Art Market Craft Sale
Calgary's premiere art & craft sale
CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE
November 19 - 22, 2026
Episode 3 - Products and Pricing
Our Calgary Shoppers
We market/advertise to all shoppers. Our median age range is between 35 to 44 (33%), sandwiched between 25-35 years of age (18%) and 45-54 years of age (25%), so your audience is diverse, and so is their spending power, with diverse household incomes. Our shoppers are 85% female, and we normally see around 15,000 people come through the door. We offer a well-used reentry pass for the full four days, which makes a true number difficult to compute.
These statistics are measured and come from our social media platforms, media partners, and bulk email services.
We want our customers to shop Canadian, shop handmade, and stop, shop and buy from you at Art Market!
While you are out and about during the rest of the summer season and into the early fall, look at what is going on at other shows. Is there an idea you can adopt for Art Market? What are the consumers looking for these days? If you are a consumer, what strikes your fancy? What are the new colour schemes for the Fall? Plan to make your changes now so you are ready for the Fall season!
A few things to think about trying at Art Market:
- 3-tier pricing, sizing, colour palette (offer different levels of products)
- Create a piece on a smaller scale for all budgets
- Create a piece with a new medium (within your category/genre)
- Limit edition some of your work – a line of pottery, a new design of clothing, limited quantities of a new jewellery line you are trying out
- Update your booth display (don’t forget lighting, lighting, lighting!)
- Host a small symposium in your booth – take customers on a journey of how you created something. Allow them to look through your eyes
- Keep moving in your booth. Work on a small project, make your work real to the customer!
- Demonstrating in your booth so customers can see the magic come alive in front of their eyes!
- Create some FOMO! (Fear of missing out)
- Launch special ‘Art Market 40th Birthday’ pieces/editions and present them at the show. (Let us know so we can help promote your special pieces!)
Products & Pricing
Part of our selling feature to the customer is to come to Art Market and MEET the artists. We want them to come, speak with you, hear your story – CONNECT and COLLECT is the idea. For that to happen with ALL shoppers, we recommend that you prepare for three pricing levels. If you’ve made the connection, set them up with the opportunity to go home with something to remember you by – large or small – and when they return the following year, you have given them a chance to save up for that next piece that they haven’t been able to forget about.
Payment Plan Options:
You, of course, should be set up to take as many forms of payment as possible, and now, through many providers, you can offer payment options. The option of Buy Now Pay Later Apps like PayPal, Sezzle, Square and Afterpay can help push that sale over the finish line, assisting the customer with those big purchases. If you provide this option, you should advertise it! Maybe a small picture frame with ‘payment options available’ will push a sale.
How much product should I bring?
There is no perfect answer to this. Each artist is different. We suggest you do your best to have the products you sent us pictures of, and if not, similar items to direct the customers’ attention. Polling your immediate connections or social following about product choices is also an option. Make sure your booth is always full and vibrant with your work.
What do I do if I run out of product?
There is no such thing! We pride ourselves on the ‘beauty’ of the show, and an empty booth would not be pretty. In the case of low stock, have a plan that allows you to keep products displayed to keep your booth looking great and have a plan to take orders. Keep sold product in your booth and offer delivery after the show. You can also have products couriered to the convention centre.
NO Markdowns
We have such value for your work and do not want to see you devalue the work you have put into creating your pieces. No slashed prices or signs indicating 30% off on the show floor. You can, in conversation, offer a customer a deal, but there should be no signage to that effect.
As usual… have questions or ideas you want to talk out, email Nichole at info@artmarketcraftsale.com
More to come soon!
Note: Please watch out for SCAMS! There are some tricky ones circulating out there for all art and craft shows. Make sure any emails are coming from info@artmarketcraftsale.com, artmarketcraftsale@gmail.com, or artmarketmedia@gmail.com. If you do not see any of those emails in the sender box, it is not Art Market. You can always touch base with any of the above emails to verify.
Episode 2 - Payments, Prepping and What's New
- Payment Schedule: Your second booth payment is DUE JULY 15TH! (That’s TODAY) Do not miss this payment. You can e-transfer funds to info@artmarketcraftsale.com or artmarketcraftsale@gmail.com. Please use the password: 2026show or birthday40 (as on your Show Contract and Show Kit).
- Deposit Notes: Please make sure you label your deposit on each etransfer. Make sure the password is one of the ones that have already been provided this year. Mark your calendar for the payment program.
- Just a reminder…….Show Kit! Found on our website – artmarketcraftsale.com – under the Exhibiting Info tab. Password: 40birthday. Each of the tabs will be explained as each applicable time comes up.
