I'm not sure this is the correct spot for this question, but here goes.
I make purses/tote bags and sell them at a few craft shows. In the summer I have my canopy to hang them from, but I did my first indoor show yesterday and had some of my bags on pants hangers hanging from a clothes drying rack. I didn't like the way they looked and am thinking about some kind of free standing wall that I could put hooks in and then hang my purses for full front views. (kind of like the bags hanging from nails behind me in my avatar)
I'm thinking about plastic lattice. Maybe 2 or 3 pieces hinged together to make a folding screen. Problem is DH and I don't have lots of experience doing any of this kind of work.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for an easily transportable way of displaying my bags?
I do have some sitting on tables, but some don't lend themselves to sit up.
Thanks for any ideas

when I did craft shows in the past with a friend we had peg board with hinges, then we could hang exactly where we wanted to and it was light weight.

For starters, could you get those hooks you see at christmas time that hangs from a mantle to put a stocking on? You could put this around your table so that you can hang your purses from it.

Just a thought, I will see if something else comes to mind.

It looks something like this

[img]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...RL._SL160_.jpg[/img]

Here's something like you described

[img]http://www.petittscreations.com/sep02/4.jpg[/img]

How about this

[img]http://www.chefrevival.com/images/products/BWGDR.jpg[/img]

If you like, here's the website

http://www.chefrevival.com/index.cfm...&productId=160

Okay, out of ideas. :D Good luck!

How about a pole with small dowels inserted at an upward angle, similar to a thread holder, but not that many, and 2x4's (or something similar) on the bottom to make it stand up. Then hang the purses from that. You could have several, if needed.

thanks for all the ideas so far. Keep the juices flowing.

I have a wroght Iron basket stand that stands on the floor, (I hang my longerbuger baskets on)
it works great for many differnt hanging items.
I have used it for purses and tote bags. One year I used it for Christmas ordaments.

My thought was similar to wolfkitty's. If you or DH could make a stand like a clothes tree, like a straight free standing square, tall board, and put hooks up and down the board on all four sides. I'm sure this doesn't make much sense but picture an artificial Christmas tree before you put the branches on. You could hang bags on all sides.

what about a board with those 3d white hooks, you know the kind you pull the tab and it then can come off? My friend uses them for everything.

Hinged ped board and use "S" hooks.

take a screen frame and nail the lattice boards to the back. paint, decorate, and hang!!!!

I use the clothes racks, BUT I zip tie peg board to them...front and back so it can be seen both sides..IF you have the room to do that..if not one side is plenty!
Paint the peg board a nice neutral color, but not too light..you can find the small hooks for the peg board at Lowe's usually. YOu can also get Shelf brackets for the peg board and put a small shelf on the top and bottom for stability! and for standing bags!

Good luck!

I recently purchased two wire grid walls for my booth , they made a HUGE differnence ... as you can get more display at eye level and just above . People will look up a little , but anything below 2 1/2 feet is like no- mans land.
They are not too expensive and are quite flexible as to the way you can use them. They do come in various sizes.
I did make a modification to the the hardware that was sent for the feet. I purchased wing nuts to replace the tiny nut they provide. The wing nuts make it much easier for a faster take down. Just wish I had gotten them sooner.
Oh one more tip .. for the tote bags .. I use balloons for a filler in the bag.

If you have one, a wooden drying rack will work for a hanging display. I'm thinking of the ones that scissor in and out and lock in place. A folding screen can also be used if you find one that you can tack nails or hooks into. Any two pieces of wood will work with hinges so that it folds flat to travel and when open it forms a triangle shape. I've seen two long louvered/shutter panels hinged toether. Several louvers were remove across from each other to run boards through to make shelves and to keep the panels in the V shape to stand up.

Why couldn't you use the canopy inside?? They do at our mall.

How about hinged peg board stands?

Please post a photo of your booth! I would love to see how you decided to display your totes.

How about a folding screen made from shutters, either wood or synthetic? You can hang 'S' hooks from the slats.

