April 12th Meetup!

Please take a moment to fill out a quick survey (or check the post below) so we can tailor our topics to what you are interested in discussing at the meeting! This meeting will cover the basics - from finding and applying to shows to what to bring and do to have a great day of selling. Our next meeting will cover part two - table display ideas, booth design and more!

Here is our Facebook event page if you would like to RSVP. Check out Hive 4A for directions and for more information about the space which includes a coworking space and makerspace and is the home of Make Lehigh Valley.

meeting topic survey - Craft Shows

Our April meeting will be all about craft shows! Please take a moment to fill out the following quick survey so we can tailor our topics to what you are interested in discussing! Thanks!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Now accepting applications! - UPDATED!

Please note: this post will now be permanently located at the Craft Shows & Events tab at the top of the page! Please check there for shows currently accepting applications!

First group meetup will be held March 1st!

We are excited to announce that our first group meetup will be held on Thursday, March 1st from 7:00-8:30pm at the Hive 4A makerspace at 905 Harrison Street in Allentown. This will be an introductory meeting where we will be getting to know each other and discussing some plans and goals for the group. Check out our Facebook event and don't forget to RSVP! Crafters, artists and handmakers in the Lehigh Valley area interested in working together to grow their small business are welcome. Bring some business cards and come say hello!

We are excited to be working with Hive 4A, home of Make Lehigh Valley, as hosts for our meetups. Make LV will be holding an open hack that night from 6:30-9:30 pm.

It will be here soon!

It might be hard to think about the spring and summer show season when there is finally snow on the ground, but it will be here before we know it! Now is the time to get everything you need for your show applications prepped - photos taken, artists statement written, website cleaned up - and to start thinking about designing your table displays, packaging, marketing, and all those little details. And if this is your first craft show season, its never too early to start planning - you'll be glad you did once those acceptance letters start rolling in!

Here are links to some great articles and lists of tips and tricks that should help you prepare for a great selling season! Add your own tips or links to favorite articles in the comments!


Basic overall tips and tricks from Mermaids Closet, from finding shows to what to do on the big day  - great tips for those just starting out!

Tips about perfecting your craft show applications from Tina Seamonster, one of the organizers of Crafty Bastards in Washington DC.

Luann Udell’s blog is a treasure trove of information about being a skillful all-around salesperson in the art and craft realm. Any blog entry tagged “booth behavior” is valuable, but her entire blog is worth reading!

Excellent marketing advice from Naughty Secretary Club - don’t expect the venue to do all the marketing and promotion for you! With a little effort you can bring in your own customers the day of the event and build up your own craft show following.

Craft Show Explosion hasn’t been updated in a few months, but dig through their archives and you will find great articles about surviving outdoor shows, tips for traveling to vend at shows, and lots more!

Quick video from Lintyfresh with some nice beginner tips about practicing your booth setup at home and packing for the show.

Hello from LVHA!

Hello! Just a quick introduction before we get down to business!

Lehigh Valley Handmade Alliance was started by Jaime of Crinoline and Danielle of Buttercup Jewelry to function as a community that will support handmade small businesses in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

Starting in the coming weeks, we hope to:

-Share info about events, retail opportunities, shows, classes, and crafty happenings in the Lehigh Valley area and beyond on this blog and our Facebook. We hope that you will share info you come across about local events in the comments here, on Facebook, or at our email address LVHandmadeAlliance@gmail.com.

-Provide opportunities to network with other artists and independent crafty business owners through in-person meetups and selling events. Details about our first LVHA-planned events to come soon!
 
-Discuss the joys and challenges of running a small handmade business. Please feel free to use the blog comments and our Facebook page as a place to connect with other local handmakers and crafty business owners!

-Promote buying handmade and shopping locally! We hope to cross promote the events we are participating in and local retail venues that support handmade to raise the awareness of our community in the Lehigh Valley area.

Crafters, handmakers, and artists in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas are welcome to post and participate! Welcome, thanks for reading, and feel free to spread the word!