Before You Visit a Single Booth Space, Do This First

I'm looking for a new booth space here in Richmond, VA. And before I visit a single location, I'm doing what I always do first: I'm going down the rabbit hole from behind my keyboard.

It costs nothing and over the years it has saved me from making some very expensive mistakes. Most vendors skip this part entirely. They hear about a space, drive over, walk around, talk to the owner, and make a decision based on what they saw on that one visit.

But there is so much you can find out before you ever leave your house. Here's exactly what I look for:

Google Maps. Are they listed? That doesn't happen by accident. If a shop has taken the time to show up there, they're doing the work to be found. That's a green flag right out of the gate.

Search like a shopper would. Try search terms like "craft fair near me," "vendor markets in [your town]," or "holiday market [city]." Event locations may not have storefronts, but a good one will show up on community calendars or local tourism pages. If they're invisible online, they may be invisible to your customers too.

Check their social media. Whether it's a vendor mall or a one-day market, they should have a current and active presence on Facebook or Instagram. That's often the first place shoppers and vendors look for store hours, photos, or upcoming events. Scroll back a few months. Is it consistent? Are people engaging? Or does it feel like an afterthought?

Read the Google reviews, all of them. This one matters more than people realize. There's a shop near where I live that is beautiful. It's filled with amazing furniture artists' work, creative home decor, cute clothing, and antiques. But the Google reviews are full of complaints about rudeness from the owner and staff. And to top it off, the owner responds to those reviews with even more rudeness. Like it or not, your booth's reputation will be tied to the reputation of the shop or event. If people associate the space with bad energy, that rubs off on every booth inside it, even yours. Look for comments from both shoppers and vendors. Bonus points if you can find vendor discussion in Facebook groups.

Dig into past photos and videos. Search hashtags or browse the event's pages for pictures of booths, crowds, and layout. You can get a real feel for the energy of a place, the quality of the vendor mix, and whether shoppers are actually there to buy or just to wander.

By the time you've done all of this, you'll walk into that space already knowing things most vendors never think to find out. You'll be able to ask better questions, spot red flags faster, and make a smarter decision about where to put your time, money, and inventory.

This post was pulled from Chapter 2 of my book, How to Start a Booth. The full chapter covers everything from scouting the space in person to the exact questions you should ask the owner before you sign anything.

Ready to do your research? Grab the Booth Evaluation Checklist I use when I'm evaluating a new space.

👉 Want the full picture? Grab the book here.