I'm no help with ideas, everyone here has great ones. My only comment would be to keep stuff above knee to hip level or it will not be seen.:) Good Luck at your shows.

"Oh one more tip .. for the tote bags .. I use balloons for a filler in the bag."

I do something similar. I got some 2 gal Ziploc bags and I blow them up with a straw and insert into the purses. That way I can use them over and over.

Thanks for more ideas. If I ever get it "right" I'll post some pictures.

I would suggest a free standing coat rack and attached hooks down the pole to hang more purses.

When I displayed my items on a table I layered them maybe place a container under the tablecloth to raise them and give them some height. It always worked for me.
Noella

I like this 'garment rack' www.collectionsets.com item # 115-36-21029 I use it and like how easy it sets up & folds up...they also have 'doubles' ,( but I'm not sure where I saw those.) google them!

I attended a flea market in Knoxville and purchased some flowers. the man put them in a plastic pag and gave them to me with a large (about three inches long) "S" hook. one end went through the bag loop and the other you placed on your wrist to carry the bag "hands free" If you could find these it would be nice to use for hanging just about anywhere, even on tables.

Patty Purple, my daughter and I have been shooting around ideas for ways to display things at craft festivals too.

For your purse displays, this might be an idea you'd like:
Go to a selvage yard and purchase four inexpensive and visually interesting old doors. Wooden screen doors would be gorgeous, but probably more expensive than indoor doors. Using hinges, connect the doors to each other in pairs. Two pairs, angled in two "L"s, back to back would make a free standing "X", from which you could hang your purses on all sides. Or you could arrange the doors in a zig zag panel, but be careful that they can't be knocked over easily.
For the hangers/hooks to hold your bags, you have a lot of options. You could hang your purses off of homemade hooks made from old metal hangers bent into curlicues and swirls. These can be attached to the doors with wood screws. Or you could even install interesting old cabinet knobs across the surfaces of the doors. Or mix and match. With these ideas, you would have "green" as in recycled/re-used, purse displays.

Ha! I just realized I wrote “selvage yard” instead of “salvage yard” LOL

You probably don't live too far from me, which got me wondering...what craft shows do you exhibit in? We just missed going to that huge The Letchworth Arts & Crafts Show because it snuck up and passed before we realized it. Anyway, it would be fun to keep an eye out for Pattypurple's Purses at a show someday!

I would love to see photos of some of these ideas. My DD takes my raggy items when she does her Open House for Avon/Tupperware. I really need a totebag display. It has to be inexpensive, though.

I'm going to my first show soon. I embroidered a bunch of euro pillow shams. I'm taking my wire cube racks. You know, the ones that are wire squares and you build them into cubes with plastic corner connectors.

The shams can store inside the cubes and hang over the front of 4 cubes. Then I just lift the flap and there's my stock! Overstock and bags go in bottom cubes.

Woodlandmarketing.com has great displays also storesupplywholesale.com
These are the places I use to use when I needed displays when I traveled and did shows.

Me too!

How much do you sell your purses and totes for? I know it will vary, but what to what for instance.
Thanks

go to www.quiltfrog.com and look up quilt stand. Carrie has made a quilt stand that can be broken down for transport if you don't glue it. It should do the trick for your purses too.

I made a bi-fold lattice one , when I did shows I cut 1x2 sq(no angles) to fit the lattice. I screwed them together using metal corner angles & stapled the lattice on, added 3 sets of hinges. Was good to go !

[quote=Lori S]I recently purchased two wire grid walls for my booth , they made a HUGE differnence ...


Lori, where did you buy your grid walls?

I actually have that rack that I bought at Joann's. That is what I used last weekend, but the purses only showed from the side for most of them. I do like how it folds up

Most of mine are in the $20-35 range. More if they have zippers. I usually cover costs and work for about $1/hr. I really enjoy making the bags and can't justify having so many for my own use, so I sell some.

thanks, that look interesting