Is It Ever OK To Leave A Vendor Event Early?
We had a really bad event recently. And by bad, I mean we experienced our very first “shut-out” — no sales at all for an entire day.
Since I re-started my business a few years ago, we've logged roughly 220 in-person selling days. We've had our share of record-breaking days and our share of low-sales events (haven't we all?), but never — not once — had we gone an entire day without selling a single thing. It was frustrating, discouraging, and honestly made for a very long day… especially knowing we still had a long drive home ahead of us.
Leaving a vendor event early is widely considered a major no-no in the vendor world. It's frowned upon, discouraged, and often comes with consequences. But let's be real — it does happen. And sometimes, it's justified.
So when is it OK to pack up and leave early?
I recently polled some of my fellow metalsmiths to get their take on when leaving early might actually be reasonable. Here's what came up again and again.
When Leaving Early Is Understandable (Sort of)
- Terrible (or unsafe) weather — I've had a few market days at the Yachats Farmers Market on the Oregon Coast where the wind picked up so badly that — even with proper tent weights and an extra kettlebell — our canopy and inventory were at risk. At that point, staying isn't professional; it's dangerous. Will and I packed up early rather than risk losing inventory or our tent. Others in my poll mentioned torrential rain, tornado warnings, extreme heat, and events that were officially shut down early due to weather. Safety always comes first.
- Emergencies — Family emergencies, health issues, unexpected situations — life happens. Several vendors said they've left early due to circumstances completely outside their control. In those cases, there's really no debate.
- Not As Advertised — More than a few people shared stories about events that weren't as advertised. Minimal marketing, zero foot traffic, and organizers who seemed more interested in collecting booth fees than creating a successful event. I experienced one of these early on in my vending career — a huge venue, lots of vendors, almost no customers. I was inexperienced and committed the cardinal sin of signing up for a first-time event without much vetting. Lesson learned.
So… What Do You Do When an Event Is Just Plain Terrible?
If you decide to stick it out (and sometimes that's the best option), here are a few ways to make the time more productive:
- Meet and network with other vendors. You can learn a lot about better events and make connections that may pay off down the road.
- Take and edit product, booth and display photos.
- Bring your art or craft with you and work on a project or production work.
- Work on social media — plan, design, schedule, etc.
- Work on your website or Etsy shop if you brought your laptop.
- Research future events.
- Work on email marketing — draft newsletters, plan promotions, or clean up your mailing lists.
If You Do Leave Early, Know the Consequences
Here's the hard truth: if you pack up and leave an event early — whatever the reason — you won't be refunded your booth fee, and you probably won't be invited back for future events with that organizer.
It's also important to consider how early departures affect the bigger picture. When vendors start tearing down while shoppers are still present, it sends a negative message — not only to customers, but also to event organizers and fellow vendors. For that reason alone, leaving early should never be your first choice.
That said, there are times when vendors quietly prepare for an efficient exit without disrupting the event — and that's exactly what we chose to do.
What We Did at This Event
At this particular event, we took a middle-ground approach. We didn't leave early, but we did begin discreetly packing items we no longer needed so we'd be ready for a quick teardown once the show officially ended. I moved my car to a more favorable loading area (customer parking area was empty), and we boxed up non-essential items — extra display pieces, chairs, surplus packaging, and personal belongings.
Luckily, our booth was located near an exit, and the process went mostly unnoticed. By that point, there were only a handful of customers left in the entire venue, and we hadn't had a single sale — or even a meaningful interaction — most of the day. While this was an established event with an experienced organizer, it ultimately turned out to be a completely wrong fit for us. Another lesson learned.
If You Truly Need to Leave Early
If you do find yourself in a situation where leaving early is unavoidable, a few things matter:
- Pack quietly and discreetly.
- Avoid drawing attention or making a scene.
- Do NOT complain about the event to customers or fellow vendors.
Sometimes the most professional choice isn't staying at all costs — it's exiting gracefully.