Cash Box for a Craft Fair: How to Choose a Portable Till for Selling at a Market
If you sell your handmade items at craft fairs - from small local markets to larger trade shows for makers - sooner or later you'll face a practical question: where do you keep the cash, and how do you give change quickly without making the customer wait? A regular wallet or an old candy box won't do the job. The solution is a cash box - a portable till made for working at events.Why a maker needs a cash box at a fair
A regular wallet is usually not enough for handling cash. It's even worse if you have to dig through your pockets for change while a customer waits. As a professional who turns from a creative person into a businessperson for the day, it's worth getting a proper cash box ahead of time.A cash box lets you:
- keep bills and coins separated and organized;
- lock the till quickly if you need to step away from your table;
- hand the till over to a partner or helper if more than one person is working the stand;
- look organized and professional to customers - which also builds trust.
How to choose a cash box for a fair
When choosing a cash box, pay attention to a few things:- A lock and key - this is a basic requirement, not a luxury. You should be able to lock the till in a second.
- Built-in compartments for bills and coins - an organized tray inside helps you find the right amount quickly and give change without wasting the customer's time.
- A compact but sturdy body - the cash box should fit on your table without taking up too much space, but it shouldn't tip over or dent from an accidental bump.
- Two keys, if more than one person works the stand - a partner or helper should be able to open the till on their own, without waiting for you.
Setting up your stand around the till
How you organize your stand's space matters not only for showing off your products, but also for serving customers efficiently. Display as much of your product range as possible so it's visible to visitors, and mark the price on each item or give a price range for a group of items - this removes the barrier of having to ask.
If you accept card payments, plan a spot for your card terminal or phone with the payment app - it should be within reach, but reasonably safe when there's a big crowd.
Before the fair, make sure you have enough stock to fill your stand's space well, and calculate your costs, including: table/space rental, parking, card transaction fees, packaging materials, and small daily expenses like coffee or lunch.
Security after the fair
Once the fair is over, another question comes up: where do you keep the day's earnings and important paperwork until you can deposit the money or get it home safely? If fairs are a regular part of your business, it's worth considering an extra layer of protection - a small home or office safe where the cash box can be stored between events.
Customers worth remembering
Selling your product should be goal #1, but if you can't close a sale today, give yourself the chance to close it tomorrow. Keep in mind that simply asking for someone's email or social media handle doesn't mean you'll get it. Make it clear what the customer gets in return for sharing their contact - updates on new products, news about upcoming fairs, or special offers from your online store.
Success at a craft fair isn't just about having good products - it's also about smart organization, from price tags on your stand to what you put your earnings in at the end of the day. Choosing a reliable cash box ahead of time is a small detail that saves a lot of stress during the event itself.
