Being that this was our first Zine Fest ever attended, we were a little bit clueless, however I did discover and subscribe to and learn from BrattyxBre on YouTube who I would recommend anyone check out if interested in selling Zines and wanting to know what there is to know to be successful at a Zine Fest.
https://www.youtube.com/@brattyxbre
I think we were overkill overall, with too many options causing brain fatigue for buyers, whereas most everyone else had a few selections to choose from. But I do have to say I am proud that we were kid and parent friendly and amused a lot of folks with our selections.
It was always my dream to go to a Zine Fest and when I saw the opportunity, I seized it, as I love the very concept of a zine. Art, Writing, Crafts, Poetry – count me in! I even got my daughter interested in making Zines at one point. It’s just the ultimate, personal creative expression of whatever your vibe is. Who doesn’t love that?
I decided to sell and become a vendor just to be in the thick of it, to get a good feel for it, the ambiance, the atmosphere, the sights and the spirit of the Fest and to vibe with others with similar interests and hobbies.
As far as Do’s:
- Do a pre table set up at your house, whether on your bed or on your kitchen island or table. Set it all out in the fashion you want it displayed to make sure it looks good and is easy to examine by customers and is aesthetically pleasing and inviting.
- Do have your QR codes ready for easy pay and Cash on Hand for Easy Money Exchange. We put all our QR codes in a picture frame after printing them out and testing them and had at least $120 cash on hand in all denominations from $1s, $5s, $10s and $20s. This will be good for buying snacks and drinks and zines and extras as well.
- Be sure your cell phone is fully charged as well and maybe bring your car charger just in case you run low.
- Do get to know your neighbor table or tables as you will be sitting next to them all day and may need to watch their table for a bathroom break or vice versa or may just want to chat and make a new friend.
- Do greet all on-comers / on-lookers and people approaching with a smile and a big warm hello. The # 1 principle of a sale is relationship marketing. I offered a freebie up front to everyone who came our way.
- Do bring whatever you think you may need, I brought extra chairs, not knowing if they would have any, which came in handy for customers or new friends who wanted to sit, plus hand sanitizer, and water… It’s best to cover all the bases, a jacket or blanket if too hot, band-aids for paper cuts, Tylenol, whatever comes to mind.
As far as Don’ts:
- Don’t spazz out. Relax. Don’t be so serious, this is supposed to be a fun event. Someone will like what you are putting out and you are courageous for sharing.
- It’s not all about the money. Endorsing your craft is far more important for acquiring future customers, fans, buy in and even getting your name or business out there.
- Don’t come unprepared. As Zig Ziglar stated, “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.”
- Don’t be shy! Socialize. This is definitely a social scene.
- Don’t over do it. This is my number one takeaway, sometimes less is more, quality over quantity and reduction of choices makes it easy for customers to make a quick decision on what they want.
Some Good Ideas I might implement:
Not everyone comes with a bag to carry all their purchases from table to table, so having a free bag option or for sale, reusable, recyclable and/or with your logo may be a good idea for endorsements and even sales.
Art Post Cards.
A Zine to Start a Movement or Raise Awareness or for Mental Health that is Free to All.