Memorandum of Display Ideas for ZINE Events Without Outdoor Tables!

Since 2021, I have been regularly participating in an event called the Kichijoji ZINE Festival (Kichijin for short) held on the rooftop of Kichijoji Parco. Actually, this event does not have tables. I was quite shaken by that during my first time participating, so for those who plan to participate in table-less events in the future or would like to try, I am writing this article about displays and fixtures (equipment used for store displays).

About a month before the first Kichijin, I received a DM via Twitter from Mr. Nakanishi of the Book Culture Club, the organizer. It seems he had seen the "Ike-Oji no Hon" (Cool Middle-Aged Men Book) that I had been selling at Design Festa and the Autumn 2020 Interesting Doujinshi Bazaar. I was eager to participate in ZINE events, so I was fully prepared to exhibit after receiving the message, but when I checked the information carefully, I realized that tables were not provided and could not be rented either.

There are events where tables are not included by default, but in most cases, there are many venues where you can rent them for a fee (Design Festa, Handmade Marche, etc.), so honestly, I was quite anxious about an event without tables.

I didn't feel like I could exhibit...

I mean, how are you supposed to sell books without a table? No way! At the time, I truly could not imagine a ZINE sales event without tables from the bottom of my heart, and I even considered giving up on exhibiting altogether under those conditions. At that time, I didn't have the idea of flipping over cardboard boxes to use as tables (I had never seen a shop like that), and I imagined products being messily placed on a blue tarp like at a flea market, and I was convinced that my booth would look terrible.

Even when I searched, images like vintage clothing markets came up, but I couldn't find any images that I could really use as a reference, or rather, almost none. In the end, I couldn't come up with any ideas and was about to give up on participating, but I decided to take the plunge because Kichijin seemed like an event where you could see a wide range of ZINEs—not just manga, but also illustrations, photos, and essays—with a different atmosphere from regular primary creation doujinshi sales events like COMITIA or the Interesting Doujinshi Bazaar. Eventually, just before the exhibition, I bought a cheap camping table and a simple chair on Amazon and faced the day with the help of my family. (Later, I found out that tables are not necessarily required!)

With that said, the ZINE event Kichijin, which just started in 2021, recently finished its 4th event safely. Perhaps because it has been held multiple times, all the exhibitors in their respective spaces had created comfortable and nice-looking booths!

So that someone like me who was slightly panicking two years ago doesn't appear, and to reduce the burden of thinking about displays for those who have made their first ZINE, I would like to leave this as a memorandum of reference materials for displays at outdoor + table-less ZINE events (which currently means Kichijin).

Cardboard boxes as tables!

Although I brought a table for the first time, when I looked around the venue, there were truly various shops lined up. Until I actually saw the venue, I didn't know that just covering cardboard boxes with cloth could function as a table.

There were simple booths without even cardboard tables, just books, price tags, and explanations placed on cloth or a leisure sheet, and small booths with products placed on a folding kitchen rack covered with cloth. While watching various exhibitors, I felt a sense of relief, thinking that I should have just participated casually like this.

Of course, there were people who brought assembly-type ceilings, wooden pillars, and even noren curtains, and places where multiple people participated and prepared tables, posters, and panels, but I was very encouraged by the fact that just lining up books on the suitcase that carried the items was enough to make a proper shop.

I will now introduce tools that can actually make your booth look like a shop cheaply and easily.

Introducing actual booths with photos!

1. Low cost! Easy to see and spacious! Bazaar-like booth with a leisure sheet

2. Looks somewhat like a shop! Simple shelves by flipping over cardboard boxes

A full-scale sales booth by bringing in a sturdy camping table

Others: Booths where fixtures were arranged according to the books and items for sale!

List of items to bring

I have listed the basic items to bring. I think there are things that are necessary or unnecessary depending on the person, but this is a list of things that I personally think are needed. Since it would be very long if I wrote it here, I summarized it in a PDF.

