Do you have an amazing small business that you’re looking to expand through your local market?
Start your stall with confidence and get the most out of your market experience with these tips.
Find your market match
The most important step in starting your market stall is doing your research and finding a market that fits your brand! This could depend on a whole range of factors, including:
- Your product range
- Your target market
- Location of the markets
- Stall pricing – consider value for money
- Direct competitors within the same market
- The quality of advertising they include
Always make sure you read the market’s guidelines and rules before applying. Every market will have different standards that they expect their stallholders to keep up, from stall design to etiquette and health & safety requirements.
We also recommend checking out what other stallholders have had to say about their experiences with that market!
Stall Display
It depends on the market, but if you are serious about starting your stall you will need to think about your stall display. Not sure where to start with this? Some things to think about:
- What are the stall dimensions? Is it a table stall or full marquee set-up?
- How big is your product range?
- Do you need a marquee or can you ease into market life with something simple?
- How do you want your products to flow? It’s a good idea to find a balance of larger and smaller items, or try colour-blocking similar shades together to show off your collections and create a visually appealing design
You’ll also need a way to show your stall layout with your application. If this is your first market, we recommend a detailed diagram or mock-up of what your stall will look like. Your stall design should improve as you do more markets, so make sure you’re updating the pictures provided alongside your application!
Time to apply!
Check out the market’s “apply” page to book your stall! Pay attention to application launch dates to make sure you get in early – a lot of markets operate on a first in best dressed selection process and they can fill up quickly. Prepare by making sure you know what to expect in the application and have your stall fee available upfront.
Make sure everything is ready for market day
This applies to everything from your products to technology.
Once you find a stall set-up that you like, practise setting it up and unpacking it. You’ll have a limited time for bump-in (set up) on market day, so you need to make sure you are well within that time frame.
Don’t forget to register for card payments (Square readers are our favourite) and purchase a power bank to charge your phone or reader throughout the day.
Stay updated
Make sure you are checking your email regularly for any updates leading up to the market date. This will usually include important information including bump-in protocols, the market day schedule and your placement at the venue.
Sometimes there will be unavoidable issues, such as major weather events, which may result in the event being cancelled or postponed, so it is essential that you stay up to date with market communications!
Ready to get started? Apply with The Market Folk today to book your spot at our next market!
