Build a Craft Show Display for Baby Items with Me: Part 1

As a serial creator I often times have a slew of products I want to make but often times leave the displays as an afterthought and for last minute market prep.

This ends up leaving money on the table when it comes to sales.  We as makers should be designing, fixing, and upgrading our booth displays months before our market dates hit to ensure we're able to maximize our sales by bringing our entire look together.

With that being said, I'm going to take you a long on my journey of creating a new market booth display for my baby line.  In Part 1 of this blog post I'll give you a peek inside of my brain and show you how it processes designing a booth display.  In Part 2 I'll be taking pictures and showing you how it all actually comes together.

Step One: Products

First up, I need to know what products I'll be displaying.  I can't create a display if I don't know what will be on it right!?

In my baby line I have:

• handmade baby blankets
• baby hats
• burp cloths-sounds better than burp rags ;)

Step Two: Booth Space/Size

Next up, I need to know the size and type of space that I have to work with for designing a setup for my baby items.  For this I'm planning a smaller setup for a 10x10 booth or a 6'-8' table spot.

I will be using a pre-existing backdrop wall that I already have, my checkout stand and will work around those.  My backdrop walls are either 6' wide or 10' wide when they are put together so either will work in a 10x10 spot or a 6' table spot if need be.  I like to keep my setups versatile and flexible since markets can vary on their booth sizes.

Step Three: The Theme/Design

I already have my branding down for my creative biz so that will make it easier to create a new display instead of starting from scratch.  I will be working with colors, materials and textures I already use to create a cohesive look.  For this I'll be sticking with dark and light neutral colors for contrast, wood, and black metal.

Now I want to get my customers in the mood to buy baby gifts so I'm going to create a Pinterest worthy mini nursery with my booth design that also matches my branding.

Putting it All Together!

Blankets-

I already have a vintage mini crib, so I'll be using that to display/showcase my handmade blankets.  It's already painted black which fits my branding so I will leave it at that.  It also has a mattress but needs a crib sheet, so I'll sew one up quick once I find a good neutral fabric that will match my branding but also showcase the blanket colors well (I don't want it to clash them).

I'll drape one of the baby blankets over the crib to showcase it in use and will find something to use for a blanket ladder to set next to the crib propped up on my backdrop to display the rest of the blanket color options I have for sale.  I might borrow the one from our little one's room so I don't need to buy or build something new and will return it after the event.  I'm a huge fan of using what you already have.

As far as the rest of my blanket inventory I'm thinking of finding large bakery boxes (the ones with cellophane windows on them) to package my blankets to keep them safe but show off the color(s).  I will get some type of shelving that matches my branding to hold those to go in the booth as well (I'm thinking a tall bookshelf).

Then I will build/find some type of platform to raise up the mini crib to showcase it better since it does sit fairly low to the ground.

Baby Hats-

Next up we need a display for the baby hats.  I'll probably place a shelf above the crib to display the color options.  This will attach directly to my backdrop wall.  Then I'll use the extra shelving on the larger bookshelf to hold my backstock (all of the color and sizing options).  I'll use baskets that match my branding to organize and hold the backstock on the shelf.

Burp Cloths-

Again I will display one of each of the colors/prints I have available.  To do this I will hang them on my backdrop in a fashion that shows them well but also looks cute.  I'll place the rest of the inventory off the wall.  I'm still deciding what to use for that.

So there you have it!  A little peek inside of my brain and how I dream up a new display for my products.  Now it's time to dig through what I have on hand to make this all come together.  If there is a piece I'm missing I'll start searching for it to buy or research how to build it.

Stay tuned for Part Two where I'll take pictures of it all coming together!