Much of the information is
specific to a weekly market as opposed to a one time setup.
How do you decide what to sell? And how do you get customers to
actually stop and look and perhaps buy your stuff?
Variety seems to be the key, both
in pricing and in products. In addition to a variety of products
it's also important to offer a variety of price points. A lot of
customers will pay $5 for something but not many will pay $15 or
$20.
In finding out what to sell
like anywhere else make sure you listen to customers. These
people are the ones who help you decide which direction to take.
Often they will make comments and ask if you have something in
particular. The people that wander by on the other side of the
booth know what would make them open their wallets and pull out
their money. Listening to them and acting on their advice could
lead to more sales.
One of the most important
lessons is to consider your customers and produce items they
would like. Their opinions are valuable.
Tip: Make sure you bring
supplies you think you need plus those that you don't such as
bags, scotch tape, money for change, paper, sun tan lotion,
writing instruments.
One of the biggest issues or
problems is your booth setup. It takes a lot of time quite early
in the morning to get out all the merchandise and setup the
table in an attractive fashion. It's essential to take the time
to set up an attractive and organized booth. This is time
consuming but it's the attention to detail that will generate
sales. It seems like more people stop by and make purchases when
the booth looks good and organized. It shows that you take pride
in your workmanship, and people will believe that you will take
the same care when making a product.
It's important to occasionally
change your setup as well. Try to rearrange the items on your
table daily and possibly though out the day as things sell or
don't sell. Just by moving items around you may get noticed by
regular market customers who usually just walk by. Moving things
around will also give you a chance to practice different setups.
This will be invaluable when you pursue other market venues and
allow you to select the setup that would most benefit that
space. So take a few moments throughout the market to straighten
up your booth. Set up a terrific booth and next time try to top
your own fantastic setup with an even better one.
Moving your booth to a
different spot may also generate more foot traffic. The thing
about a weekly market is that there will be lots of the same
folks dropping by week after week. It's easy for regular market
patrons to slide right by your booth figuring they've already
seen all you've got to offer. Setting up in a different spot
might bring more folks your way.
Tip: Buy a stack of large
plastic tubs at a local discount store. These tubs double as
storage space for goods at home and table space at the market.
Plus, they're water proof which will really come in handy.
Don't forget to keep your stuff
clean and dry and retire the items that aren't your best. People
will be handling and moving your items all day. Plus some of
these markets are not in the best location, and dirt and grime
may be floating around. You can always pull these items and make
a sale basket for the gently used or touched items. You can also
throw in some of your rejects that may not have come out very
good when making. Remember people love bargains and selling
something even discounted from your sale basket beats no sale or
just loosing the cost of that item.
For the best selection and
lowest prices, shop with a reputable dealer for your supplies
such as Moose Emporium at http://www.mooseemporium.com
