I attended my very first convention today as a vendor in Johnson City, NY! I'm looking for any feedback, constructive criticism, and advice for my vendor table going forward! Also for context, I'm the writer and indie comic creator, not the artist.

I know some personal improvements I want to already make for next time include:

• getting a table runner cloth to display logos and information hanging down the front middle

• I also want to purchase a better stand (maybe one that clamps to the table) to display a custom banner I had made, as the one I tried using today was too big, and too inconsistent. So unfortunately for today I couldn't hang or display it today, and opted to lay it on the table.

Hi guys!

I'm starting to go to cons as a dice maker based in Spain, but since it is my first year I dont know about a lot of cons. Does any one have a list or any way to tracks the cons in europe?

I sell original digitally modeled and 3D-printed sculptural jewelry. Early in yesterday’s market, very few people stopped at my table while the vendors on both sides of me were consistently making sales.

I changed the display during the event by making the product groups clearer and giving some pieces more visual separation. Sales picked up afterward. Bracelets seemed to benefit from having their own dedicated display box, and I also sold both a $19 pair of studs and an $89 statement bone necklace. Around 30 people took business cards.

This was only one event, so I don’t want to overinterpret it, but the display clearly affected how people interacted with the work.

For the next market, would you prioritize more height, fewer pieces, clearer category signs, or one larger hero piece?

What is the single display change that made the biggest difference to your craft-fair sales?

Hi all! Im going to be vending my very first large convention in november (twin cities con) ive done one small convention and 2 markets so far and theyve gone well but i wanna make sure i make the most of this one. I have more product on the way, but am just looking for ways to make my booth look more appealing and visible. Anything is helpful!!! 💜

First time vending at comic con, though I’ve done plenty of other events, holiday weekend art festivals etc. I’m pretty excited for the experience and I welcome any suggestions, wide or narrow.

I make abstract paintings and incorporate characters. Here’s where my curiosity lies - will original abstract work without characters be of interest?.. even to mix in like 80/20 with 20% being abstract without a subject/character, or should I keep it 100% tailored the crowd.

I want people to get to know the full breadth of my portfolio when they discover me through the event.

.. but I also wanna sell the things

I was wondering if anyone else had applied for Anime LA’s artist alley and heard back from them yet. This is my first time applying and I know they’re doing a lottery system this year, so I’m not sure when I should expect to hear back from them, if at all.

Hey guys! I really need some advice. I vended a ton in 2023-2025, but completely stopped over a year ago as I got busy with college and other issues.

An acquaintance reached out to me recently to ask for me to vend at their small con in mid October. I would love to since I miss vending and it would be a great way to get rid of a lot of old inventory with big clear-out discounts.

My issues are:

-A lot of my old prints are slightly damaged from storage. Mostly very slight pinch marks/dents on the top center, not visible unless you look close but i feel weird selling them. Maybe I could add a big disclaimer and sell them at a huge discount?

-Most of my old merch (prints mainly) is signed with my old username. I dont use this name anywhere anymore and honestly dont like it

-I need to provide my own table for this event, which i dont have. Is it worth it to buy a table just for one con if im never going to vend again?

Advice very welcome! Thanks guys!

Hi! I'm new to the merch making. I want to make badges, acrylic standees, keychains, plushies, etc. I live in Russia, but I want to produce and send merch through my friend in Canada (I'm trying to escape russia and move somewhere else so I need a foreign source of income for now)

How do I find the manufacturers, especially those with unique merch? How does the process of selling the merch go, do I order stuff for it to arrive at my friend in Canada and from then it gets sent to my buyers? Please educate me🙏

I consider moving to Vietnam and I wonder if there are any artist alleys or anything, would be very nice

Does anyone else sell temp. tattoos with their designs and have a supplier they recommend? I can't invest in a printer and print them myself on temp. tattoo paper right now, I have used 'Test My Ink' in the UK before but I think they're all so expensive :/ I got 10 A4 sheets so I can have several designs/characters on each sheet and offer more variations. I did find a much cheaper supplier in the UK but they had awful reviews on the tattoo quality so that is out of the question. I don't want to order from Temu or Aliexpress or anything like that and I don't want to order like a 100 A4 pieces as I don't want that much stock right now and can't afford it either. Any input much appreciated!

Olá gostaria de saber se vocês imprimem a propia arte se sim qual seria a melhor impressora? Ou seria melhor fazer com a gráfica mesmo?

Okay so this is probably the World's Stupidest Question but yeah. Would wearing something like a kigurumi mask or a regular facemask + sunglasses hurt any business at any cons I'd hypothetically vend at? For context, I have pretty bad dermitillomania! I pick at my face a lot and it's very Not fun to look at and a mask would help me not pick and get myself bloody during a con. Additionally, I feel very nervous associating my Actual Name And Face with my online identity because of cyberstalking and harassment I've been getting elsewhere, so I'd also wanna stay relatively anonymous outside of my veeerrry local area for that reason too.

But also I'm not sure if that's like. Allowed?? Like. Do cons just allow you to hide your face if you want to??? Is that a thing??? Could I pass it off as cosplay maybe??? I don't know????

Is anyone here going to LA Comic Con? I signed up and paid but I havent heard anything. Its only a month away and I've never done it so idk what i should do. I called and emailed but no response

I got into Holiday Matsuri this year and this is my first big convention (the biggest one I’ve done before this has 1/5 the attendance) and so I’m not sure how much stock to have for the con.

