The craft vendor glossary

The vendor journey

Six stages, in the order they actually happen. Tap a stage to see the words you'll meet there.

Showing 87 of 87 terms

• Booth & Space

  10x10 space

  The most common booth size in North America. Ten feet wide by ten feet deep. Most display systems and canopies are designed around this footprint. Always confirm dimensions before designing your display.

• Application & Selection

  Accepted / declined / waitlisted

  The three possible outcomes of a juried application. Accepted means you're in, pending booth fee payment. Declined means the jury did not select you for this show. Waitlisted means you scored well enough to be considered if a spot opens.

• Event Day Logistics

  Anchor vendor

  A high-draw vendor (often a food vendor, well-known brand, or popular local maker) whose presence pulls more attendees. Sometimes featured in event marketing. Being near an anchor can lift your traffic.

• Application & Selection

  Application

  The form a vendor submits to request a space at a show. Typically asks for business name, vendor category, product photos, a short description, and the jury fee if applicable. Some shows use their own site; others use platforms like ZAPP or Juried Art Services.

• Event Types

  Art Fair / Art Festival

  A vendor event focused on fine art and fine craft. Application standards, jury rigor, and booth fees tend to be higher than at typical craft fairs. Many run over multiple days.

• Sales & Customers

  Average transaction value (ATV)

  The average dollar amount per sale. Total revenue divided by number of transactions. Higher ATV means selling more per customer, whether through higher-priced items or bundles. Useful for estimating revenue based on expected foot traffic.

• Setup & Display

  Backdrop

  A visual element at the back of your booth: fabric, printed banner, or display structure. A clean backdrop makes products stand out and the booth look intentional.

• Setup & Display

  Banner / signage

  Printed materials that communicate your business name, brand, and what you sell. Helps shoppers find you and clock your category at a glance. Also helps repeat customers locate you across a crowded floor.

• Application & Selection

  Blind jury

  A jury process where reviewers see only your photos and statement, not your name or identifying details. The intent is to reduce bias. Increasingly common at competitive events.

• Booth & Space

  Booth / Vendor space

  The physical area assigned to you at an event. Booth, space, and spot are used interchangeably. Your fee covers the right to use it for the duration of the show.

• Fees & Financial

  Booth fee

  The cost to rent your vendor space. A small community fair might charge $25 to $75; a regional art festival might charge $300 to $600 or more. Covers the space only. Does not guarantee sales, and is typically non-refundable.

• Booth & Space

  Booth share

  Two vendors splitting one booth and the fee. Some shows allow it; many don't. If you're considering it, confirm before applying. Dividing space fairly and keeping the display cohesive takes planning.

• Post-Event

  Break-even

  The point at which revenue covers your costs: booth fee, jury fee, travel, materials, time. Not breaking even isn't a failure for a new show or product line. Losing money repeatedly at the same show is useful information.

• Products

  Buy/sell

  The practice of purchasing mass-produced or imported goods and reselling them as if handmade. Most juried craft fairs explicitly prohibit it. Worth knowing because buy/sell vendors at lower-quality shows erode customer trust.

• Setup & Display

  Canopy / pop-up tent

  The structure that defines your booth at outdoor shows. Most shows require one and require it to be weighted. Entry-level canopies run $100 to $200; commercial-grade options run $400+. The quality difference matters in heat and rain.

• Payments & Tech

  Card reader

  A small device that connects to your phone or tablet to accept credit and debit payments. Square, Stripe, and SumUp are the most commonly used. Connects via Bluetooth or plugs in directly.

• Payments & Tech

  Cash float

  The cash you bring to make change. A typical starting float is $100 to $200 in small bills and coins. Even mostly-card shows have cash customers. Running out of change mid-show is an avoidable problem.

• Fees & Financial

  Commission

  A percentage of your sales paid to the organizer, instead of or in addition to a flat booth fee. Less common at standard craft fairs but appears at consignment-style pop-ups and some boutique markets. Typical range: 15% to 30%.

• Fees & Financial

  Consignment

  An arrangement where you leave goods with a shop or host to sell on your behalf, then receive a share when items sell. A typical split is 60% to the maker and 40% to the shop, though it varies. Different from selling at a craft fair.

• Sales & Customers

  Conversion rate

  The percentage of shoppers who stop at your booth and actually buy. If 50 stop and 5 buy, that's 10%. Tracking it (even roughly) tells you whether your pricing, display, or product mix is working.

