If you want to make more money at your next art market, I’ll show you 6 simple hacks that will help you get more bang for your bucks.
After years of selling my wildlife art at street and art markets, I’ve learned that small improvements often have the biggest impact. You don’t need to overhaul your whole setup. You just need to remove the little barriers that stop people buying.
Let’s jump right in.
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Choose an Art Market Corner Booth
A corner booth gives you something every artist needs, more visibility.
People can see your work from two directions instead of one. That means many more people will notice your display and more people walk stop and walk in.
If a show lets you, you should request a corner pitch, it’s worth paying the extra fee. It might feel expensive when you’re booking the event, but if it brings in even a few extra sales it quickly pays for itself.
If you get the pitch, don’t waste it.
Don’t leave your display wall empty. Use it to stop people in their tracks.
Display your biggest, boldest artwork where people can’t miss it. If you don’t want originals outside, use high quality reproductions instead. The goal is to make people curious enough to step inside your booth.
My work is small so I got around the issue by printing super enlargements to advertise my work and worked a treat.
Research Your Art Market Event
You can have a fantastic display and great artwork, but if hardly anyone turns up, you’re making life difficult for yourself.
Before booking a show, ask the organizer how many visitors they expect. Most organizers can give you a rough attendance figure.
A town with thousands of residents doesn’t automatically produce thousands of customers, and if it does, they must have some disposable income.
I found that out to my cost attending a famous weekend craft market in London.
I assumed it would be a goldmine, but no, it was my worst ever market. I had no idea that the local area was so poor, most people were there to kill time and soak up the atmosphere.
It was useless.
That said, busy shows usually create better buying opportunities because there are simply more potential customers. It’s a numbers game. Even if only a small percentage buy something, the numbers can work in your favor..
What am I saying? All markets are not equal. Do some research before you commit.
Sell Affordable Art Prints
Many visitors assume everything in an art booth is expensive and let’s face it, they are often right. So, if they assume they can’t afford your work, they’ll keep walking.
Don’t make that mistake
If you sell art prints, greetings cards or smaller products, let people know. Put up some signs. Advertise your best prices.
My Best Selling Print for Years!
Some snooty organizers won’t allow signs so you must let people know the old fashioned way by talking to them.
Chat to people who pause outside your booth, but keep it casual. Do not make a pitch, that will backfire.
There’s no need to shout out you prices. Just greet people and mention that prints are available if they seem interested. Meet and greet and step aside.
And above all, and I can’t emphasise this enough, for goodness sake smile. It’s your winning card. Just smile at people, it works wonders.
If a customer feels relaxed and comfortable, you can have a little chat, and as long as you keep it natural, the customer will warm to you and your work. It really is that simple.
The hard sell doesn’t really work.
Once people realise they can afford your work, they’re much more likely to linger and have a proper look. That’s when you start making sales.
Take Advantage of Trends
Fads, and fashions change over time, and if you can catch a trend at the right time, you can ride the wave and make a lot of sales..
I sold wildlife art for years and people would ask me for their favorite animals. These are predictable, but every now and then an animal suddenly becomes super popular and everyone wants it.
The same happens in other subjects too.
Pay attention to what people talk about, look at designs and motifs, and what keeps appearing in popular culture.
If customers are excited about a particular subject, give them something to buy.
That doesn’t mean chasing every passing fashion.
It simply means recognizing what people already enjoy and making sure your range reflects that interest.
If several customers ask for the same subject, take the hint.
Create something around it.
When people already have an emotional connection with a subject, the decision to buy becomes much easier.
Offer Plenty of Choice
While having fewer items on display can increase your chance of a sale, limiting choice can also backfire. There is a workaround.
If someone loves foxes and you only have one fox print, they either like it or they don’t.
If you have five different fox prints, there’s a much better chance one will catch their eye.
The same applies to every subject.
People enjoy browsing. A print bin can serve that purpose.
The longer they spend looking through your print bins, the more invested they become in finding something they love. It also increases the chances of multiple purchases.
Someone might choose one print, then spot another they like just as much.
Collectors often enjoy buying matching artwork from the same artist, especially if the images work well together.
If space allows, use two print browsers instead of one. That lets several people browse at the same time without getting in each other’s way.
But too much choice, can create overwhelm. There is a tipping point when there are too much to choose from and impossible to pick a favorite.
Then you hear those dreaded words ‘Have you got a website?’ Ugh. It’s a sales killer.
When you have too much stock, do what I did, and have a separate portfolio of ‘specials’ that only a select few people get to see.
I used to upsell my limited edition prints that way. It felt more exclusive.
You learn these tricks along the way.
Offer Bundle Deals
Getting extra visitors isn’t the only way to increase your income.
You can also increase the value of each sale.
One of the simplest ways to do that is with bundle pricing.
Instead of selling one print at a fixed price, offer savings when customers buy two or three.
People already interested in your work often need very little encouragement to add another print if it represents good value.
Bundle offers also work because they feel like a reward rather than an upsell. This was the mainstay of my approach to selling.
I learned to price my art prints that way from an old school market trader. He’d been selling all his life and told me to change my fixed prices.
I followed his advice and my sales shot up. It was almost instant!
Customers leave your stand feeling they’ve have a bargain, and you increase you profits. It’s a win-win.
Final Thoughts
Making more money at an art market rarely comes down to one dramatic change.
It’s usually the result of lots of small improvements working together.
- Choose better shows.
- Make your booth easier to notice.
- Tell people you have affordable options.
- Offer plenty of choice
- Offer a bundle deal
None of these ideas require extra expense or a complete redesign of your display.
They’re practical changes you can test out at your next show.
Try one or two, see what works for your business, then keep refining your approach. You will gain confidence with practice. Over time these changes can make a noticeable difference to your sales.
If you want a deeper system that removes guesswork, Selling Art Made Simple shows you how to price, present, and sell with confidence, so your art fairs start paying their way.
These tips will also interest you:
- 10 Best Ways to Sell Your Art Locally: Mega Guide
- How to Write an Artist About Me Bio: In 4 Easy Steps
- 12 Wildlife Art Bestsellers (Use These Subjects to Make Money)
- Artist Business Cards: 6 Tips For Artists – From a Pro
- How to Present Your Art for Sale in an Art Market
- How to Prepare For an Outdoor Art Fair: Tips for Success
- Can You Copy Art and Sell a Painting of a Painting? I Found Out
- How to Build Trust With Customers: 6 Ways to Sell More Art
- How to Name Your Artwork: Find a Title That Sells
- Is Your Art Good Enough to Sell?
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Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy