Often artists will sell their products at market's rather than put their products into a shop front or an online shop.
At school we have many opportunities for market stalls, to either raise money for charity or for students to promote products that they have created.
Market stall items need to reasonably priced and easy to transport.
Here are some ideas:
Identifying a price point is important. There is always a discrepancy between what the customer wants to pay and what you should charge for your hard work. But alas, there is a formula that you can use on what to charge on a Market Stall.
Price of the equipment used to make product + packaging costs + Time taken to make the item = Build cost
Build cost + profit = Price Point
For example: $8 in fabric and notions + 40c for packaging + 15 minutes construction time ($4 at $20 an hour) = Build Cost of $12.40c. Build Cost of $12.40c + Profit = $18 Price Point. So each time I sell an item for $18 I know I am making $5.60. If I needed to pay for a market stall, then there would be additional costs.
When creating stock, it is always useful to start with at least 10 of each product. Consider how you are going to package the item up when someone purchases it. Leave yourself enough time to make products, price and package them.
Displaying your products is just as important as making them.
Your display should be neat and organised so that you can find things easily. Consider signs, tablecloths and wrapped boxes to create different points of interest on your table.
Branding refers to the "feel" of your stall. If you are selling bath bombs, then your stall might be pastel colours with flowers. If you are selling artwork then it might be nice and clinical so as not to distract from the pieces of art. If you are selling plants then it might be earthy with brown and green tones. Use tablecloths and covered risers to add to the scheme.
There should be a sign out the front of your market stall identifying who you are and what you are selling. There should be either a sheet with prices or prices on each object.
Your branding should include how you are going to wrap purchases. Tissue paper? Brown bags?
On Market day make sure that you are organised and that you have a float. A float is the money that you start the day with. It allows you to give change to your customers. If you cannot give change for a purchase, you will have lost a sale.
The size of your float also depends on your pricing. If you have items priced at 50c then you need to give 50c change. Think about how much people might buy and what type of change you will give them. Change for notes and gold coins. For a market stall at Mater Christi, consider having $20 of float money in small change ($1, $2, 50c).
Market Days are normally quite busy so have a friend to help with wrapping purchases or handling of money. Keep a list of what you sell so that you know next time what to make more or less of.
Get in early and set up with plenty of time incase you have forgotten anything.
If you are going to have a successful market stall, then do your market research looking for stalls that have similar products. Belgrave Emporium is a great place to go to see what people charge for market stall products.