• Booth & Space

  Corner booth

  A booth at the end of a row, with two sides open to aisles. More visibility and approach angles than an inline. Costs more than standard inline spaces and goes quickly.

• Event Types

  Craft Fair / Craft Show

  An event where vendors sell handmade goods directly to the public. The terms are used interchangeably. Neither implies anything specific about quality standards or whether the show is juried.

• Sales & Customers

  Custom order

  A product made to a customer's specifications, ordered at the show and completed later. Managing these well, with clear timelines and deposits, is its own skill.

• Fees & Financial

  Day rate

  A daily fee for a recurring market, like a farmers market, where you pay per day instead of a single-event booth fee. Makes it easier to test a market before committing to a full season.

• Products

  Demo piece

  A product used in your booth for demonstration or display that is not for sale, or a prototype. Work-in-progress pieces draw attention and start conversations.

• Fees & Financial

  Deposit

  An upfront payment required to secure your space after acceptance, separate from the full booth fee. Sometimes applied toward the total; sometimes a separate charge. Refundability should be spelled out in your vendor agreement.

• Fees & Financial

  Direct sales

  Selling directly to the customer at the event, with all revenue going to you. The standard arrangement at most craft fairs. You collect payment, you keep the money. The alternative is consignment.

• Booth & Space

  Double booth

  Two adjacent booth spaces giving you a 10x20 footprint. Useful for a large product line or live demos. Roughly twice the standard fee, and you need a setup that can fill the space.

• Event Day Logistics

  Early breakdown

  Packing up before the show officially closes. Most shows explicitly prohibit it. It creates a visual gap, disrupts traffic flow for neighbors, and signals shoppers that the show is over. Shows can ban repeat offenders.

• Booth & Space

  End cap

  A booth at the end of a row with the front and both sides open. Larger than a corner booth (typically 10x20) and pricier. More common at large art festivals than community craft fairs.

• Event Day Logistics

  Event organizer

  The person or group running the event and your point of contact for everything from application to setup to event-day issues. A good organizer communicates clearly. An absent organizer is its own kind of problem.

• Event Types

  Farmers Market

  A recurring outdoor or indoor market for agricultural products, prepared foods, and often handmade goods. Operates on a schedule rather than as a one-time event. Craft vendors typically rent a recurring space for a season or part of one.

• Products

  Fine art

  Artwork that's primarily decorative or expressive, typically one-of-a-kind. Paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures. Fine art shows apply stricter jury standards and command higher booth fees.

• Products

  Fine craft

  Handmade functional or decorative objects made with high skill: ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, woodwork, fiber arts. Distinct from commercial craft in its emphasis on craftsmanship, design, and the maker's individual voice.

• Event Types

  Flea Market

  An open-air market with a mix of vintage goods, antiques, secondhand items, and sometimes new merchandise. Standards for handmade work are not typically enforced. Customer mix and price expectations differ from craft fairs.

• Event Day Logistics

  Floor plan

  The layout of the event showing where each vendor is assigned. Some shows share it in advance; others assign on arrival. Knowing your placement early helps you plan for corner versus inline dynamics and traffic patterns.

• Event Day Logistics

  Foot traffic

  The number of people moving through the event. More foot traffic generally means more potential customers, but it isn't the only variable. A small well-targeted event can outperform a large unfocused one.

• Setup & Display

  Grid wall

  A coated wire mesh panel used to hang products with hooks and create vertical display surfaces. Lightweight, modular, and a go-to for jewelry vendors and makers with smaller products.

• Products

  Handmade

  Made by the vendor by hand, with skill and effort rather than mass manufacturing. What counts as handmade can be nuanced: vinyl cutters, laser cutters, and commercial printing may or may not qualify depending on the show.

• Event Types

  Holiday Market

  A seasonal vendor event held in fall or winter, focused on gift-giving merchandise. Often runs over multiple days or weekends. Foot traffic tends to spike in the lead-up to December.

• Products

  Import items

  Products made outside the country by someone other than the vendor. Fine art shows typically prohibit imports. Some shows allow them with clear disclosure; most juried shows don't.

• Sales & Customers

  Impulse buy

  A purchase made quickly, without much deliberation. Low-priced items near the front of your booth tend to drive these. A few impulse-priced products ($10 to $20) give hesitant shoppers an easy entry point.

