Is it normal to lose money at some events?
A slow market day can still teach you what to change, because the real win is knowing why you lost money and how to avoid repeating it.
The Narrative (Left Column)
The Empathy
You pack up after a long event and the mood is off. The crowd looked steady, but once you count the cash and run the numbers, it barely covers the booth fee and inventory. It's frustrating because you did everything right: early setup, friendly sales, good product. Losses can feel personal, and it's hard to tell if the event was a fluke or a warning sign.
The Education
Losses happen for real, predictable reasons. A high booth fee, long travel time, bad weather, or a mismatch between your products and the crowd can all push an event below break-even. The key is to measure net profit after every cost, not just sales. When you track booth fees, travel, packaging, and hours worked, you can see whether the event was truly unprofitable or just low margin. That clarity turns a rough day into data you can use.
The Solution
Treat each event like a mini case study. Log your sales, costs, and hours, then do a quick recap: What drove traffic? Which items sold? What would need to change for this show to hit your target? Over a few events, you'll spot patterns and know which markets are worth repeating, which ones need a price tweak, and which to skip. Losses still sting, but they become lessons that sharpen your next decision.
Stop Guessing. Start Growing.
Stop waiting until the end of the month to see if you made money. Get instant clarity on every sale, even without Wi-Fi.
