Why Sell at a Market?
to market, or not to market?
Selling at a market can be really daunting.
Whether it’s a holiday craft fair or your local farmers market, there is a LOT that goes into packing and preparing. Throw in the anxiety of having to engage with customers?
No wonder why a lot of makers just avoid selling in-person altogether.
But markets can actually be a really rewarding way to sell your wares!
People usually come to markets ready to support local makers!
It’s an accessible (often low cost) way to sell your wares, especially when you’re new to selling.
And along with making sales (an obvious benefit), it can help you build community, make connections, and learn more about the folks who are interested in supporting your work.
Still on the fence about if selling in-person is right for you?
Here are three reasons you might want to consider having markets be a part of how you sell your work:
1) Build Community
If you already sell your wares elsewhere (online, retail etc), markets can be a lovely way for your customers to meet and connect with you in person (increasing the likelihood that they’ll continue to support your work).
You get to learn more about the people who are interested in buying your work which can help.
If you’ve previously only sold online, it gives folks an opportunity to see and appreciate your products in real life. This can be especially beneficial for tactile items like ceramics.
2) Make Connections
Markets help get your work in front of new customers, growing your audience and potential customer base, even if they don’t buy from you right away.
You’ll meet other makers. The maker's life can often be a solitary one as we tuck ourselves away in our studios, and it’s refreshing to be able to chat with folks who are experiencing (or have experienced) similar things when it comes to trying to make a living from the things we make.
You’d be surprised at the networking that can come along with selling in-person at markets. Whether it’s someone you might want to collaborate with in the future, or perhaps the owner of a local shop who is looking for new wares to feature, putting a face to your work can be very beneficial.
3) Real-world product testing
Markets can also be a useful place to test out new products and designs, even being able to ask for feedback directly from customers (if you’re feeling brave).
It can be really interesting to watch customers interact with your wares, and I've improved my pottery designs by observing how people handle my pieces at markets. Seeing someone struggle with a butter dish handle that was fit to my tiny hands (and needed a slight scaling up to be even more functional) taught me more than any online review ever could.
Do you sell in person? If so, what do you enjoy about it? What parts do you struggle with?
Feeling inspired but not sure where to start?
If you're nodding along but feeling that pit in your stomach about how to actually make your first market happen, you're not alone!
And it’s why I created "Maker's First Market” guidebook.
It’s a comprehensive yet approachable guide that walks you through everything from finding the right markets to setting up an eye-catching display, and navigating those first customer interactions.
It's the resource I wish I'd had when I was starting out selling in-person!
Not quite ready for the full guide, but perhaps need some help with what to pack for your first market? Get my free market packing checklist here.
