By Avra Sullivan

When artist Lisa Shiflett wanted a place to sell and showcase her work, she couldn’t find a venue. So she opened her own. Craft Show Boutique, which opened July 1st, is a gathering of artists, galleries, crafters and vendors, who rent a booth in to display and sell their work. Booths range in price from $25 per month up to $125 per month depending on the size. Lisa, a lifelong artist and crafter who also has experience in retail and display, will work with the crafter to section out and design the area to best enhance what they have to offer. The store itself is an open area, but vendors are sectioned off, creating mini-stores and one-stop shopping. “We have about 20 vendors now,” says Lisa, including artists, jewelry makers, organic and homemade products and much more. “I’m so thrilled at the quality of the artists’ work. Everything is very upscale and amazing.”

Craft Show Boutique also provides a unique form of mass marketing. Vendors mention her store on their websites, Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as on business cards and flyers. When a customer visits the store for one particular vendor, they are exposed to many others. For the artist, this is a great time-thrifty way to sell their items. Most of the vendors have full-time jobs as well as families and other commitments. Lisa, who also sells her own art at the store, takes on much of the work of selling the items, simply by being open. Vendors check in and can change and upgrade as they see fit, but Lisa is there to handle the everyday sales. It is also very inexpensive for the vendor. Craft Show Boutique does not take any commission off of the sales of the items.

Crafters interested in renting space can contact Lisa at 410-793-7335. You can visit Craft Show Boutique at 8B Chester Plaza in Chester, Maryland. They are open Tues. 11-7, Wed-Fri 9-5 Sat. 9-3 and Sun. 9-2