Thinking of renting a booth in a retail space? Have a booth already, but it needs a little something more? You’ve come to the right place!
As most of you know, I have a booth in an antique mall where I sell the majority of the items I transform. If you are new here, welcome! I sell repurposed and vintage items that I have given new life to, usually with paint. I recently shared updated photos of my booth HERE, and each time I do, I get many questions from readers who want to take the plunge and open a booth of their own, or who are struggling with having success in their own booths. I am lucky that mine has done well, and I thought I would put together a few tips that I feel have helped me, and that others may find helpful as well.
To those of you considering renting a booth, I hope this answers questions for you as well. I will mention that these tips are for the type of items that I sell. I can’t speak for other types of merchandise. Here we go…
1
Keep your color palette simple.
I tend to stick to whites, off whites, soft blues and occasionally grays and it all flows together to give a cohesive feel to my space. These are colors that sell for me, but they are also colors I personally love. It feels uncluttered and easy to shop. And neutrals will just about always sell better for me.
2
Keep your style cohesive.
Find your style and stick with it. Don’t try and please everyone by having something for everyone. Most of the items in my booth would appeal to the same customer. Also I only bring in things I haven’t made over if they fit with my style, like the two black wire baskets I scored for cheap here:
They look perfectly at home here in my space.
I did craft markets for around fifteen years or so long before blogging, and one big one since I started blogging. If you stick with the same style, you will earn repeat business. Those that love your style, even if they don’t always find something they need, will keep coming back to see what’s new.
This tip goes for display pieces, price labels, etc. Everything in your space should be cohesive.
3
Balance the large with the small.
Here you can see that I have furniture, but I also have many smaller things to attract buyers to my booth if they aren’t in the market for furniture.
“Smalls” as those smaller pieces are called are vitally important to keeping your booth going. Not everyone can afford a large dresser and although I will make much more money on the time I invested in a dresser, typically it will take much longer to sell. That’s why it’s so important to add the smalls. If you paint mostly furniture and are considering renting a booth, you’ll want to keep this in mind.
4
Keep your space clean and uncluttered.
I know I mentioned needing the “smalls”, but don’t get carried away with adding a ton of tiny things sitting all over your surfaces. You don’t want to turn off a potential buyer who feels they have to dig a piece out from under a ton of small things to purchase it…too much trouble! If you have a bunch of tiny things, consider adding a shelving unit specifically for those items, or group them in baskets or on trays that are easy to move if need be.
5
Add height to your space.
I try to keep a tall piece or two in my booth at all times, just because it makes the booth look better.
If I don’t have any tall pieces at the time, I try to stack items (safely) to add height…
If everything is all at the same level, it’s boring.
Here is a time when I was missing the height factor over to the left there and it just didn’t look as good:
I ended up eventually moving a display bookcase there. If you sell smaller things, you too can create your height with your display shelving.
Also, no “island” in that photo…doesn’t draw shoppers in at all. Which brings me to my next tip…
6
Don’t keep everything pushed against the wall.
You may have no choice depending on the space you have, but if you have the chance to create an “island” of items in the center of your booth, do it.
If people can see everything you have just by walking past, they may just keep walking. Creating the “island” makes shoppers wonder what else is behind there. At least this seems to work for me, both as a vendor and a shopper.
7
Price appropriately.
When I started, my pieces were flying out of my booth, so I knew I needed to raise my prices a bit. And I did. Some feel that if you price things low, you will sell more and in the end, likely make more money, but will you be able to keep up? The answer is probably not. I see people who are selling side tables for $60. How can you recoup your time, effort, and investment at that price?
Your pieces are one-of-a-kind treasures that they won’t be able to find anywhere else.
At the same time, I see booths with crazy high prices on their items. You do want your items to sell, right? I mean that is kind of the point. You need to find a balance of getting a good return on your pieces, with offering them at a fair price. This will come with experience.
Here is a basic idea of what I sell some of my items for. Note that all of these depend on many factors such as uniqueness, time involved, overhead, and original costs to name a few:
End tables/night stands: $115-$150
Dressers: $250-$350
China hutches: $395-$450
Chalkboards: small $25-$30 medium $36-$40 large $55+
Trays: $32-$45
I wish there was a magic formula for pricing, but when you’re saving tired pieces of years gone by, there are so many factors to consider, so there just isn’t. If a particular piece has been sitting too long, consider marking it down.
