Show Booth and Display Tips
Katherine Palochak
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Metals and
Gems
Packing for a Show
Put the things needed for the booth itself in big tubs.
This includes all the tablecloths, risers, steamer, knuckle buster,
invoices, pens, T-pins, display material, basic pliers and cutters,
and more. If you run out of something, say jewelry tags,
tape a note to yourself on the inside lid, so you don't forget to
pack it next time. Everything is neatly put away. The
first things that need to come out is on the top layer,
working down to what is the last thing that needed to be in
the booth.
Backdrop
Make fabric sleeves that will hold a 1" foam sheet. The
sleeves are similar to a folding screen and give a tailored look to
your backdrop. This is lightweight (but not good in outdoor
settings). The foam can be easily replaced and the
fabric sleeves can be washed fairly easily. The bottom of the
sleeves are left open to slide in the foam and T-pins are used to
tuck in the bottom fabric to make it neat.
Life Savers
Always take a roll of duct tape. It covers electrical
cords so people don't trip over them, makes little repairs, tucks in
the hem of the tablecloth that keeps kicking out in the wind. Quilters T-pins serve a lot of those functions well, also. U
pins are helpful for keeping a piece of jewelry on a velvet pad that
is upright on an easel. Little easels for holding plates come
in a variety of materials and are a good way to display velvet pads
to get the jewelry in more of an easily seen display.
Display in a 3-D Format
Too many people lay jewelry on a flat surface. You open
more options and have a better display if you design with height,
width and length in mind, but most especially height. Vary the
height so you create visual interest, and to keep the customer's eye
moving around, much like a painter uses their composition to keep
visual interest. Use boxes as risers that are covered over
with cloth. Bunch the cloth in soft drapes to provide more
visual interest. Use cloth that is a solid color that doesn't
attract lint, and has a matte surface. Don't have the jewelry
in static positions. Let a chain drape over to the next lower
riser, put an easel board on a riser to display large pieces, and
have smaller pieces like brooches in front of the easel. Use
that fabric to get the pieces up from a flat position, but not cover
the jewelry. Bunched cloth is my most versatile backdrop.
Display Heights
The best heights for displaying jewelry is between 28" and 52".
No one has to bend over to see the jewelry, nor crane their necks
upward at an uncomfortable level. The only time this doesn't
work is if someone is in a wheelchair, and you can benefit by
offering to take out the jewelry so they can hold it. When
your jewelry is outside of that range, sales drop.
More is Less
If you have a lot of jewelry, don't put it all out at once. It's
better to have fewer pieces attractively displayed. The more-is-less
principle is at work here. Too much jewelry makes things look
cluttered, and people can't focus well. If someone shows interest in
a particular style, you can whip out your backups that are hidden
under the cloth drape, in a small open box. Just make sure those
boxes aren't too easy to get to, unless you're in the booth itself.
Sketch Book
Have a sketchbook and pencils handy. Some customers
want you to design on-the-fly, and it's handy if you have a
sketch with the materials you will need, and the customer's
name, phone number and address right with the sketch.
Katherine Palochak © 2007
Used with permission of the author
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