How to setup a craft booth at a weekly Farmer's Market part 5

I'd like to thank my regular readers for their indulgence the past few days as I took a major detour from all things Fluffy Flowers. Also, I need to give credit where credit is due and thank LaRhanda over at Froggy Fibers. She is the one who told me about The City Market on the Green here in Macon, Georgia and for that I am truly grateful. Finally, I must tell you how wonderful Naomi Davis of Davis Farms CSA  is for organizing the weekly market as a gathering place for folks to sell or buy lots of wonderful home grown and made things.

This is the last in a series of articles about How to setup a craft booth at your weekly Farmer’s Market. I love my weekly market because a) its in the morning and I still have my afternoons free and b) I've really enjoyed meeting and talking with the people and c) I don't let myself get too stressed out about NOT selling anything. This combination has really worked for me. So if you decide to set up a weekly booth be sure to monitor yourself. If it gets to be burdensome you might want to stop and reconsider if you're getting enough money and enjoyment to continue. Be proud of yourself for taking a risk and getting out there with your wares. Just knowing you did it can be a great boost for the ol’ self esteem.

Part 5 - Promotion

There is nothing more import than promoting your weekly market. Nothing y’all. If no one knows about the market then no one will show up to buy! So promoting your weekly market is extremely important to its success. Market promotion should be done both at the market and outside the market.

At the market

When I make a sale I always hand the customer a market flier and ask if they would be willing to put it up some place at work or at school, etc. Most folks are usually more than willing to take the flier. This will quickly help to spread the word about your weekly market. Encourage other vendors to do the same with their customers.

I also tell my customers about my online shop, making it clear that it has a specialized creatures focus. I hand them a promotional bookmark that has a picture of my shop banner along with a bright pink ribbon attached.

I’ve also asked my customers where they heard about the market. This feedback gives me some idea of how word is traveling in the community.

Outside the market

Promotion outside your weekly market is also necessary. I’m so lucky to have a market manager who sends out press releases each week to the local media. We’ve been featured in the local newspaper, on TV, and in a local magazine. My weekly market is sponsored by the city so we’ve also been featured on the local government cable channel.

In addition to all this promotion by our market manager the vendors all helped spread the word. We’ve emailed everyone we know and some we don’t. My weekly market is held in downtown Macon, Georgia so I emailed a few local downtown organizations to let them know about the market.

We’ve all posted fliers all around town. I actually carry a pile of fliers in my bag which travels with me everywhere. I can’t tell you how many bulletin boards I’ve run across where I’ve been able to post our flier.

It’s also important to setup a market website or blog. Be sure to include pictures. This link can go out in your emails so folks can get a sense of what the market is like. Here’s a link to my local market, The City Market on the Green.

Promotion is really a group effort. The more vendors you can get involved in promoting the weekly market the more success you’ll have. If each vendor contributes just a little bit then the cumulative results can be fabulous. Be proactive. If you’re good at making fliers then make lots so you can share them with other vendors and they can hand them out to their customers to post.

Finally, let me say that if you’re thinking about setting up a booth at your local weekly craft or farmer’s market let me tell you that there is nothing for it but to just do it. It’s a scary thing to drag all your stuff out in public and put them up for sale. All those nagging feelings of self doubt we women are cursed with seem to bubble straight up to the surface. But fear not! Grab a friend and your stuff and head on out there. You might just sell something.

Click here to visit my Fluffy Flowers shop.

Comments

[Karyn]

Great advice Felicia!

[Danielle Nilsson]

WOW Felicia ~ you ROCK!!! These are so great to read :D :D :D

Fantastic advice :D

[keri]

What a great series - I've really loved reading about your how-to set up a craft booth! =)

[Chara Michele]

Thank you Felicia for this series of posts! I have really loved reading them & you have such great advice!

[stephanie]

Wow...this is really comprehensive look at setting up a booth for a market sale. Nice job!

[Nancy ~ Fete et Fleur]

Just wonderful!! This has been the best series of information on setting up a booth. It should be required reading for all those who are interested in doing one.