Also visit booths that sell items similar to yours for comparison.
UPDATE: I wrote a whole post on pricing HERE!
8
Take advantage of the vertical space.
I found these shutter doors at a yard sale and spray painted them. Luckily my space backs up against a wall and I was able to screw these directly into the wall. I made “s” hooks from large paperclips by just opening them up, to hang my items right over the slats in the doors. Heavier items are hung on screws. There are many options for vertical displays though so find a way to take advantage of it! Even use the ceiling to hang things from if that’s an option.
9
Move things around. Then move them around again.
You are having a lull in sales, but feel like you have the inventory so what gives? Happens all the time, I promise. Move your booth around. I do this all the time. I flip flop things and remove every thing from the shutter backboard and rearrange. It looks new and fresh, and different things get a chance to shine and be seen.
10
Give up.
I don’t mean that as harsh as it sounds. I mean if a piece just isn’t selling, rather than taking a loss, don’t be afraid to take it home and give it a do-over. Remember this green caddy that I redid for March Madness?
See the very green before HERE. It sat in my booth for over six months, but sold the week I put it back. I should have known…it didn’t fit with my breezy coastal color palette at all! (I broke rule #1!) I’m not giving up on my oval French coffee table just yet, though! If you read my last booth post, you know what I’m talking about.)
Okay I know I only promised 10 tips, but here are a couple more quick ones…
11
Function sells.
I tend to very easily sell things that also serve a purpose.
Trays probably sell the quickest. Chalkboards do well also, as well as any kind of small cabinet. It seems as though if a potential buyer can imagine how items can serve a purpose in their own spaces, they are more likely to buy them.
12
If something typically comes in pairs, sell them in pairs.
$5 Thrift Store Lamps (They were very patriotic before.)
Another quick tip that I have finally learned with lamps, end tables, night tables, chairs… If they typically come in or are used as a pair, they will typically sell better if you have a pair. I have sat on one too many end tables, chairs, etc where I had only one (and still am), but pairs never last long.
13
Advertise your booth.
List your individual items for sale on FB Marketplace with the address listed of where the items can be seen. Facebook groups for selling your items are also a good place to advertise your pieces.
So…still considering renting a booth?
- If you are going to rent a space, be mindful of what it takes to recoup your investment. Know that making a profit will depend on your commitment to your space. If you will be making things for your space, be prepared for the time and effort it will take to keep it stocked. I did take a break at the Holidays so I could enjoy the season, but I knew my sales would suffer as a result. If you want to be successful, you need to be willing to put forth the effort. Try to always have something new for those repeat buyers and give them a reason to come back again and again.
- Find out the lease terms in the spaces available to you. For my booth, I am on a month to month basis, so I only need to give 30 days notice prior to vacating. If this is the case for you, try it for a couple of months and see how it goes, but keep in mind that it will take time for your people to find you. Consider doing a couple of local craft markets where you can hand out business cards and let people know where they can find your booth.
- Visit your booth often. I visit my booth a couple of times a week. I can’t tell you how many times I have walked in to a disheveled booth after a busy weekend. Here is one such time:
Some of the girls there are great at filling in the empty spaces and tidying up for me when something sells, but some…not so much. It will be important for you to have a booth that isn’t too far away for that reason.
I love having a booth. Seeing all the pretty things come and go is my favorite. Because I blog about most of my transformations, I see it as the booth feeds my blog, and my blog feeds my booth. It’s a win-win for me, but honestly I just love to create and having this space to sell my treasures helps me fulfill that passion.
I hope that you have found my experience helpful. If you have anything to add or if there’s anything I missed, feel free to share or ask in the comments below!
Thanks for stopping by!
I’ll be back on Thursday sharing a quick outdoor project I created from these leftovers:
See ya then!
UPDATE: See what I created with them now HERE!
