you don't know where you went wrong: at lunchtime you were on target to have the truck packed and ready to go for tomorrow's 7 a.m. craft show load-in time, yet despite good intentions it's now 2 in the morning and you're still tagging sock monkeys. if this hasn't happened to you yet, just wait...it will. deflate your inner-craft-show-panic-demon by being armed with a booth set-up that allows for flexibility, creativity, and maximum merchandising. my first weapon of choice is IKEA, namely their gorm adjustable shelving:
reasons why i love this shelving:
1. solid as a rock: while they're sturdy, they're not so heavy that you can't carry them yourself. i've had my current set for 4 craft show seasons.
2. you can configure them in mulitple ways - not only for standard 10x10 outdoor booths, but also different sized/shaped indoor show booths. their flexibility is also especially helpful if you have multiple types of products to display.
3. you can attach things to them - display arms, rods for hanging (my favorite is copper plumber's pipe), curtains, signage, even your pop-up tent.
4. you can paint them over and over. mine have been light blue, black, brown and white. my fave so far? white.
4. you can paint them over and over. mine have been light blue, black, brown and white. my fave so far? white.
5. they are a great marketing tool. you can make them unique, eye-catching, and personalized to fit your product.
in the photo above, white particle board shelving rests on the 2nd level of black shelving, creating an official cash-wrap area, storage, and a place for literature/seasonal decorations. aprons are hanging on copper plumbing pipe, screwed into the bottom of the shelf above with u-shaped copper brads. i screwed rain gauges into the back side of the shelving to create hidden bud-vases for my sunflowers. curtains (ikea) were tacked on top of shelving from behind, which creates a back-drop, more storage, and blocks the view of whatever unsightly nonsense is behind you! 
between the left and right shelf in the photo above, copper plumbing pipe is hung horizontally - providing a display space and signage area for headbands. through much trial + error, i found copper pipe works best for hanging displays such as this - the pipe does not give under the weight of whatever is hung on it. to cut the pipe to any length you need, look for a hand-held copper pipe cutting tool. the green rug above is available pre-cut or by-the-yard. the black and white rug below is vinyl tablecloth material held down with colored duct tape:
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