Hugs! Nancy

[nicolafraser]

hey, great information. I'd love to do a market stall, but it has to be food produce round here :( Looks like you are doing great...well done x

[Periwinkle Vintage]

Felicia, thanks for stopping by my blog! I checked you out in turn, and you do great work! Love the series on the craft market!
Cheryl

[suzy]

I have really enjoyed your series. Well written and a lot of good information! xo, suzy

[suzy]

I have really enjoyed your series. Well written and a lot of good information! xo, suzy

[beth]

Our weekly (summer) farmers market just started last summer allowing craft vendors as well. I am hoping to try it for a few weeks. Thanks for the info! It's been a great read!

[LaRhanda aka Froggy]

Thanks for mentioning me! I was just talking about you after stopping at the blog this weekend and seeing that you have been having sewing machine issues. I just got one myself but so far I cant get it running =(

[rochambeau]

Good for you Fluffy for making it happen!! For taking the risk!! For being such a tremendous business woman! I admire you so much!

Constance

[bethany]

More terrific tips!! After working in advertising, I definately agree with your strategies--the more you can get your name out there, the more customers you'll have! And I think the best way to test the waters is to post your things on your blog... all the lovely comments boost your confidence!! :)

[Jenn : )]

Wow - lots of great information here! I'm sure lots of people will benefit from you taking the time to share this.

Good karma is headed your way! : )

[Laume]

Thank you for the great Farmer's Market posts. I found them really interesting. Not all farmer's markets allow non-agricultural items. I don't think our small one does. But the information and advice probably translates well to the smaller arts and crafts shows nearby as well.

[Tina]

WONDERFUL write up, I found it on Etsy Forum and had to rush over to read ! Thanks again !

[claudine]

Wow, this is a great series of advice! Thanks for sharing this Felicia!

[Kellie]

Just read your entire series of posts on the market. Such great advice. We have only a small market and food goods are the only goods. Still, I think your tips will come in handy for craft shows as well, as I am seriously thinking of getting back into those. Thanks so much for sharing!

[MrsDragon]

This series is great! : )

[Tara Tschillard]

i just read through all your tips, i am thinking of a show in march, so thanks for the heads up! i also added your blog to my blog page, your shop is super cute!

Tara
fiftyacorns.etsy.com

[vickie]

great work! my first show is tomorrow! i appreciate the advice!

[Liz - made in lowell]

Really well written and completely helpful, great job and thank you!

[Crystal]

Thanks for sharing this information. It has been extrememely helpful. :D

[mb]

This was SO helpful to me. I've signed up to do a weekly flea market this summer and I have a question regarding credit card sales. I was going to get a credit card imprinter, but is it better to have it imprinted w/ your business name or not? I was wondering if it made any difference to customers. I have an online sales business, so the business does have a presence outside of the market. Any ideas?
thanks again!

[Gretchen]

Thanks for all the great info. It is nice of you to take the time to write all of this down for others.
How do you know how to price your items?
What is the time frame to start to sign up for booths and what is the limit that you would pay for a booth?

[Gretchen]

I was thinking about getting a booth next year and I was wondering if there is a minimum amount of product that you would have at your booth each week? I wanted to know what I needed to prepare for.

[Knitsational]

What a really fantastic and helpful series! Thanks so much sharing your experience.

[alison]

Very useful info, thanks, :)

[marcia]

Great series. Definitely encouraging. Thanks so much.

[AprilMist]

Hi Felicia, this series is oh so helpful to me, once again thanks for sharing your knowledge. I'm doing my very first show in October and starting to really plan for it. I plan to have a great time!

[Stacey]

Thank you so much for your series on setting up a booth. It was much more comprehensive than I expected and I got such wonderful information. I got a chuckle out of your comment about family bugging you to "sell your stuff". Ironically, that's what brought me to your site. I've been crocheting for a couple of years and began designing my own stuff about a year ago. I finally broke down and decided to enter the fall fair close to where I live, which is a big yearly event for my city. Not only will I be entering items into the contests, but I will also be offering these items and more at my own booth. You've given me such confidence, inspiration and good advice. Thank you so much! And wish me luck! wink wink

[Suzanne]

Hey - just found this while searching for market stall information (I'm looking to selling my wares at a London market! Yikes!) and and am now five times more excited to to it. Thanks for your sage advice - I'm taking it all on board.