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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DebraShoppeno5 says
These are great tips. And apply to all areas of the country. I have had my booth for awhile and it is fun to create and have people enjoy the items.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Debra! It really is fun to see what people like! 🙂
Jane says
Thank you! How very helpful. I have never had booth, but would love to. But I live in a very rural and depressed area of Ohio and nothing is close to me. But I will keep your tips in mind for a time when something does come available. Keep up the good work!
Christy K. James says
Your welcome, Jane! Maybe something will open up around your area. I live in a very well populated area and yet there really are very few places to sell items even around here.
melinda says
Where oh where is your booth? What a lovely place!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Melinda! I’m in Virginia Beach at the Virginia Beach Antique Mall. 🙂
Carole says
You really are an inspiration. Not only are you a very talented artist of gorgeous re-do items but a savvy business woman. I truly enjoy your blog.
Christy K. James says
You are so sweet, Carole!! Thank you SO much for your kind words and encouragement!! XOXO
Louise says
Great advice! I think pricing is one of the hardest things. Thanks for sharing some general figures as I’ve been very curious about that. The value of an item is basically what someone is willing to pay and depends on so many factors including the city, store and customer demographics. Time is money! The less Time and effort something needs = better profit. I also agree that Time spent checking on a booth is so important. If someone is considering getting a booth for the first time and there are various options – go closer 🙂 My booth is on the other side of town, off my beaten path and about 30+ minutes drive which doesn’t sound like much but means at least one hour round trip. Personally I’ve found that having booth takes more Time – shopping, cleaning/fixing, pricing, organizing and decorating, than I expected, but it allows me to do what I love. My hat is off to you Christy, for All you do And making the time to share it on a blog. You are an Inspiration!
Christy K. James says
Great input, Louise! Time is money for sure, and yes the closer, the better. I so get what you said about the time it takes, but that you love it. I truly do as well, and thank you for your kind comments! XOXO
Kim says
Thank you for the info. I’ve had a booth for about 2 years. I love having it but it is very hard to figure out pricing. Thank you for doing your blog posts. I’ve gotten so many ideas from them that I’ve incorporated into my booth. I get so excited every time I go to my booth, anxious to see what has or hasn’t sold. LOL Thanks again. Your booth is beautiful!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Kim! I am the same way about my booth…nothing feels better than checking in to see a few pieces have sold. Of course there are times when nothing has sold…that’s when I move it all around! 😉
Maggie M says
Great tips, even for successful estate and garage sales.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Maggie! Exactly! 🙂
Paula@SweetPea says
Great tips! I wish I could take advantage of vertical space. My booth is a half-space in a room with a picket fence as my back. My booth partner has the wall which is much better to packing in the merchandise.
I’ve always wondered what prices were like in your area. They are significantly lower in mine!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Paula! The vertical space really does help. Pricing depends on so many factors. For me, my booth space fee is pretty steep so I need to be able to cover that, but things seem to sell at those prices. I figure if a local furniture store can get $300+ for a side table that is a dime a dozen, people should be willing to pay less than half that for a one-of-kind piece with a little more character and charm from my booth, right? 🙂
Carole H says
I love your booth, it is very calming. I have had one booth almost two years now and enjoy it so much. I recently got another booth which is way smaller. Also I cannot attach anything to the wall since it is a rented building. I have a large bakers rack against the back wall. Any other suggestions for that area? The bakers rack is a display piece only.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Carole! I really enjoy having mine as well. The shutters I have mounted to the wall in my current space were the same ones I used to set up my booth at craft markets, which had to be free standing. I turned the one on each end sideways so it was at a 90 degree angle and screwed it in place so it would be free standing. You could also maybe add triangular shaped brackets made from wood that could be attached to the front and the back at the bottom to make it free standing, or if you are against a wall, just add a bracket to the bottom on either side at the front. There are probably a bunch of options. 🙂
Sherry Pelle says
This really is a win win situation! Booth feeds blog, blog feeds booth and both support shopping!! Love it!!!
Christy K. James says
Ha ha yes! Thanks, Sherry! 🙂
Mary Meusburger says
Hi Christy,
Though I don’t have a booth, I do shop at several stores. I would be in heaven shopping at your booth! You have given sound advice from my perspective. As someone who frequently shops with my daughter who is in a wheelchair, I find many booths are too crammed full of items. It would be helpful if folks could let their spaces “breathe” as you do. I usually only give a cursory glance to booths that are packed, but I spend my time (and money) where I can easily see what is for sale. Just my thoughts.
