4 Things to Consider When Applying for Your Next Market, So It's Not a Bust

Have you ever gone to be a vendor at a market & the customer sales & traffic were less than ideal?

It's okay if you answered yes.  Because I have been there too!  I thought that just applying to a market and getting accepted was all I needed to have good ales.  It turns out that's not the case and I have 4 tips to share with you when you go to apply to your next market.

You know those markets where everyone is selling the same thing...

you see candle maker after candle maker, and booth after booth filled with jewelry and the vendors seem upset because their particular category is oversaturated?  It's likely because the event was not juried.  In my experience, the non-juried events can hurt your sales.  Especially if you're in a popular category.  This is because the event organizers typically fill up their vendor spots first come, first served with any vendor until they are sold out.  I don't love this concept because I quite frankly don't think it's fair to the vendors and in my opinion, it doesn't create the best shopping experience for customers either.

Juried events mean you have to be accepted into an event and they can be fairly competitive and require vendors (you) to be on your A-game.  This is because they only allow so many spots per category.  They want the most unique and quality shopping experience for their customers.  Juried events are also usually pretty good about vendor placement and will not place 2-like vendors near each other.

For those reasons I personally prefer juried events.  The vendor fees are usually a little bit steeper as it requires more effort by the even hosts.  But the success of the market typically pairs with the higher fees.  No to say you can't have success at a non-juried event.  This is my own opinion and experience and I want you to be aware of the 2 types of events.

Location, location, location

You should be paying attention to how far you'll have to travel to get to your market, and how far your customers will be traveling.  Take not of the parking situation for customers as well.  Along with ease of load-in for your booth.  If your customers need to pay for parking OR walk a long ways that may be a turnoff for them.  Unless it's a really big well known event that's know for strolling for hours amoung vendor booths.  

Of note: If you sell large bulky, heavy items.  Try and opt for a booth near the entrance/exit of the event closest to the parking lot.  This will help your sales.  Though I will say events have been getting better about addressing this and offering porters (moving companies that will get the large items to your vehicle for you-for a fee or tips) and golf cart rides to and from the parking lots.

If your ideal customer can't walk long distances these may not be the ideal events for you.  Just keep these things in mind.  Or you may opt for a booth spot that can mitigate these situations.

Have you wondered why your sales have dipped during certain times of the year and have increased during others?

You likely have a very seasonal product and show be aware of your ideal market season.  Say you sell sweater mittens.  Well, fall and winter are most likely your ideal seasons, not spring and summer.  People aren't in the mood to buy wool mittens when it's warm out and they just spent 6 months in winter.  Say you make candles, make sure the scents you're selling correlate with the season you're selling in.  Pumpkin spice in April isn't going to be hit.

Try to instead of selling in your non-ideal time of year spending that time building up your inventory, or better yet, take a break!

You know those times you walk into a room and realize you really don't fit in with the crowd?

Make sure you research your market ahead of time to ensure that the audience (customers) match your niche.  You don't want to show up to a vegan market selling genuine leather belts or bring your luxury line to a craft fair.  Your sales won't convert as well if your products don't fit the audience.

To ensure your next market isn't a bust...

take note if the event is juried or not and if that matters to you.  Where it is located and what the parking situation is like for your customers.  The time of year the market is being held compared to your ideal selling season.  And the style or theme of the market along with the customers it attracts.  When you start paying attention to these key points instead of applying to any market that comes your way you'll likely find some really ideal markets for you to apply to and will easily say no to the rest.

If you'd like to dive further into your journey to selling at markets, you can download this free guide that I've created just for you!