Advice for first market stall

dammitjanet

I've decided to finally do my first jewellery stall at one of the local markets. I've always toyed with the idea of selling but never had the time or the guts.
I've made a portfolio out of old breadboards which I can use as a display and I think I've enough stock (not sure how much I'll need. Hell i'm not sure if I'll actually sell anything!!)

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or tales of experience to help me with my first time selling! I've never done anything like this so I'm very nerous.

looksee

Go in looking confident - don't look worried or apologetic, these are your crafts and you are proud of them. Show them off. Have some nice dark fabric to display them against. Make some neat artist tags with the price and your name and email (make up a new one with a suitable name).

Say what the materials are if they are special - what kind of semi-precious stones for example. Keep your stall tidy, have some nice neat squares of tissue to wrap them in, or bags or whatever.

Emphasise the handcrafted idea with maybe an interesting piece of wood to hang some of your work on. Look at other people's stalls and see what makes them look impressive, or otherwise.

Don't swamp people with attention but look interested and willing to discuss your work. Have a small amount of jewellery work to be doing while you are waiting for customers. Look tidy and professional.

Keep smiling, enjoy! Good luck!

TreasureBin

All good advice from Looksee - especially about doing a bit of work. It attracts attention and makes people more inclined to stop and see what you're doing. You might consider taking orders from people for customised pieces, but be sure to get payment up front or at least a deposit!
Don't take offence if you get any negative remarks about pricing - sometimes people don't appreciate the amount of time you've put into something and expect to pay the same as Penneys! But maybe you could offer sets at a small discount compared to buying singly?
If you have glass/crystal jewellery, lighting is really important as that can make all the difference to your display.

dollydishmop

And don't forget: chair, flask, sandwiches (food/drink on the day soon swallows profits), float/cashbox, notepad (for jotting down anything, from customer contacts to your ideas on improvements for next time). I have a *stuff* box, for all the stuff I might need during the day. Selotape, duck tape, plasters, paracetamol, screw-in cup hooks, marker pens, paper bags, tissue paper, clothes pegs, calculator, fake-note pen, coloured paper (for on-the-spot special offer signs), scissors, string etc etc...I'm prepared for most eventualities, and all the other traders at my markets know that if anyone will have something to fix a calamity, I will :pac:

Dont be afraid to ask fellow traders for any help/advice...we've all had a 'first market day' at some point.

As others have suggested, definitely work out a couple of multi-buy offers where possible (but keep an eye on your margins!)...I have one where if someone buys 4 of x, they get y for free (where y is something they'd need to buy in order to use x anyway - if that makes sense). You'd be surprised how many people, who are about to hand over money for x + y, instantly go and pick up 3 more x's

Don't be disheartened if you don't sell out (or sell anything at all) on your first day, especially if its a regular market, and not a one-off craft fair. Folks will have seen your products, even if they don't buy on the day, will mull them over during the week, and will often be back to buy the following week.

tanyabond

There will surely be people that would feel the need to comment and say something like "omg, this is so expensive!" (normally comes with the face:eek: ) so be prepared and ignore... That's the hardest part for me

dammitjanet

Thanks everyone for the great advice! so much stuff I would have never thought about. I'm planning on doing my first market this Saturday so fingers crossed

Inky_Lady

Best of luck with your first market day and let us know how you got on! It's a good idea to bring business cards too if you have them, with maybe a 5% discount for return customers on the back
Have fun!

achi

Hi there
im new here so apologies if i am messing up this thread!

I also hope to go to my first market in the next month or so. The advice above is really useful! Im hoping to bring along photobooks of my stock also so that customers can look through and order items that might not be on the stand or that might have already been sold.

Just wondering, where is the best place to buy a stall/table for a market? One market im thinking of going to does not provide stalls. I have a smallish car so cant fit a large table into it! if i could get a foldable one that would be great!

Will

I don't think it's been mentioned but business cards are mucho important. I've been at two conventions and each time people specifically asked for cards. First time I didn't think I'd need them, second time I forgot them. Prepared this time for sure!

I was down in Cork two weeks back, sold nothing. There was a competitor there selling all his jewellery for €20 and under. They were all mass produced and I couldn't compete. It's really disheartening, specially when someone picks up an item you spent a few hours on, poured your heart and soul into and then straight away says 'wow that's expensive, what about a discount'. Don't let those type get to you.

dammitjanet

Thanks everyone who gave such great advice- I did my first market over this weekend and not only covered all my costs but made enough to pay for booking a place next weekend! Really enjoyed the experience, and thanks to everyones help I knew what to expect. The business cards were a big hit and I was prepared for every circumstance with my *stuff* box.
Thank you everyone so much

looksee

dammitjanet wrote: »

Thanks everyone who gave such great advice- I did my first market over this weekend and not only covered all my costs but made enough to pay for booking a place next weekend! Really enjoyed the experience, and thanks to everyones help I knew what to expect. The business cards were a big hit and I was prepared for every circumstance with my *stuff* box.
Thank you everyone so much

Great news, glad it went well, good luck for the future

Tiriel

dammitjanet wrote: »

Thanks everyone who gave such great advice- I did my first market over this weekend and not only covered all my costs but made enough to pay for booking a place next weekend! Really enjoyed the experience, and thanks to everyones help I knew what to expect. The business cards were a big hit and I was prepared for every circumstance with my *stuff* box.
Thank you everyone so much

That's super news Onwards and upwards!

rorymo

great advise