Thanks again for your lovely blog. I enjoy each and every post!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much for your feedback from a shopper’s perspective, Mary and thanks for following along with me…I truly appreciate it! XOXO
Treva says
I love everything in your booth. I spied my rosette mirror there. It is just the cutest thing.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Treva! I have another one of those mirrors in the works since that one sold. 🙂
Jolinda says
Thank you very much for sharing you experiences and knowledge.
Christy K. James says
You are so welcome, Jolinda! XO
Tracey Martin says
This was one of the best, most helpful booth blogs I have read. Thank you AGAIN!! Some of those things you mentioned I do in my teeny-tiny booth, but I still learned a lot. I just took a webinar from a Kansas City gal (my area of the country) on pricing this morning. Clearly, my pieces are WAY underpriced, but I don’t think I could pull off the prices you listed, at least not where my booth is currently located (I’m not sure why…), but it did help me just to know your idea for pricing. This was really so great! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Christy K. James says
Thank you…I’m so glad you found it helpful, Tracey!! Pricing is always tricky, and it has a lot to do with where you are as well for sure. If you find that you are selling certain items quickly…add a few bucks to the price next time. 🙂
Lucy ~ Patina Paradise says
What great tips Christy! I appreciate you sharing some ballparks on prices also. That is the most difficult thing for me. I haven’t had much success at selling at booths, but I think my modge podge of colors didn’t help, (rule #1). I totally agree with sticking to a color scheme and style that people get to know you for. Although I knew this, I just had so much old inventory that I wanted to sell. I love how your pieces look together. They could all fit in the same house.
I think the only thing I might add is to do research on various malls in your area. Check out what kind of customer traffic they get before you make your decision. And ask about a discount if you lease for 6 months. Some places will give you rent for less if you sign a six month contract. Make sure you have the funds to cover for that time before you take the commitment and are okay with saying good bye to it in case it doesn’t work out.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Lucy! You are so incredibly talented that I bet you would rock a booth now! Great suggestions you added as well. I never thought to ask if there was a discount for signing a long term contract. Also great advice about being prepared to say good bye to the money if it doesn’t work…sometimes it takes time to find a venue and a product that are a good fit. XO
andi says
I only saw one tiny peek at Miss Oval. Is she still there??
-andi
Christy K. James says
Yes ha ha boooooo! I’ll be sure to announce when she finally exits the building!
Tania says
Great post, I agree with everything you said. I have two spaces at a local antique mall. I have two so that I can separate my styles and not try and get differing styles all into one booth! White sells best in the mall I’m at.
Tania
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Tania! Good idea to have two spaces…and white is always the quickest seller for me as well. XO
Heidi says
Hi, I don’t have a booth but do paint a lot of large pieces of furniture. Would you be able to share how you move your pieces from your house to booth without damaging them, your vehicle, etc..
Christy K. James says
Hi Heidi,
I used to have a 2003 four runner that I hauled my pieces back and forth in. That and a few moving blankets worked very well. I finally traded in my Toyota for a Grand Cherokee last month. I was bummed to see that the china cabinet I bought two months ago that easily fit (both pieces) into my old car, wouldn’t fit into my new one! Only one piece of it fit at a time so I had to deliver them separately. So basically I don’t have a magic answer other than having a vehicle large enough to transport and a few good blankets to protect them. 😉
Marie, The Interior Frugalista says
Excellent tips, Christy and very timely, as I’ll be doing my first outdoor market this weekend. I think the same tips can be applied tent space at outdoor markets. You’re the third blogger this week that I’ve read about the importance of keeping items unified. Dang, my tent is definitely going to be rather eclectic so finger’s crossed I have success. Definitely trying your “island” tip, thank you!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Marie! I’m sure your booth will be gorgeous…wish I could come shop! Praying for success and good weather for you, my friend! 🙂
Trine says
Christy,
This is really great advise. I don’t have a booth and have not done many furniture makeovers, but I love to get creative when time allows. It is secretly a dream of mine to do this one day 🙂
Trine
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Trine! I hope you get to fulfill that dream some day. 🙂
Tonia L. Conner says
Thanks for the great suggestions. Your booth and items are always beautiful.