• Event Types

  Indoor Show

  A show held inside a community center, convention hall, school gym, or similar venue. Weather-protected, which matters for delicate products. Power usually requires an advance request.

• Booth & Space

  Inline booth

  The standard configuration. One side opens to the aisle; the back sits against another vendor's back. Most booths at most shows are inline.

• Application & Selection

  Invitation-only show

  A show that does not accept open applications. Vendors are invited directly by the organizer, often based on past participation, reputation, or relationship. Common at high-end art fairs and boutique markets.

• Payments & Tech

  Invoice

  A formal request for payment, typically sent after the fact. Relevant for custom orders placed at a show and paid later, or for wholesale inquiries that come out of event conversations.

• Booth & Space

  Island booth

  A booth accessible from all four sides. Common at larger shows and typically used by vendors with substantial displays. Maximum visibility, maximum traffic flow.

• Event Types

  Juried show

  A show where applicants are reviewed and scored by a jury before being accepted. The process is how shows maintain quality standards and control the mix of vendor categories. Being juried doesn't guarantee high quality, but it means selection is happening.

• Application & Selection

  Jury / Jury process

  The review used by juried shows to select vendors. A panel scores each application on quality, originality, and fit with the show's mission. High scores get in; others are declined or waitlisted.

• Application & Selection

  Jury fee

  A non-refundable fee paid when submitting an application to a juried show. Typically $15 to $50. It covers the cost of review and is owed whether or not you get in. Worth knowing before you apply to a dozen shows in one sitting.

• Application & Selection

  Jury score

  The numerical score the jury assigns your application. Some shows share scores after decisions; most don't. When available, scores help you understand where your application is landing.

• Sales & Customers

  Live demo

  Showing your process at the booth: throwing pottery, screen printing, embroidering, assembling jewelry. Demos draw attention and explain handmade value. They also take your hands away from transactions, so a helper matters.

• Event Day Logistics

  Load-in / setup window

  The block of time before the show opens when vendors can bring in product, set up displays, and get ready. Arriving late can mean vehicle restrictions, less help from organizers, and a scramble before doors open.

• Event Day Logistics

  Load-out / breakdown / strike

  The period after the show closes when vendors pack up and clear out. "Strike" is more common at art festivals and larger shows. How smoothly load-out runs is a real test of how an event is organized.

• Event Types

  Maker's Market

  A vendor event positioned around handmade and DIY culture. The label is a branding choice meant to signal a certain aesthetic. Tends to skew younger in both vendor and customer demographics.

• Event Types

  Multi-Day Show

  A show running over more than one day. You either pack up each night or rely on overnight security. More potential revenue, but more time, energy, and sometimes lodging.

• Event Day Logistics

  No-show

  An accepted vendor who doesn't appear and doesn't notify the organizer. Disrupts layout, leaves gaps on the floor, and tends to result in permanent bans. If you can't make a show, contact the organizer as early as possible.

• Event Types

  Non-juried show

  A show with no formal selection process. Any vendor who applies, fits a category, and pays the fee is accepted. More accessible, but quality and customer expectations vary widely.

• Products

  One-of-a-kind (OOAK)

  A product that exists as a single unique piece. OOAK items can command higher prices and carry stronger appeal with serious collectors. Shows sometimes ask what percentage of your work is OOAK versus production.

• Products

  Original work

  Work created by the vendor applying to the show. You designed it, you made it. Shows requiring original work typically prohibit reselling, importing, or reproducing someone else's designs.

• Event Types

  Outdoor Show

  A show held outside, with all the weather variables that introduces: wind, rain, heat, sun. Canopy weight rules are standard for safety reasons.

• Setup & Display

  Pegboard

  A perforated hardboard panel used with hooks to organize and display products. More rigid than grid wall. Common for tools, accessories, and any product that benefits from individual display.

• Event Types

  Pop-Up Market / Pop-Up Shop

  A short-term market or solo vendor setup, often in a non-traditional location: a parking lot, brewery, gallery, or boutique. Shorter and less formal than a traditional craft fair.

• Payments & Tech

  POS

  Point of sale. Your full payment setup: card reader, software, and the device it runs on. A POS can track transactions, issue receipts, and sometimes help with basic inventory.

• Post-Event

  Post-event review

  A structured review after the event. What sold, what didn't, what foot traffic felt like, what you'd do differently. Vendors who do this consistently improve faster than those who pack up and move on.

