Selling T Shirts at Craft Shows: Inventory, Booth and Pricing
How to sell t shirts at craft shows: prep checklist, inventory and size curve, booth display, pricing and payments, and taking custom orders.
Retail event guide for decorators: size curve, booth display, price signs, payments and custom orders at craft fairs. Not legal, tax or financial advice.
Selling t shirts at craft shows starts with a plan: stock a size curve weighted toward the sizes that move most, put clear price signs on every design, build a booth that shows designs on bodies or racks with stock sorted by size, decide which payments you will take, and plan ahead for restocks and custom orders.
Key rule: shoppers buy the design, then look for their size
A craft show sale happens in seconds. The design has to be visible from the aisle, the price has to be readable without asking, and the right size has to be findable fast. Everything below serves those three moments.
Part of the business and pricing guides in the DAX Learning Hub. New to selling apparel? Start with How to Start a Custom Apparel Business. Looking for industry trade shows to buy equipment and supplies instead? See Trade Shows for Decorators.
This page covers retail selling at craft events. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Vendor licenses, sales tax permits, event insurance and record keeping vary by state, county and city, so check local rules and talk with a qualified accountant, attorney or small business counselor before your first show.
Craft Show Prep Checklist
| Area | What to prepare | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Event fit | Audience, season, indoor or outdoor, booth size and fee | Match your designs to the crowd |
| Designs | A focused set in one niche rather than a little of everything | Depth reads as a brand |
| Inventory | Count per design and size, plus a restock reserve | See the next section |
| Display | Rack or wall for samples, labeled bins for stock, size cards | Test setup at home first |
| Pricing | Large, readable signs; simple round prices | Plan any bundle offer in advance |
| Payments | Your chosen payment methods, change if taking cash, a backup plan for weak signal | Count your cash before and after |
| Paperwork | Any license, sales tax permit or insurance the event or location requires | Check local rules |
| Records | Sales sheet by design and size | Your data for the next show |
How Much Inventory and Which Sizes
There is no fixed number. Decide from your own expected traffic: estimate how many shoppers will pass, how many might buy, and how long the event runs, then spread that count across a small set of designs. Factor in your booth fee too, and bring more than you expect to sell so popular designs do not run out early.
For adult tees, vendor and retail data agree that medium, large and extra large usually carry most sales, with large often the single largest share. A starting curve weighted to those three sizes, with fewer smalls and 2XL and up, is a reasonable first guess. Then track every sale by design and size and adjust. Your audience may skew differently, especially at youth or family events. For storing and counting stock between shows, see Blank Inventory and Sizing.
| Size | Starting weight (hedged) | Adjust when |
|---|---|---|
| S | Lighter | Youth heavy or fitted styles sell out |
| M | Heavier | Sells out early |
| L | Heaviest | Usually the anchor size; confirm with your own sales |
| XL | Heavier | Sells out early |
| 2XL and up | Lighter | Customers ask for sizes you did not bring |
Booth Layout and Display
Show one sample of each design where shoppers can see it from the aisle: on a garment rack, a back wall or a form. Keep sellable stock folded behind or under the table, sorted by size in labeled bins, with colors separated when they change the design. Put a small card by each design or bin listing the sizes you have, so customers do not open every pile. Keep a folding zone, refold handled shirts in quiet moments, and leave space at checkout for bags. Keep racks out of the aisle and confirm height and footprint limits with the organizer.
Pricing and Payments
Price from your own costs: blank, decoration, labor, booth fee, travel and payment fees, then margin. Use How to Price Custom Apparel Jobs for Profit for the method. Round prices speed up cash handling, and clear signs save shoppers from having to ask. Offer more than one price point if you sell add ons such as totes or stickers.
Decide which payment methods you will accept before the show. If you take cash, bring change and a secure cash box; if you take cards, bring a charged reader and a backup option in case the signal is weak, and fold any processing fees into your prices. Count inventory and cash before and after the show and record what sold by design and size.
Taking Custom Orders at Shows
Custom orders turn a missing size or color into a sale. Keep a simple order form at the booth: name, contact, design, size, color, quantity, price, deposit or full payment, and pickup or delivery method. State the turnaround in writing and how you will contact the customer. Some vendors press on site; if you do, confirm power with the organizer and keep the heated press well away from the aisle. Otherwise, take the order and fulfill it from your shop after the event.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling T Shirts at Craft Shows (FAQ)
How many shirts should I bring to a craft show?
Decide from your own expected traffic and event length, spread the count across a focused set of designs, then adjust from your own sales records. Event size, length and audience matter more than any rule.
What sizes sell most at craft shows?
For adult tees, medium, large and extra large usually account for most sales. Track your own size sales at every show and adjust the curve.
How should I price shirts at a craft fair?
Start from your full cost per shirt, including booth fee, travel and payment fees, add your margin, and use clear round prices. Check what similar items sell for at that event.
Do I need a license to sell at craft fairs?
It depends on your location and the event. Many places require some form of business registration or sales tax permit for vendors, but rules vary. Check with your state and local agencies and the event organizer, and ask a qualified professional; this is not legal advice.
Can I take custom orders at a booth?
Yes. Use a written order form, collect payment or a deposit, state the turnaround and fulfill from your shop, or press on site if the event allows and has power.
Figures and methods here are hedged starting points that vary by product, shop and region; confirm every setting, cost and license term against the supplier or manufacturer spec sheet. Inventory counts, size shares and costs vary by event, region and audience. This page is not legal, tax or financial advice; consult a qualified professional about licenses, sales tax, insurance and records.
Browse more guides in the DAX Learning Hub, and check cities and dates on the DAX show schedule when you are ready to see blanks, transfers and booth ready equipment with suppliers in person.