Jewelry is one of the most popular — and most competitive — categories at craft fairs. Whether you make beaded bracelets, wire-wrapped pendants, resin earrings, or fine metalwork, craft fairs offer a direct path to customers who appreciate handmade quality.
But showing up with a table full of jewelry isn't enough. The vendors who consistently sell well have dialed in their displays, pricing, inventory mix, and event selection.
This guide covers everything you need to know to sell jewelry successfully at craft fairs in 2026.
Why Craft Fairs Are Perfect for Jewelry Sellers
Jewelry has natural advantages at in-person events:
- Impulse-friendly price points. Earrings, bracelets, and simple necklaces often fall in the $15–$45 range — perfect for spontaneous purchases.
- Try-before-you-buy. Customers can hold pieces, try them on, and see how they catch the light. This is something online shops can't replicate.
- Gift-ready. Jewelry is a go-to gift. Fairs near holidays (Mother's Day, Christmas, Valentine's) can be especially lucrative.
- Repeat customers. Once someone loves your style, they come back fair after fair.
The challenge? Every fair has multiple jewelry vendors. Standing out requires intention.
Choosing the Right Craft Fairs
Not every fair is a good fit for jewelry. Here's what to evaluate:
Event Size and Audience
Juried fairs tend to limit the number of jewelry vendors, which reduces direct competition. They also attract buyers who appreciate craftsmanship and are willing to pay more.
Large festivals bring foot traffic but also more competing vendors. Your booth needs to stop people in their tracks.
Boutique and curated markets often have higher-income attendees looking for unique pieces. These can be gold for mid-to-high-end jewelry.
Use TheCraftMap to search for upcoming fairs filtered by type — you can find juried fairs, indoor events, or browse by state to find the best events near you.
Booth Fee vs. Expected Revenue
Jewelry margins are generally strong, but booth fees still matter. A $50–$150 booth fee at a local fair is low-risk. A $400+ fee at a major festival needs to be justified by expected traffic and your average sale price.
For help calculating whether a fair is worth it, check out our booth fees guide and ROI tracking guide.
Season and Timing
Jewelry sells year-round, but peaks around:
- Spring (graduation gifts, Mother's Day)
- Fall/Holiday season (Christmas shopping, gift fairs)
- Valentine's Day weekend fairs
Plan your calendar early. Check our seasonal planning guide and browse spring 2026 fairs or fall 2026 fairs to start booking.
Booth Display: Making Jewelry Shine
Your display is your storefront. For jewelry, it's even more critical than most categories because pieces are small and can get lost visually.
Height and Levels
The number one mistake jewelry vendors make: laying everything flat on a table. This creates a sea of sameness that customers glaze over.
Instead, build vertical displays at multiple heights:
- Necklace busts and T-bars at eye level for statement pieces
- Earring displays (rotating stands or framed cards) at mid-height
- Bracelet displays (wrist forms, wooden dowels, or tiered trays)
- Ring trays on the table surface
Aim for at least 3 distinct height levels. Customers should be able to see your work from 10 feet away.
Lighting
Jewelry depends on light. Gemstones, metals, and crystals need proper illumination to look their best.
- Use LED spotlights or clip-on lights aimed at key display areas
- Warm white (2700–3000K) flatters gold tones; cool white (4000K+) makes silver pop
- Battery-powered LED strips under shelves create a professional look
- Avoid harsh overhead lighting that creates shadows
For more detail, read our craft fair lighting guide.
Backdrop and Branding
A clean, consistent backdrop pulls your booth together:
- Neutral colors (black velvet, white linen, natural wood) let jewelry be the star
- Branded signage with your business name, logo, and social handles
- Price cards that are easy to read (customers won't ask — they'll walk away)
- Mirror so customers can try pieces on and see themselves
A full-length or tabletop mirror is one of the highest-ROI items you can bring. When someone puts on a necklace and sees it in the mirror, the sale is half made.
For complete booth design inspiration, see our booth display guide and table layout ideas.
Pricing Your Jewelry
Pricing handmade jewelry is notoriously tricky. Here's a framework that works:
The Formula
Materials + Labor + Overhead + Profit = Wholesale Price Wholesale Price x 2 = Retail Price
Let's break it down:
- Materials: Every bead, wire, clasp, chain, gemstone. Track costs per piece.
- Labor: Pay yourself a real hourly rate. $20–$30/hour minimum. If a pair of earrings takes 30 minutes, that's $10–$15 in labor.
- Overhead: Booth fees, packaging, display equipment, gas, insurance — divide across expected units sold.
- Profit: A margin above your costs. Typically 10–20%.
Price Tiers
Most successful jewelry vendors offer pieces at multiple price points:
- Entry-level ($10–$25): Simple earrings, basic bracelets. These are your volume sellers and impulse buys.
- Mid-range ($25–$60): Your bread and butter. Well-crafted necklaces, statement earrings, stacking sets.
- Premium ($60–$150+): Signature pieces, gemstones, or fine metalwork. These anchor your brand as quality but may sell less frequently.
Having a spread means every customer can find something in their budget. That $15 pair of earrings today might lead to a $100 necklace purchase at the next fair.
For a deep dive, read our pricing strategies guide.
Inventory Planning
How much jewelry should you bring? More than you think.
