professional photography

One of the reasons the booth looks so good is because all of the images are taken by professionals. Jewelry is challenging to photograph, but the vignettes that were taken show the details of her work, while the photographs with models showcase the scale of the pieces.

The photos and displays at different heights keep the buyers' eyes moving throughout the booth. The better the booth flows, the easier it is for potential buyers to say "Sold!" and for existing customers to reorder.

Take the guesswork out of it

I don't know how many vendors there are at the gift show, but it is in the thousands. Three buildings, each with over ten floors, make up the show, and it lasts for four and a half days. Many buyers plan out what to see, but everyone hits a point of sensory overload. Making new items easy to find is key, especially for existing customers who are familiar with the line.

The stars indicate new items. Grouping them together in this creative display makes it easy to shop.

Another great way to entice buyers to choose your line is to have a pre-selected package. Freshie has two different packages: the best-sellers, and the best-selling earrings. She always offers some sort of show incentive with them, as well. This works in two ways: it takes the pressure of decision-making off of the customer who is bleary-eyed from shopping, and it also puts the top sellers in one place so people who do want to create their own order have one place to look for the best-performing pieces.

The best-seller package is the main focus of the booth. Everything is here: the logo, booth number, the package of top-selling items, and beautiful photography.

The earring package is at the front of the booth in a highly visible but sleek display. Paired with bright flowers, it encouraged many people to enter the booth and get information about the line.

Do you have a story? Tell it!
People love a good story, and incorporating items with meaning into your line is a great way to engage new customers. Displaying her Sentimental Notions as a collection on the wall, Freshie has made it easy for buyers to choose which pieces best represent their customers.

Each item from Sentimental Notions collection comes with it's own meaning card, which acts as both a display tool and a little bonus for the customer.

These are just a few observations I've made over the years of seeing the booth of Freshie and Zero update and upgrade. Freshie often has other vendors ask for tips on how to make their booths more attractive, and buyers often take photos of her displays to get ideas for their stores.

Freshie's displays are exemplary: the pops of color are engaging, and each item has it's own space in the display, keeping it from looking crowded or junky.

What does your booth look like? If you have any other suggestions, please share them in the comments!