Craft market tips
I took part in my first ever craft market and I learned so much by doing it that I thought I’d share my top ten tips and tricks. I have also make a video about it which you can see below.
1 Know your audience
I was doing a Christmas craft market in a village hall and so I knew most of the people who would be there and could predict, more or less, the sort of things they might be interested in.
I was selling fresh and dried flower wreaths, potted bulbs, hand made cards and ornaments. Although my own taste is to make quite wild styled wreaths, I knew that in this setting more traditional wreaths would be preferred, so that was what I made and they were popular and did sell.
If I was taking part in a larger craft market I would do some research and find out who else was selling and what and ask the organizers who they expected their customers to be.
2 Plan for afterwards
At the same time, I didn’t make anything that was completely not my taste because I had one eye on what I would do with any products I didn’t sell. All of them were items I could keep for another sale, give as presents to friends and family or use myself.
With the fresh wreaths I made one or two of each different style and then took orders.
This would be a good approach if you make food items such as cakes that won’t keep.
3 Prepare early
Because I was making a lot of things I started several months earlier drying flowers from my garden and in the autumn I began foraging. For the fresh wreaths I picked quite close to the time but I already know where I was going to pick the willow for the bases and all my greenery.
4 Embrace the chaos
This might not apply to you but when I began making in earnest I couldn’t avoid making quite a mess. To cope with this I learned to just accept this was going to happen but made a rule that I would ALWAYS tidy up at the end of each day and I was always so grateful the following day!
5 Warn you family!
Despite all your preparations and planning you will inevitably still have a lot to do in the last few days before your market. So warn family members you will be grumpy and unreasonable - unless that’s just me!
6 Make payment easy
Have a cash float and enough change and give your bank details for transfers. It is relatively cheap to set up an app and get a card reader these days. I’ll put details of the one I used below. This will be easier if you have wi-fi at your venue so give yourself time to set up and also do some test payments to make sure you know what you’re doing.
7 Show goods and prices clearly
Although I thought I’d set up quite a nice display, it was amazing how many people didn’t look up and notice the wreaths so remember to point out everything you have. My large dried wreaths had to go on a different wall and nobody noticed them and people were often standing in front of them! Also I had my business cards in a pile but it would have been much better if I’d just given them with each purchase as no-one really saw them.
Make sure your pricing is clear.
8 Value everyone
Some people will look at your stall, talk to you for ages but then not buy anything. Although this can be a little frustrating remember they might well buy something or commission you in the future. I had a couple of people contact me in the next few days asking if I had anything left. Again try and get everyone to take one of your cards.
9 Let people know
Marketing is just as important as making your wares. The people who were running our market were organising the whole event which included lighting the Xmas tree, wrangling a choir and providing food so couldn’t give their undivided attention to publicising the market. In retrospect it would have been a good idea to for me to volunteer to do that side of things but at the time I just felt too busy. Although a reasonable amount of people came and I sold well I’m sure we could have had more.
This has been the biggest lesson I’ve learned and if I do it again I will make sure to really up the marketing.
10 Enjoy yourself
Finally I would say ENJOY IT! Although it’s hard work there was a really enjoyable buzz about the evening and it was lovely talking to lots of people I knew and meeting new ones. So often artists and makers work on their owns and just having people say nice things about your offerings is really gratifying.
I hope you found these tips useful and please ask in the comments if there’s anything else you’d like to ask.
I got the Square Up card reader and app as it seemed the most cost effective for me but there are several available.