Tagging Booth Inventory

Let's face it, tagging inventory is typically one of the dreaded tasks of booth life right there with cleaning and packing. It's tedious, time consuming and isn't exactly categorized as any of the "fun part" of collecting and selling. But like with most good things, you gotta put in the work too. In trying a few different approaches over time, this is the process that has come to work best for me - making this part of junkin' smooth, efficient and dare I say even fun.

Choose a Tag that Fits

In my particular mall, we have specific guidelines for tag types and sizes. One thing for example, is that they all must be the brown Kraft paper in color - no white and definitely no color or bright neons that you may run across in some stores. While some may think this may be a bit much, I appreciate the consistency and cohesiveness that it not only brings to my booth but to the store as a whole. It creates a clean, standard aesthetic that allows the shopper to eye the beautiful goods in everyone's booth rather than be distracted by price tags. Price tags are always still important of course, and are a requirement on each individual piece.  While I had many tags already that were fun, colorful and representative of my brand I made the necessary adjustments to meet the store's criteria and think they have worked well for the purpose they serve.

The key is staying consistent with every tag in your booth -pick a tag style you like and commit to always using it. I chose a pack with a large number on Amazon, because I knew they would cover a lot of inventory and that I could go back for more any time. This pack came with 1000 tags while a similar style came in a pack of 24 at Hobby Lobby. These are just fine for emergency moments when you've run out but you'd likely need hundreds of these packs over time and that's just not a sustainable approach. As I see that I am getting low on tags, I go ahead and place an order so I know I have plenty on hand as more and more inventory is added to my collection. 

If you are able to use any type of tag, choose size and colors that meet your aesthetic. Always use the same tag on every item. Having a go-to for this is one less thing to worry about through the never ending process of tagging. 

Use Premade Stamps or Labels

Once I decided on the tag I was going to use, I tried to figure out the best way to use them. I still hand-write my tags - the taglines and prices are different on every single tag, so inputing these in a label digitally really doesn't save me any time. There is one thing that is the same on every tag though -- my vendor code. Since this is something that is always the same and a necessity on every tag, I decided to use a custom stamp with my code on it -- and to cut one more step out, I went with a self-inking one. I designed this simple one on Amazon as well. I needed one on the fly and it was going to be designed and arrive fairly quickly. I customized it with my code and used the underscore line on the keyboard to make a line across the bottom so it would separate the price from the description of the piece and not look so cluttered. I found myself always drawing this line anyway, and again, it took out one more step and made a much cleaner look.

For markets and other events that don't have the same criteria for tagging as my mall, I use cards I designed on Canva and had printed and mailed. I used a standard business card size, but to maximize the amount I would get in one order, and to not take up too much space on my merchandise, I duplicated my design on one card - turning the larger rectangle into two small squares. On the front, it simply has my Down Home logo, and on the back is all the information one would need to find me again -- social media I use, website, location and yes -- another line as a place to put the item's price or any other information I need to add as if it were meant to be there.

Include Pertinent yet Concise Information

Attach Your Tags

Once your items are tagged, ensure they’re displayed in a way that’s easy to navigate. For hanging wall items, I always put tags on the bottom right corner so they are easy for shoppers to grab and read without too much of a reach or searching for a tag. Similarly, pillows and other upholstered items will have safety-pinned tags in the top right corner. If at all possible, tags are tied to items to avoid any damage. The tags I use come with string already attached to each tag, making this part easy. If the string needs to loop a little bit longer to  fit around a larger item then I will simply tie a long-enough piece of twine to the piece and tie the tag to that. When a tie is not possible at all (say on a ceramic plate for example), a small piece of tape will attach the tag to the piece in a place that will easily peel and leave no damage to the item.  Keeping your tagging process consistent will eventually have you in the habit of doing it naturally without having to concern yourself much with it. It also helps you quickly find tags when you are resetting your booth to adjust prices or labels when necessary. 

Be Consistent & Professional

Tagging inventory might seem like a small task, but it’s the little details that make all the difference. By being consistent with style and placement and putting care and creativity into your tags, you’re not just organizing your booth—you’re crafting an experience that’s as memorable and unique as the items you offer. 

Didn't you say something about "fun" too?

Ha - I suppose I did. Tagging doesn't have to be all that bad. Typically, I will grab a batch of tags while taking a break, turn on a show I like, pour a choice beverage and stamp away. This ends up being a mindless task that gets done while I would normally be sitting anyway and knocks out a large amount at once so they are good to go when I need to add prices and details later. Get a nice pen that you love to write with for when that time comes too. When you're done, add all of your tagging supplies to the same bag or box.- used only for tagging tools. This will make it easy to pull out when you have a moment to tag, transport to your booth when needed, and just as easy to put away all at once when you are done as well. 

Tagging Recap:

1. Determine the best tag that works for you.

2. DIY tags with a self-inking stamp or have some professionally printed.

3. Find a pen that writes well and doesn't bleed.

4. Use glossy scotch tape or twine to attach tags when necessary.

5. Get comfortable with your favorite show and beverage of choice and start tagging!

6. Place all tagging items in a bag or box for tagging materials only so you have them all in one place and ready to go next time!