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Tonia! XO
Julie says
Loved this post!! Your booth is so serene and love all of your work!! Wondering if you would share about when you sell/resell – what do you do with your income? Like – is there a formula you use for what to do with that income? I.e. put x% back into new pieces to flip, x% into purchasing supplies, x% into your pocket to help with family expenses, and x% into savings etc?
I just got into furniture painting a few months ago, so far all of my painted pieces have been for my own home (which was my original intent and purpose, to remake our home affordably) – it is also my plan to begin to sell my work once I get our home mostly done however – *BONUS* in the process of finding project pieces for our own home I have come across some great deals that I could not pass up even though I knew the piece wouldn’t work in my own home plus have changed my mind on a few that I thought would work for us – long story short (sorry!) I have been able to flip quite a few project pieces for a profit (which, while not my original intention, was a nice surprise!), but am really struggling with how to allot the money wisely [knowing that if it all ends up in our bank account it will be gone in no time (because we are a family of 7 living paycheck to paycheck) and if that happens I will have nothing to put into future projects], but I recognize the need for some of it to be a part of our income, just struggling with what percent?
Christy says
Hi Julie! Thank you so much! I would love to be able to give you some really smart answer about how I allocate the money I bring in, but unfortunately I can’t. I do save a good portion of it since I have to pay taxes on it at the end of the year, but I don’t have a magic formula. I do believe in the power of a savings jar though. I have a jar in my closet that I do add a little to here and there, and there is something to be said for seeing the money add up in there. On Saturday mornings, I would use that money to go yard saling for new treasures to redo. I hope you can find a plan that works for you. I wish you the best of luck on your new adventure!
Kari Hansen says
Thanks so much, Christy, for sharing your experience! I appreciate your candor and words of wisdom. Very helpful article!
Christy says
You are so welcome, Kari! XO
Ruth Anne Buterbaugh says
Thanks for your great ideas! I do have an island in my smallish booth and it does seem to draw people in. I need to pare down on the small things–I think they distract from my furniture pieces and make them harder to see. Thanks for including the pricing tips–I charge less than you do. Maybe I need to raise prices! I’ve also learned that furniture with storage sells better than cute little drawerless accent tables. Love your booth–it looks so inviting!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Ruth Anne! And yes, furniture with storage is much better…great point! 🙂
Ellen says
I just found this post today — thanks so much for some great advice. We have been considering this for a while, but all the good (and convenient) antique malls have a waiting list to get in around here. The rents are very high, too, and they require at least a six month lease. This is a bigger commitment than I want to make, especially as my style and the things I like to do are not what is still popular here, i.e white and grey. I was wondering about Etsy or another site on that order, but I do not know how to handle shipping, especially furniture. Have you any advice about that?
Christy says
Hi Ellen! I don’t ship, so I’m afraid I’m not much help there. In my area there are several Facebook Groups that are for selling furniture pieces, and things seem to sell well there. The customer would pick their items up, and you have no overhead. Maybe that is an option for you? Good luck!
Mary says
i love peeking inside your booth. I love the colors you use. I find neurtals sell the best too. Also, rearanching always give a fresh look
Christy says
Thanks, Mary!! I love calm coastal colors, but white is my top seller. I would paint everything white if I could, but my blog would become very boring ha ha!
Dee says
Thanks for the info. I was thinking of renting a space and you gave some really good tips. I would love to try facebook also for added sales is there a site just for this or is it just hoping friends and family share? Im in the just starting and working on my inventory. where do you get your stencils? and what company do you get your paint from and colors or do you make your own?
Christy says
Glad this was helpful, Dee! DO a search on FB for local online yard sales…that should yield some results. I have seen people have great success with selling on FB. I have purchased most of my stencils from this site: https://www.artisticstencildesigns.com/. As for the paint, I make my own chalk paint using Behr paints from the Home Depot and calcium carbonate. The recipe can be found here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/sewing-stool-redo-chalk-paint-recipe-revealed/ Hope this helps! 🙂