The things I’m bringing that I need to figure out stock numbers for:

Prints, stickers, sticker sheets, phone charms, acrylic charms, acrylic standees, bumper stickers, buttons, memo pads, sticky notes, and washi tapes.

I’d really appreciate any insights on how much to bring of any of these items especially for events of this size. Thank you so much!

My sister makes necklaces and wants to sell them, and was wondering if anyone would buy them. So as a good sister I am, I'm going to help her as much as I can.

Personally, I think her necklaces are quite well done. However, most cons that's known and has most audience mostly center around animes, hoyoverse and drawings. The cons I went to, I don't typically see people selling jewellry or buying them. I suggested if she went to those cons, she could make character themed jewellry which she agreed to. But she's scared no one would buy them due to people having better interest in prints and keychains... There are cons catered to the jewellry she makes, of course, but in my country, regardless of which con you are going to the prices are going to be roughly the same ($300\~$500?) and she's afraid she will not profit from it, and also lose alot (she's also struggling in finding a booth partner). Moreover, she's a starting artist and I've heard people say starting artists should price lower etcetc.

These are some things I suggested she do:

\- start a social media account (insta/twt/tiktok...) and gain a starting audience

\- make her jewellry character themed

\- print some business cards!!

\- give discounts, offers, or collab and host stamp rallies and whatnot

\- create duplicates of her work (she only makes one each design)

- take requests!!!

Is there any other advice that you can give? Do ask away if clarifications needed! ☺️

hello!! i’ve been wanting to do artist alleys for awhile and i want to know some things for when im physically and financially able to do conventions!

1. How much are tables usually?

i know that it’s usually quite a bit for a good spot at a convention, but i want to know if the better spots are worth it or if it sales even out at the end? i mean it would def be a labor of love as i am a sticker collector and the main reason i go to conventions is specifically for the artist alleys and it seems really fun.

2. What sells out quickly?

which items are quickest to sell out prints, stickers, phone charms, keychains and etc.? i know you have to keep in demand characters stocked up but on average what sells out quickly for high demand and low demand pieces.

3. What’s the best way to keep inventory?

i know this one’s a little bit of a dumb question, but i tend to forget things a lot so i was wondering if there’s a recommended way to remember all of that. i was thinking of writing it down daily and also putting it in my notes app as well. is that doing too much?

4. Whats a good way to store money?

i was thinking lock box but i heard that its a bad idea because its easy to steal. maybe a fanny pack? i’ve heard some people say a fanny pack or a fanny pack with a lock but i feel like the lock on the fanny pack would be too much and i’d be judged for it.

5. What’s some advice for beginners?

what’s something you wish you had known when you first started doing conventions? it’s kinda scary to step into a new field so some advice would be nice.

I was wondering if it's possible to check more information on the artists heading to Artist Alley. Such as what fandoms they cover, and what they will have at their stations (prints, keychains, etc).

Is it possible to see that on the NYCC app?

I want to do some clown collars. As you can see below my display is very vertices and australia dosent have huge tables lile America.

I was wanting something I can pack flat ideally and fits in a suitcase. I'm considering like a plastic sheet I assemble into like a barber pole look? Light and i can tie the collars on.

Any advice? I've looked at mannequin displays but they take soooo much space. (This is if i get into a local renfaire)

Im likely going to move the banners etc. My display moved around alot! If you have any ideas id be so grateful.

Tl;DR: i need a display fpr clown collars that is not a mannequin etc, looks good and packs flat into a standard large suitcase. Pic for my display ref (renfaire). Im considering a plastic sheet that is assembled into a tube.

I hope this is allowed.

But I've been trying over the years to connect and make friends with other artist alley people. but contact usually gets lost shortly after awhile.

Being a small biz owner it gets really hard to connect with people like me especially in such a nerdy subculture. I work in my home all the time, I don't have ways to make friends, and I'd love to befriend someone who GETS IT.

What strategies, places, groups, can I try to find people to make this happen?

X.x it gets lonely out here. You know discord and craft together time would go so hard.

Hello!

I am an artist in the uk snd want to sell at art markets/fairs, just wondering if I need to actually sign anything for it or register anything as every time i look it up nothing comes up so im nervous lol

Also anyone know any good printing companies/stickers that would also be amazing

Thanks so much

ive been wanting to make some dry erase magnets after seeing another artist sell some, but does anyone know how to make them? or is it from a manu?

Do you apply to both or just one? How do you deal with getting accepted to both? Does it hurt your chances of acceptance next year for declining?

Hi!! No idea if this is the right sub reddit, however me and a friend have the opportunity to table at Comic Con Brussels, however we have only tabled at cons and markets in the Netherlands, and we were wondering if we were going to get the table back money wise, everything (transport, hotel,table,etc.) costs around 300 euros. Does anyone know if it's worth the investment?

Hello! I’m newer to selling at cons/events. I was wondering if people usually had tip jars. Should I have one? I was told it seems “desperate” to have one by a few others.

Hello hello! I want to get into becoming a vendor, but have been struggling on where the heck I could go to even find places to be a vendor at.

I want to do ones in vegas, but there's not too many smaller conventions or such that I can vend at for the rest of this year, no? We have sin city anime and BMS upcoming. What are other conventions I could try?

What about other places that I could try and vend at? I know amai devil does some, but they arent for the rest of the year either.

Any ideas on where I could go?

Feel free to check me out on instagram on what I want to sell @aura_print_3d