It is safer to avoid poster stands that are placed on tables often found at sales events, or large poster installation devices like po.su.ta, because there is a possibility of strong winds blowing on the rooftop. Even quite heavy items can be blown away.

Tools for creating depth and three-dimensionality

It is generally considered good for a booth to have three-dimensionality, height, and depth. However, depending on the product, just placing it below is often enough to display it nicely. It is true that if a booth has depth and height, it becomes lively and makes it easier to pick up products. I will introduce some easily obtainable fixtures for your reference.

Kitchen rack (100-yen shop)
Just by covering it with a cloth from above, voila, a cool display rack is complete. It is light and foldable. It might fly away if blown by the wind, so if there is a strong wind, you might need to act as a shield. There are also stackable types.

↓ This kitchen rack is what I actually use. It allows stacking up to two, so I make it two tiers and place coin purses or masking tape behind it.

Shoe rack (IKEA)
Just by covering it with a cloth from above, voila... (same as above)
Stackable up to 2 tiers. If you buy about 4, it should probably become a quite large table. It is about 500 yen each. Such shoe racks are also sold at home improvement stores, so you might want to look for them there.

Cardboard
Assemble, fix with packing tape, and cover with a cloth to use. It might be more stable than kitchen racks or shoe racks. You can use things like those placed at the storefront of a drugstore, but I wanted a certain size, so I bought two at a nearby Package Plaza. Since it gets worn out, I save it for use as a table, and usually, I don't put things in it, but fold and store it.
Kichijin is 180cm x 180cm per booth (a 90cm wide booth was also added from 2023), so it is good to make a plan and buy only what you need. It is light and easy to carry.

Suitcase
A large suitcase can be used to carry products and then used as a fixture as is. I left it as is, but covering it with a cloth is also good. Let's place goods or display racks on top to have people look at the books.

Camping table
This is a folding table that can be carried. It is sometimes sold as a set with chairs, and it is made of aluminum or similar materials, so it is relatively light. However, it was tough to open a booth with this and products by myself, so please use it if you can exhibit as a group or if you can carry it in by car!

Camping chair
This is a chair that can be carried. I often saw people sitting comfortably on these at Kichijin, so I have the impression that many people use them! I envy people who go camping regularly and have these goods! ^^
Since mountaineering and camping goods are also excellent for storm and cold protection, those clothes and products can be used extensively at outdoor events. If there is someone nearby who has camping goods, it might be an option to borrow them...
(But when I think about it, isn't this not a fixture...)

Wire nets, etc.
I was relatively late to get into wire net fixtures, and seeing them used frequently at Design Festa and Kichijin, I thought, why didn't I use them sooner! The menu of additional options such as baskets and hooks for wire nets is wide, and just with this, I can imagine an infinite variety of booths...! It is excellent in every aspect, including height, surface display, and ease of carrying.

Pegboard
Also known as a punching board, these are boards with holes that are sold in small sizes at home centers and 100-yen shops. They are sold as boards for displaying and storing tools, but they also look cool when used for displays! Since metal fittings and small shelves for pegboards are also sold, the variations are almost endless.

Smart Bookshelf
This is the assembly-type display shelf I use for doujinshi sales events. Personally, I am extremely indebted to this smart bookshelf.

It is light and easy to carry, and the key point is that by stacking two shelves, no cover is hidden! It can hold four A5 books, so it is a good idea to buy it after your book collection grows. It takes time to assemble if you are not used to it, so it is a good idea to assemble it at home once before using it to simulate the process, otherwise you will panic at the venue... Since it is made of paper, it will wear out if used heavily. (It can't be helped) Since there can be gusts of wind outdoors, it is a good idea to put something heavy at the bottom when using this.

There are various other paper fixtures for doujinshi sales events and handmade events, so try searching for them!
Search terms include: sales event, display, handmade fixtures, paper fixtures, etc...

