Whether you’re new to the vending scene or have been participating in markets for years, there’s always room to streamline the process, from before you even submit an application all the way to breaking down your setup day-of.
Blueprint365 spoke with Ashley Shaw Adams and Ollie DiPietro, the organizers of The Big Gay Market (TBGM), about their favorite tips and tricks. In addition to organizing their TBGM events, Adams and DiPietro have individually spent years vending at markets themselves, with Adams specializing in watercolor art, and DiPietro creating crochet creations, with an eye on taxidermy in the future.
It’s important to note that these nuggets of wisdom may not meet every vendors’ individual needs. Illustrator Heather Tubwon, who creates feline inspired stationary goods such as notebooks, stickers, greeting cards, and more with her business Frau Meow, provided her insights on some “disability hacks” for those who manage physical disabilities while selling at markets.
BEFORE A MARKET
Get your paperwork in order. Before diving into the creative side of vending, make sure that you have all of the legal documents sorted. Many markets in Wisconsin now require that you have a seller’s permit, which can be easily acquired online. It’s also wise to secure business insurance in case any of your goods are damaged or any mishaps occur during the market itself.
Be thorough with your applications. When applying to sell at a market, Adam advises vendors to “give as much as you can” on your applications. Providing as much information as possible will boost your chances of getting accepted, and makes promoting your goods easier. If you’ve never vended before, including a photo of your table’s mock setup might also increase your chances of being invited to vend.
Don’t be afraid to get creative. When you’re starting out, you might have one idea about what kind of markets your products will do well with, but Adams suggests not limiting yourself. As someone who sells a lot of floral artwork at craft fairs, Adams has also been able to tap into garden shows as another vending option: “That was a really important reference point for me [to] think outside the box in terms of not necessarily relegated to [doing] arts and craft shows.”
Do market research. Your experience as a vendor will be that much easier if you’ve attended the same market as a buyer to get a feel for its customer base. DiPietro said that this is also a good way to think about what products you’ll be selling when the time comes. “I recommend going to markets and looking for products that are similar to yours [and] thinking really critically about what makes your product or your business different from theirs,” they said. “What are you offering that’s different from what they’re offering? You don’t want to go to a market and have someone selling the exact same things.”
Lean into self promotion. In the digital age, it’s important to promote your business and your upcoming markets ahead of time to get the community excited about coming out to your events. DiPietro recommends creating Instagram and Facebook pages for your business and starting promotional content a month out from an event. At larger markets and fairs, “if decisions are kind of close between vendors, they will look at your social media, and if someone has a better social media presence—like posting consistently, not necessarily [a bigger] following—they will choose whoever is more active because that person is more likely to promote the event,” Adams adds.
DISABILITY HACK: Pack all of your emergency medications. It’s always good to be prepared for every scenario and have everything you need to manage your symptoms while vending. “Even if the market is short, it’s better to have them and not need them than to be sick and without medication,” Tubwon said.
DURING A MARKET
Iron out your logistics. There might seem like a never-ending checklist for day-of supplies, but it’s best to come as prepared as possible to a market. From strategizing your parking, to making sure you have organized bins, to any sort of wagon, there are a lot of things that go into vending at a market beyond your products themselves. Luckily, many of these things are inexpensive or can be thrifted. One thing that DiPietro says is an absolute must: tent weights. Cinder blocks and deck stabilizers are your best bet.
Have a “catch all” bin. You never know what might go wrong during a market, and it’s easier to catch yourself in a pickle if you’re prepared. Adams’ famous “catch all” bin has come in handy countless times, containing everything you might need at a moment’s notice: scissors, magnets, tacks, safety pins, blank cards, tools, and different kinds of tape. Adams says that it can also function as an emergency bin, too, with hand sanitizer and bandaids at the ready.
Do what you can to make transactions as smooth as possible. Whether cash or card, you want to make sure that transactions are as seamless as possible, both for you and your customers. This starts with making sure that your products are labeled clearly, which Adams guarantees will increase sales. For those handling cash, DiPietro advises having a lot of single dollar bills at your disposal. Rounding prices to the nearest dollar makes exact change easier.
Be flexible. While you can prepare for most things, it’s important to be flexible on the day of, especially in terms of your set up. “Be willing to change stuff around,” Adams said. “Because once you get to the venue, things might not clearly be what you originally pictured.”
Practice self care. Your vending experience can only be as great as how much you take care of yourself throughout the day (or multiple days). Pack food or make plans to buy food at the event, and stay hydrated as best you can. Vending successfully also takes a village: bring a friend with you to help with transactions and keep an eye on your stall, or make friends with your vendor neighbors.
DISABILITY HACK: Build your day-of network. Tubwon emphasized the importance of having others in your corner at a market. “You never know when you might need them to watch your booth if you suddenly get sick and need to run to the bathroom,” she cautioned.
AFTER A MARKET
Set yourself up for an efficient breakdown. The logistics that you thought through during the event will come in handy when it’s time to pack things up. Markets often give vendors an hour to break down their set up, so making sure everything has its own place will save you time and make packing up your vehicle much easier.
Have your valuables on your person. Things can get lost in the breakdown process, so it’s very important to have your valuables with you at all times, especially when going to fetch your vehicle and transporting objects. Adams always makes sure to have her iPad, phone, and cash on her person when she’s packing up.
Post to social media. Your event may be over, but your social media presence doesn’t have to be! Take the time to thank those who stopped by your booth, especially when you start to have regulars. Posting photos of customers with their purchased items (with their permission) adds a nice, personal touch to your business, too.
Take notes and give organizers feedback. It’s always good to jot down the good and bad of a particular market right after it ends. “In a year when you do this market again, you’re not going to remember,” DiPietro points out. “[You won’t] have any idea who was there, what they bought, how much you sold.” As event organizers, Adams and DiPietro also emphasized the importance of giving organizers feedback about your experience as a vendor. “You can send them an email, telling them how you did or you can also if you think things went really well. And one way or ways to improve the event.
Tally up all of your expenses. Even if markets only last for a few hours, vending at them are days, weeks, and months-long endeavors. Make sure to take stock of all of your expenses on market days—including food, gas, and lodging. These all count as business expenses, and itemized lists will come in handy when it’s time to file taxes.
Consider whether or not you’d do that market again. “Everyone has a different threshold,” Adams explained. “There have been events where I make maybe a couple of hundred over my booth fee and I still go back again and again because I love the event and I have fun so it’s worth it to me.”
DISABILITY HACK: Allow yourself time to rest. Self care doesn’t end with the conclusion of an individual market, and there are plenty of ways to set yourself up for vending success in the long term. “This may mean taking the next day off of work, or preparing meals in advance so you don’t have to cook right after a market,” Tubwon suggests.
