How to Choose the Right Craft Fair or Pop-Up Market

When I first started selling my work, I didn’t really know how to choose the right craft fair or vendor market. One of the first events I tried seemed promising—the application was simple, and the booth fee was reasonable.

But on the day of the market, it quickly became clear that nothing was organized. Vendors didn’t know where to set up, the organizer was late, and there was no signage, marketing, or effort to draw in shoppers. As the hours passed, very few customers showed up, and some vendors packed up and left early.

That experience completely changed how I approach craft fairs and pop-up markets. Over time, I learned from experienced artisans which questions to ask before committing to an event. Using that knowledge, I developed an evaluation tool designed to help makers assess events thoughtfully and make informed decisions.

Artisan Event Evaluation Tool

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What the Craft Market Evaluation Tool does?

• Whether the event is aligned with your business goals

• How strong the organizer’s marketing and promotion efforts are

• The quality of expected foot traffic, including buyer intent

• Event organization factors like communication, layout, and professionalism

• Total cost versus potential return, including booth fees, time, travel, and preparation

The tool is designed as a first-pass evaluation to help makers slow down, compare events more objectively, and make informed decisions before committing time and resources. Note: A high score doesn’t guarantee success, and a lower score doesn’t mean you should automatically skip it.  Use this as a starting point for deeper research and considerations

Market Event Red Flags

• Little to no evidence of real advertising, such as paid ads or local partnerships

• Promotion depends almost entirely on vendors sharing the event themselves

• Pressure to sign up for multiple dates before a single event has been proven

• No clear minimum standards or juried process to assess vendors

• Oversaturation of similar vendor categories with limited curation

• Vague or delayed communication around logistics, layout, or expectations

Conclusion

Choosing the right craft fair or pop-up event isn’t about finding the cheapest booth or saying yes to every opportunity. It’s about understanding how an event is organized, promoted, and positioned, and whether it truly aligns with your goals as a maker.

Experience will always be your best teacher, but a thoughtful evaluation upfront can help you avoid costly mistakes and make confident decisions. Taking the time to ask better questions before applying can save you time, energy, and resources; while helping you focus on events that really matter.