⭐️ Top tips ⭐️ for selling at a market from someone who’s done it for 5+ years
Taking the leap and signing up to sell at your first market or in-person event can be daunting. Below I share my top tips and things I have learnt over the last 5 years of selling my prints and illustrations at events all over the UK to hopefully ease your nerves and lead to a successful day!
👀 Consider your stand/set up
How you display your work is super important - it’s what will often draw people into your stand. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of money and you can get inventive with how you display your work. You can often use items you already have, such as small baskets, trinket dishes or small trays, magazine racks, plate stands, or kitchen cupboard risers.
Also consider height on your display - ideally there should be taller/higher items at the back, and then small/flat items at the front. This can be achieved by turning small crates/boxes upside down and using them to stand items on, to achieve the height at the back of your stand, or simply arranging your products so that everything can be seen clearly.
Also - don’t forget a table cloth, and either a price list, or a way of individually pricing your items!
📖 Bring small things to do if it goes quiet
I’ve been there so many times - after lunch there is barely anyone looking around the event, and often many stallholders are sitting down. This time can be used to run to the loo, or get a drink and have lunch (essentials!), but if there is a longer period of quietness, its often a good idea to bring something small to do, so that you don’t feel like your time is completely wasted.
Depending on your business, there will be certain, small tasks which can easily be done whilst at your market stall.
These include things such as:
Stamping your logo onto paper bags
Adding business cards (or other promotional materials) into your bags so they’re ready to be given to the customer
Doing some drawings/sketches into sketchbook or onto iPad
Making a to-do list
Going through your diary and scheduling/planning for the upcoming week
Packaging up small items / adding labels
Tidying up the front of your stall / rearranging items to see if sales patterns change
🤫 It’s okay if theres quiet periods throughout the day
As mentioned above, quiet periods will definitely happen.
I have never done a market where it was busy/active from the minute it opened, until the minute it shut (if any fellow market-traders have been to events like this - let me know, as they sound a DREAM!)
Take these quiet moments to recoup, have something to drink and eat, and maybe grab a sit-down.
👋 Make friends with your market neighbours
I have met some lovely people from being next to them at markets. It’s a good idea to introduce yourself when you first arrive - but don’t be put off if they seem flustered and not that chatty at first - the set-up at markets can often be busy and rushed! Further chats will come as the day goes on, and its nice to feel theres someone there you can talk to - especially if you are at your stall alone and need to pop out for food/drink/the toilet!
Everyone who I’ve met has interesting stories to tell, other events to recommend (or to warn you about!), and often positive, constructive feedback about business ideas, stall-set-ups, and general small biz things. We’re all in the same boat!
💸 Invest in a card reader (and don’t forget a small amount of change!)
You can never tell when a customer will want to pay card or cash - so it’s a good idea to be prepared for both.
I have lost sales previously as I didn’t bring any change with me and the customer wanted to buy a £10 print but only had a £20 note!
On the whole, I wouldn’t recommend bringing a large amount of cash with you - just a small mix of coins. Often it isn’t needed, but it’s always good to have.
Getting a card reader is fairly inexpensive, but so vital - some events wont let you trade unless you have one!
I use the PayPal Zettle - it cost me approximately £30 for the reader itself, and then they deduct a small fee from all sales. All you need to have is a PayPal account, and then download the app, and it walks you through the steps to link the card reader to your phone.
Very easy to use and has never let me down!
📊 See it as a marketing exercise
Even if the event is quiet, and sales aren’t as you expected, the day can be used as a marketing activity.
If you have an online presence/shop, you might see some extra sales come through as a result of someone meeting you at the market. You might also gain some more followers on social media, or additional sign-ups to your mailing list.
If your business offers commissions or bespoke work, then you may meet someone who would be interested in this in the future.
Make sure that you have some business cards printed- something physical they can take away to remember you by. Or even better - something memorable with your social media handle/website on - such as stickers, bookmarks, or postcards which can be given away as an attractive piece of marketing.
Making the connection with someone at a market, even just saying ‘hello’ can leave a lasting impression, and you don’t know what it may lead to…
Happy trading! 🛍️ 💙 🌞