- Contract – Done!
- Social Media Questionnaire – Done! Michelle is busy putting all the artists in a queue. If you have not filled one out this year, you will miss the queue! You can always email her for any social media or photo questions: artmarketmedia@gmail.com
- Show Details tab is packed with information. Please start familiarizing yourself with this tab and ask questions now for a better, quicker response.
- Photos: As you get new, fresh, clear photos throughout the summer, send them to Michelle at artmarketmedia@gmail.com. This is to update our website and for Michelle to start sharing your story to all of Calgary.
- Website: YOUR website. Update, make fresh, change out photos and product shots, and update your calendar of events. We are now starting to promote you and will be sending Calgary customers to your website.
Prizes, Prizes, Prizes
Let’s Talk 40th BIRTHDAY and what is new for Art Market 2026!
The Showcase (of sorts) is back! Many of you have expressed that you have a giveaway item to donate. This year, we will be hosting an opportunity for you to give away different kinds of items. (products, gift certificates, discount cards, etc)
This year we want to spice things up with giving 40 amazing gift bags away each day of the show. Plus Art Market gift certificates and more.
The magic number for giveaways this year 40, 40, 40!
We are currently accepting prize donations as we organize these giveaways and the advertising around it. Below are some suggestions of what you can donate:
Pieces of your work (there is no limit to quantity, but we do not want you to give away more than you care to!). You could also include a 10% off coupon with your work if you would like. This might generate a sale with your giveaway!
A discount code or coupon: Eg: painters, it is hard to give away a painting as it is a very colour/genre specific gift. Instead of donating a painting, you could offer a discount to shop for one in your booth. Or give a calendar or set of cards as a giveaway.
Classes or courses to attend: You might already offer courses or classes on how to learn your craft; a free class gift certificate is a good gift!
Customization or fittings: Free belt sizing or embossing, free live painting on your purchased product, or jewellery fitting?
A Gift basket or box set: A collaboration of samples, flavours, or scents of what you make.
Samples of your yummy products! Everyone likes chocolate, spices, sauces, fancy nuts, sweets…..even a bottle of spirits or wine!
The idea is to give away something that truly reflects you and your work—something memorable that encourages visitors to stop by your booth, thank you in person, and explore the rest of your artwork or products. A thoughtful giveaway can spark interest, lead to purchases, and introduce Calgary shoppers to the quality and creativity behind your brand. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to showcase what makes your work special, build lasting connections with customers, and leave them excited to come back for more.
If you are interested in donating, please contact Nichole at: info@artmarketcraftsale.com or artmarketcraftsale@gmail.com. Let me know what you’re thinking in terms of product, gift certificate, % off something in your booth, classes and the quantity. We can arrange for shipping beforehand and/or drop off at the info desk on move-in day.
Episode 1 - Welcome to Art Market 2026
- Welcome new artists! Welcome back previous artists!
- Intro to “Let’s Talk About” Episode 1
- Show Kit! Found on our website – artmarketcraftsale.com – under the Exhibiting Info tab. Password: 40Birthday. Each of the tabs will be explained throughout the preseason as each applicable time comes up. (All the information about the show is in this kit. Please have a very good read of all the material. We do our best to keep it current each month.
- Show contract and payment information: DUE May 6th
- Deposit Notes: Please make sure you label your deposit on each etransfer. Make sure the password is one of the ones that have already been provided this year. Mark your calendar for the payment program.
- Social Media Questionnaire: Fill it out so Michelle can update your website profile and start to promote you: DUE May 6th
- Photos: Send now – fresh, clear, and in focus. This is to update our website and for Michelle to start sharing your story to all of Calgary.
- Website: YOUR website. Update, make fresh, change out photos and product shots, and update your calendar of events. We are now starting to promote you and will be sending Calgary customers to your website.
What’s New 2026
- Let’s Talk 40th BIRTHDAY and what is new for Art Market 2026!
- Rebranding of Art Market Logo!
- Cake! Of course, we have to have a birthday cake to celebrate!
- Door prizes: 40, 40, 40! Is the magic number for giveaways this year
- The Showcase (of sorts) is back! Many of you have expressed that you have a giveaway item to donate. This year, we will be hosting an opportunity for you to give away different kinds of items. (products, gift certificates, discount cards, etc)
- New artisan lounge location
- New and updated food concession location for customers. More comfort so they do not have to leave the building. The idea is for them to stay all day and shop!
- New pre-function decorations and display. Let’s mix it up and give Calgary a refresher and stage all the giveaways here!
- New booth configurations.
- Artisan and Staff Saturday-after-show-party!