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Christmas is here, representing one of the busiest times of year for independent makers, craft enterprises, and market sellers. Seasonal items and bespoke gifts become high-demand items, as Christmas shoppers look for the perfect gifts, ornaments, treats, and object dart with which to meet the season.
If you are a crafty person or independent maker, and you’ve been offered the chance to sell your wares at a physical market stall – either as part of a Christmas fair or independent event – you may be wondering how exactly to approach it. Here we’ll examine some of the key considerations you need to make before setting up your stall.
What to Keep in Mind When Opening a Festive Market Stall?
Administration and Legal Considerations
Firstly, you will need to give some time to administrative preparation – including researching any legal responsibilities you may have. For example, if you are a confectioner or hope to serve food of any kind at your stall, you will need to be registered with your council as a food business more than four weeks ahead of your stall date.
You should also ensure you have any queries answered by the market operator or promoter regarding costs. Some markets operate differently than others; you may be asked for a flat table fee, or you may be asked for a percentage cut of your total sales.
Logistics
Next, you need to attend the logistics of setting up your stall. There are a few factors to juggle here, not in the least with regard to stock. Will you have enough to meet your expected demand at the market, or do you need to invest in more product?
You should also take this opportunity to plan your stall layout. Presentation is everything, and can be the difference between selling out and striking out. Just make sure your plans are not too convoluted, and that everything can be easily transported to and from the venue.
Promotion
Presence at the market or maker’s event you are attending is not enough to guarantee your custom. You should also be prepared to invest a little in advance promotion, in order to publicise your offerings and increase interest ahead of time.
Printing a run of flyers detailing your specific offerings and price points, and the event at which you can be found, can be a great way to engage people – especially if they are left in popular venues that align with the demographic of your upcoming event. Social media is also important here, as regular updates about your stall even on the day can inspire more people to come and visit.
Pricing and Payment
Lastly, there is the matter of money. Setting a fair price for your goods can be tough, but market attendees are often more willing to spend than you may think. Half of the battle is not the cost of your goods, but rather the method of payment. With card payments more convenient than ever, having a POS terminal can be vital to winning over as many customer experience as possible.