Things you can buy at 100-yen shops

Fixtures from 100-yen shops...
The variety of things you can buy at 100-yen shops is so vast that you could say that. It's at the level where you have to be careful not to buy things you don't need. Although it's a classic, I will introduce products that I often look at thinking they could be used at sales events.

Acrylic stands, etc.
You can use them to display book covers, or if there is a page you want to show, you can set it up while open. There should be many types at your local 100-yen shop. Wooden or stainless steel easels can also be used in the same way.

Photo frame
You can use it to put in things like menus or to explain the concept of your ZINE. It should look much better than just placing a single sheet of paper.

Pop stand
For standing up business cards, product prices, or explanatory pops, etc.

Coin case
You can put change in it. I have been using a 100-yen shop coin case for quite a long time, and there is no sign of it breaking yet.

Money exchange tray
It also has the meaning of avoiding direct contact, and since handing things back and forth by hand can surprisingly lead to confusion when handing over products, I use it. You can also substitute it with a lid of something you have at home, a simple plate, or a plastic container that held tofu. (Customers might be surprised if a tofu case appears, though)

Whiteboard
You can easily announce that you are out or away from your seat. You can also write and leave any information you want to add on the spot.

Wooden clips
They hold together small or light items like postcards that might get blown away. It is also great that they are unlikely to damage the books.

Transporting fixtures

Even if you buy fixtures, it is meaningless if you cannot transport them to the venue!!
Basically, I think they will fit in a suitcase, but I will introduce things that were useful when carrying bulky items just in case.

FRAKTA (IKEA)
IKEA's large backpack-style bag. The long side is larger than a suitcase, and I used it to carry acrylic racks, long wire nets, and cardboard boxes that didn't fit well in a suitcase. Above all, since you can carry it on your back and keep both hands free, it is easy to push a suitcase. If you absolutely have to move in and exhibit alone, I couldn't have made it through without this... tears※It seems the trolley that could be used as a set with this has been discontinued, which is a shame because it was a product I liked...
The trolley that can be used as a set is back! Depending on the person, you might be able to carry both cardboard boxes and products with just this one! It also looks cute.

IGÖRSNYGG (IKEA)

A light and cheap backpack that can hold items wider than the FRAKTA. It seems to be a product released recently.

https://www.ikea.com/jp/ja/p/goersnygg-bag-blue-50503980/

Carry cart
You can load cardboard boxes directly onto it and transport them. Fixtures that do not fit in a suitcase are transported by loading them onto something like this. I used to load my camping table onto this. Some people might think this is more convenient than a suitcase because it doesn't take up as much space during the event.

I have written various things, but basically, I think it is best to use what you have in your house and borrow what you can from others. It is not too late to gather tools after participating in events a few times.

Shops where you can get fixtures

I will introduce shops where you can buy fixtures and POP supplies other than 100-yen shops.

Shimojima
A shop a 5-minute walk from JR Asakusabashi Station. They sell various things useful for displays, such as storefront fixtures, thick paper for POP, transparent packaging, and cardboard boxes and packing materials in various sizes.

Package Plaza
A chain store affiliated with Shimojima that sells various packing supplies similar to those found at Shimojima. If Asakusabashi is a bit far for you, you might want to check if there is a Package Plaza in your town.

Store Express
A specialty store for retail fixtures. Although they are professional-grade, they sell various fixtures that individuals can also use. It's fun to walk around the store and get various ideas!

That's all for now; I've summarized information that seems useful for setting up a booth. I might add or revise this later...!
Preparing and thinking about displays is hard work, but it's also fun to be creative. Please try to create a nice booth that matches the concept of your book! Thank you for reading this far~

February 2023 Update

After writing this article, I published a book titled "What I Prepared for Display When I Couldn't Even Read the Word 'Fixture'."
Based on my past event exhibition experience, this is a know-how book for preparing displays for handmade and doujin events. It contains information such as what to do the day before, what to do during the event, what to do after, and which shops to buy things from.
You can get it at events in various places or through mail order!