Taking Credit Cards at Craft Shows

Author: Natalie Goyette

If you are crafting for a living you are going to want to make as much money as possible. It's nice to be in it just for the love of the craft, but, if you are going to craft shows to sell your items, then chances are you are going to want to profit from your venture.

One of the best ways to boost your craft show sales is to offer credit as payment. Visa, American Express and MasterCard (and others) are becoming the transaction of choice when people are making snap decision on purchases. Plus, there are quite a few benefits for people using credit cards, like air miles and other reward programs, along with purchase protection.

Crafters have reported in various surveys that have credit card capability has increased their sales by as much as 35%. Accepting credit card payments is almost a necessity today as fewer people walk around with a lot of cash in their pockets and taking checks incurs greater risk. Taking credit cards allows you to expand your business to mail order, phone orders and the Internet as well as your craft show sales. Credit cards allow consumers to make more spontaneous purchases, which is often the case at craft shows.

Today, there are more options for those who have mobile businesses: they can have a wireless debit / credit card machines, the standard debit / credit card machines, and you always have the old style chargex machine with the carbon copy transaction. Any of them will work, however, with the electronic systems, you can set your business up to take any credit card. If you have the chargex carbon, then you may only be able to accept one of those cards.

Even though there are set up fees and monthly fees, the benefits far outweigh the costs. To get started, check your current bank or call a craft guild or association to check the many options, comparing costs and services for merchant accounts. Some warehouse companies like Costco, offer its members excellent credit card services at reasonable prices. Create a comparison chart of the best two or three offers and get some referrals from people who are using the services of the companies you're considering. Lastly, before making your decision, ensure there is an available contact person you can call when you have any problems or questions.

Credit cards are a great way for you to offer payment flexibility to your customers. There is less cash in the average consumer's pocket, and more plastic than ever before. So, if you want to sell more of your crafts, maybe you should think of offering a credit card payment option to your customers.

About the author: Natalie Goyette is the author of the best-selling book Craft Show Success. She shows you how you can make money selling your crafts! www.craftshowsuccess.com