The Numbers
- Bring 2–3x what you expect to sell. A full display sells better than a sparse one. If you expect to sell 50 pieces, bring 100–150.
- Earrings typically outsell everything else by volume. They're the most accessible price point.
- Necklaces are your highest revenue per piece.
- Bracelets sell well as add-ons and gifts.
The Mix
A good starting inventory mix for a standard fair:
- Earrings: 40% (50–60 pairs)
- Necklaces: 25% (25–30)
- Bracelets: 25% (25–30)
- Rings/Other: 10% (10–15)
Adjust based on your actual sales data. After a few fairs, you'll know your ratios.
Seasonal Adjustments
- Holiday fairs: More gift sets, premium pieces, festive colors
- Summer fairs: Lighter pieces, bright colors, beach/boho styles
- Spring fairs: Pastels, floral motifs, Mother's Day gift options
For detailed inventory tracking, see our inventory management guide.
Accepting Payments
In 2026, cash-only means lost sales. Period.
Minimum setup:
- Square or Stripe reader for cards and tap-to-pay
- Venmo/Zelle QR code as backup
- Some cash and change for the occasional cash buyer
Display your accepted payment methods clearly on your signage. Many customers will assume you're cash-only if they don't see a card reader.
Read our full payments guide for setup details.
Marketing Before, During, and After
Before the Fair
- Post on social media 1–2 weeks before: which fair, date, your booth number if known
- Email your list (you do have one, right?) with event details and sneak peeks of new pieces
- Create an event-specific story or reel showcasing what you're bringing
During the Fair
- Collect emails. A clipboard, tablet, or QR code to a signup form. Offer a small incentive (10% off next purchase, entry to a giveaway)
- Take photos and videos for social content
- Hand out business cards with every purchase — our business card guide has design tips
After the Fair
- Post a thank-you on social media tagging the event
- Follow up with new email subscribers within 48 hours
- Share your best-sellers that are still available in your online shop
For a complete marketing playbook, read our marketing strategies guide and social media guide.
Packaging That Closes the Sale
Jewelry packaging matters more than you think:
- Small branded bags or boxes make the purchase feel special
- Care cards with cleaning instructions show professionalism
- Business cards in every bag (include your website and social handles)
- Tissue paper or a small pouch protects the piece and adds perceived value
Good packaging turns a $20 purchase into a gift-ready experience. Customers will pay more for something beautifully presented.
Common Mistakes Jewelry Vendors Make
1. Too Much Variety, No Cohesion
If your booth has resin earrings, wire-wrapped crystals, beaded bracelets, AND metal-stamped rings, it looks like a flea market stall. Pick a lane (or 2 complementary styles) and go deep.
2. No Price Tags
Jewelry shoppers are browsers. If they have to ask "How much is this?" they're already halfway gone. Price everything clearly.
3. Flat, Cluttered Displays
As covered above — height variation is non-negotiable. Your pieces deserve to be seen, not buried.
4. Underpricing
Handmade jewelry vendors chronically underprice. If you're selling hand-crafted sterling silver earrings for $12, you're undervaluing your work and training customers to expect bargain prices. Price reflects quality.
5. Ignoring Weather
Outdoor fairs mean wind, rain, and sun. Lightweight earring displays blow over. Rain can tarnish metals. Direct sun heats up metal pieces. Prepare for all conditions — see our weather preparation guide.
Building a Repeat Customer Base
The real money in craft fair jewelry isn't one-time sales — it's building a following:
- Consistent fair schedule. When customers know you'll be at the same monthly market, they plan around it.
- New pieces each time. Regulars want to see what's new. Even small additions keep things fresh.
- Custom orders. Offer to create custom pieces (birthstone jewelry, name bracelets). This deepens the relationship.
- Email list. This is your most valuable asset. An email list of 200 engaged subscribers can drive $500+ per event in pre-orders alone.
- Online presence. Whether it's Etsy, Shopify, or Instagram — give customers a way to buy between fairs. For a comparison of platforms, see our Etsy vs. craft fairs guide.
Getting Started: Your First Jewelry Fair
If you're new to selling jewelry at craft fairs, here's a simplified game plan:
- Start small. Book a local fair with a $50–$100 booth fee. Low risk, real learning.
- Bring 75–100 pieces across earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
- Invest in display, not inventory. A $50 display setup that shows 50 pieces well outsells $200 of inventory on a flat table.
- Price with confidence. Use the formula above. Don't apologize for your prices.
- Bring a mirror, lights, and a card reader. These three things alone can increase sales by 30%+.
- Collect emails from day one. Even if you only get 10, that's 10 people you can reach directly.
- Track everything. Sales per piece, total revenue, booth fee, gas, food. You need data to improve.
Use TheCraftMap to find your first fair — filter by your state, look for beginner-friendly events, and check booth fees before applying.
Final Thoughts
Selling jewelry at craft fairs is one of the best ways to build a handmade business. The margins are good, the product is gift-friendly, and in-person selling lets your craftsmanship speak for itself.
The vendors who succeed long-term are the ones who treat it like a business: tracking numbers, investing in displays, building customer relationships, and choosing events strategically.
Start with one fair. Learn. Adjust. Then book the next one.
Find your next craft fair on TheCraftMap — search thousands of events by state, date, type, and booth fee. Browse fairs near you →