Why this matters for a CNC shop
Custom work is hard to picture until someone holds it. People don't know they want a carved sign with their ranch brand, or a part made instead of waiting on backorder, until they see one or hear about someone who has one. So small shops get found in two ways: in person, where people can pick up your work, and in the local online spaces where neighbors ask "does anybody know someone who can make...?" This page covers both.
What you need
- A small set of your best pieces to show, plus a few low-priced items people can buy on the spot
- Business cards or a flyer with a QR code to your website or quote form
- A sign-up sheet or tablet form for your email list (see C10)
- A way to take payments on your phone
- Photos of your work on your phone, organized in an album
- A personal Facebook account and a Nextdoor business page
In person: where to show up
| Where | Good for |
|---|---|
| Craft fairs and holiday markets | Signs, engraved gifts, 3D printed items. Buyers come ready to spend on gifts. |
| Farmers markets | Repeat weekly contact with the same local crowd. Small items and custom orders. |
| Maker spaces | Meeting other makers, trading referrals, teaching a class, finding overflow work. |
| Chamber of commerce | Meeting local business owners who buy signs, promo items and employee gifts. Ribbon cuttings, mixers and member directories. |
| Networking groups (BNI, Rotary, Lions, local business breakfasts) | Steady referrals from people who meet every week, especially realtors, insurance and title folks. |
| Trade shows | Machining and industrial buyers; also regional ag, oil and gas, and manufacturing shows. |
| Home and garden shows | House signs, address plaques, outdoor décor, custom furniture pieces. |
How to pick events
- Match the crowd to what you sell. Ask the organizer who comes, how many people usually attend, and what vendors sold well last year. Ask other vendors too.
- Check the vendor mix. If six laser tumbler booths are already signed up, think twice.
- Add up the real cost. Booth fee, travel, a day or two away from the machines, and stock you have to make ahead.
- Try it once before committing to a season. Keep notes: sales, custom orders taken, list sign-ups, and leads. Decide from your own numbers.
- Read the rules. Some events require a sales tax permit, insurance, a tent weight, or handmade-only goods. Check before you pay.
Booth basics
- A big, readable sign with your shop name and what you do in a few words: "Custom Signs and Engraving," "Parts Made to Order."
- Height and levels. Put pieces on risers and a back wall so people see them from the aisle.
- Prices showing on everything. People walk away rather than ask.
- Show the process. A tablet playing your machine video, or a small machine running if the event allows it and it's safe. Check power, ventilation and fire rules first.
- A custom order spot. A clipboard or tablet for custom orders, with a "made to order, ready in [X] days" sign.
What to bring
- Tent, table, tablecloth, weights, display risers, lighting if indoors
- Stock to sell, show pieces, and custom order samples
- Card reader, charged phone, battery pack, small bills for change
- Business cards, flyers with QR code, email sign-up sheet
- Custom order forms, pens, bags or wrapping
- Price tags, tape, zip ties, scissors, extension cord
- Water, snacks, a chair
Talk track
Opening (stand up, don't sit behind the table):
"Hi! Everything here is made in my shop in [Town]. Most of what I do is custom."
When they pick something up:
"That one's [walnut / stainless / PETG]. I can put a name, a date or a logo on it. What would you want on yours?"
When they're interested but not buying today:
"Take a card. The QR code goes straight to my order form. Want me to add you to my email list? I send out new items and holiday order deadlines, maybe once a month."
For a business owner:
"Do you ever need [signs / client gifts / employee awards / parts]? I make those too. Can I get your card and send you a price sheet?"
Following up afterward
- Within two days, add every sign-up to your list with the tag for that event.
- Send a thank-you email to everyone who signed up (template below).
- Call or email every business lead and every custom order inquiry that week.
- Write your event notes so you can decide whether to go back.
Subject: Great meeting you at [Event]
Hi [Name],
Thanks for stopping by the [Shop Name] booth at [Event]. If you were thinking about a custom [item], reply with what you have in mind or use this link: [quote form link]. I usually get back to people within a day.
[Your Name]
[Shop Name] · [Phone]
[Street address or PO box]
You're getting this because you signed up at our booth. To stop getting emails from us, reply "unsubscribe" or click here: [link].
Online: where to show up
| Where | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Local Facebook groups | Town community groups, buy-sell groups, "shop small" groups, local moms' groups, hunting and fishing groups, school and sports parent groups. |
| Nextdoor | Set up a free business page. Neighbors ask for recommendations here. Answer when your work fits. |
| Directories | Google Business Profile (C1), Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Yelp, your chamber's member directory, and local "shop local" lists. Use the same name, address and phone everywhere. |
| Supplier directories (machining) | Industrial and manufacturing directories and marketplaces where buyers search for shops by capability. Fill in your machines, materials, tolerances and certifications. Check your state's manufacturing extension program and economic development office for local supplier lists. |
Posting in groups without spamming
Follow each group's rules. Read the group rules before your first post. Many groups allow business posts only on a certain day or in a certain thread, and some don't allow them at all. Admins can remove you for breaking them.
- Join as yourself and be a member first. Comment and help for a few weeks before posting about your shop.
- Answer requests. When someone asks "who can make a sign" or "does anyone have a 3D printer," reply with a short, helpful answer and one photo. Don't paste the same ad everywhere.
- Use promo days. If the group has a "Small Business Saturday" thread, post there with one good photo and a short description.
- Don't post the same thing in ten groups the same day. Pick the two or three that fit best.
- Ask before posting if the rules aren't clear. A message to the admin goes a long way.
Reply to a "does anyone know..." post
Hi [Name]! I run [Shop Name] here in [Town] and make [custom signs / engraved gifts / printed parts / machined parts]. Here's one I did recently. [photo] Happy to give you a quote. Message me or use [link].
Promo-day post
Hi neighbors! I'm [Name], and I run [Shop Name] out of [Town]. I make [custom signs, engraved tumblers and gifts / 3D printed parts / machined parts] right here. This week I finished [short description of a recent job]. If you need something made, message me or check out [link]. Thanks for supporting local!
Keep it going: the routine
- Daily, 5 minutes: check your groups and Nextdoor for requests you can answer.
- Weekly: one promo-day post in the groups that allow it.
- Monthly: one networking meeting or chamber event.
- Quarterly: pick the next events and book booths early.
Checklist
- Three to five events picked for the next six months
- Booth kit packed in one bin
- Talk track practiced
- Email sign-up ready at every event
- Follow-up done within two days of each event
- Joined the main local Facebook groups and read their rules
- Nextdoor business page set up
- Directory listings matching name, address and phone
- Machining: supplier directory profiles filled in
Common mistakes
- Sitting behind the table on your phone.
- No prices showing.
- Going home without collecting names, and never following up.
- Paying for every event in the area without tracking which ones work for you.
- Dropping ads in groups that don't allow them.
- Different phone numbers or shop names on different directories.
Notes by shop type
| Shop | What's different |
|---|---|
| Wood carving and signs | Home and garden shows and craft fairs fit best. Bring one large showpiece people can see from across the room. |
| Laser engraving | Engraving on the spot can draw people in, if the event allows the machine and you have safe ventilation and power. Networking groups lead to corporate gift orders. |
| 3D printing | Maker spaces, hobby shows and school STEM nights fit well. A printer running at the booth shows how it works. Bring examples of replacement parts, not only toys. |
| Machining | Skip craft fairs. Focus on trade shows, chamber and economic development events, supplier directories, and walking into local plants with a capability sheet: machines, materials, sizes, tolerances and turnaround. |
Want Annie's to do this for you? We can find events and groups that fit your shop, set up your directory listings, and handle follow-up after each event.