• Products

  Price point

  Where a product sits on the price spectrum: low, mid, or high. A spread of price points helps convert more types of shoppers, from someone grabbing a small gift under $20 to someone investing in a statement piece.

• Setup & Display

  Price tags

  Labels on individual products showing the price. Visible pricing reduces "how much is this?" interruptions and helps shoppers decide without flagging you down. At busy shows, that matters more than it sounds.

• Products

  Production work

  Work made in multiples, often using jigs, molds, or templates. Not disqualifying on its own; most working makers produce some. Matters for how you describe and price your work in applications.

• Payments & Tech

  QR code payment

  Customer scans a QR code to complete payment via Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and others. A useful supplement, but not a replacement for a card reader at events where speed matters.

• Event Day Logistics

  Rain day / rain policy

  The show's policy on what happens when weather makes the event unworkable. Some shows have rain dates, some issue partial refunds, many do not refund at all. Always read this before paying for an outdoor event.

• Sales & Customers

  Return policy

  Your policy on exchanges or refunds. Most craft vendors sell final sale. Being clear about it at the point of sale, verbally and with signage, avoids uncomfortable conversations after the fact.

• Application & Selection

  Returning vendor

  A vendor who has participated in a previous year or season. Many shows give returning vendors early application access, lower fees, or priority placement. Building a track record at shows you like is genuinely worth doing.

• Post-Event

  Revenue per show

  Your gross sales for a single event, before expenses. Tracked across shows, it tells you which events are actually worth your time and which look good on paper but underperform.

• Application & Selection

  Rolling jury

  A jury that reviews applications as they come in, rather than all at once after the deadline. Spots fill continuously, so applying early gives you a real edge. Some categories close before the deadline.

• Post-Event

  Sell-through rate

  The percentage of inventory that sold. If you brought 80 items and sold 52, that's 65%. A high rate suggests inventory and pricing matched the audience. A low rate is information about the show, the mix, the price points, or all three.

• Event Day Logistics

  Show hours

  The official hours the event is open to the public. Your vendor agreement specifies these, and you're expected to be in your booth and actively selling for the full duration.

• Post-Event

  Show notes

  Notes taken during or right after an event: what worked, what didn't, customer feedback, observations about the show. The details blur quickly. Writing it down while it's fresh is worth ten minutes.

• Setup & Display

  Sidewalls

  Panels that attach to your canopy to enclose the sides and back. Useful for weather protection and creating a more contained display. Some shows require or restrict them, so check the rules.

• Setup & Display

  Tablecloth

  Fabric covering your display table, typically to the floor. Hides storage and gives the display a cleaner look. Sounds minor until you're at a show with an ugly folding table and nowhere to hide your inventory.

• Payments & Tech

  Tap to pay

  Accepting payment via card tap or phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay) instead of chip insert or swipe. Newer card readers support it natively, and some phones can accept tap-to-pay using their NFC chip without extra hardware.

• Setup & Display

  Tent weights

  Ballast attached to each leg of your canopy to keep it from becoming a sail. Most shows require 25 to 40 pounds per leg. Not optional. Shows can ask you to take down an improperly weighted tent.

• Payments & Tech

  Transaction fee

  What your processor charges per sale. Square's standard in-person rate is 2.6% + 10 cents. SumUp charges 2.75%. These are a real line item in event costs and worth factoring into pricing.

• Event Types

  Trunk Show

  An event, often hosted at a retail store or boutique, where one or more makers sell from their inventory for a defined period. The host provides the location and traffic. Some involve a commission split with the host.

• Sales & Customers

  Upsell / bundle

  Encouraging an existing customer to add something else (upsell) or offering a discount on a combination (bundle). A simple "two for $30 when each is $18" can meaningfully lift average transaction value.

• Application & Selection

  Vendor category

  The classification that defines what type of products you sell. Categories are how organizers manage the vendor mix and avoid oversaturation. Applying in the right one matters: the jury evaluates your work in context of the category.

• Setup & Display

  Vertical display

  Using height in your booth to display products at multiple eye levels. Pulls shoppers' eyes up and makes the booth visible from further away. Flat, table-only displays are harder to find from a distance.

• Application & Selection

  Waitlist

  A holding list for vendors who weren't accepted in the first round but may be offered a space if someone cancels. Not a rejection. Worth asking the organizer how often they actually move through the list for your category.