Setting Out Your Stall – Choose Your Pitch

Street Market

Location, Location, Location! The same can be said for setting up your stall and choosing your pitch.  When you decide you are ready to sell your product in person, a decision as to what type of market you’re going to sell at, and what type of commitment you want to make:

where you are on the market plan, relative to areas such as “The Main Entrance, the exit, toilet facilities, cafe seating, children’s play area, parking facilities”. is an important factor in where you should place your stall.

Of course, many market organisers will already be aware of this and may charge a premium for high-visibility tables or spaces, however, not all products do well at the entrance.  Some organisers like to limit the number of tables selling the same product range and larger markets may bunch similar products together.  Look at the design of the market and make your own decisions based on the profile of your audience and the pitch proximity to your important factors.

When I complete a Google search for Craft/ Makers market layouts I don’t receive many meaningful returns, however, the Farmers Market sector is awash with layouts and proposals the majority giving a good idea of what you should expect.

Your best asset is you, make sure you sell yourself!

It’s certainly not easy! if you’re looking to sell at a new market, or one you have not attended before, do your homework.  The market layout above for Knutsford market looks very different when you look at the area on Google Maps.  Once you know that the market is located in 2 separate Pay & Display car parks, you may want to explore how customers will interact with the stalls based on which direction they are entering the town, you could be forgiven for thinking this would be two separate markets

Consider the following

And don’t forget:

• Weights (to hold down the pitch cover if it’s raining).
• Your POS terminal (charged).
• You spare power bank (for the above).
• Change (?).
• Pen(s) and paper (for bespoke orders).
• Something at floor level for dogs (water or treats) especially if the weather is warm.
• Something a bit higher (to attract children’s attention).
• About Me Flyer (where you’re from, how you started, where you’re going, where else you sell).
• Banner to cover pitch header.
• An ‘A’ board for the other side of the road.
• A way of capturing people’s feedback and emails (Free to enter comp “Simply scan this QR code and fill in a Google form” to enter).
• Network – remember other stallholders are also customers.
• Test the water – try selling a new product at a price higher than you thought.
• Don’t stand around on your phone.
• Look busy.
• If possible don’t stand behind the stall, people want to see you, and the table will become a barrier.
• Make eye contact, and greet EVERYONE, if you are serving someone, a greeting and an “I will be with you shortly” will make people happy to wait, being ignored will just make them move on.