Your First Craft Market: What to Prepare Before You Pack

When you are preparing for your first craft market, it is tempting to treat it as a question of how much stock you can fit in the car. Stock matters, but the things most likely to make the morning difficult are often smaller: a table that is not supplied, a display that takes longer to build than expected, or a card reader that has never been tested away from home.

You cannot plan for every surprise. You can, however, take a lot of pressure off yourself before packing day.

Find out exactly what the venue provides

Start with the organiser’s information, then ask about anything that is unclear. How big is your pitch? Is a table or chair included? Is the market indoors or outside? When can you unload, where can you park afterwards, and how long do you have to set up? If your display needs electricity, ask whether it is available and what you are allowed to bring.

Check any requirements for insurance, signage, weights, fixings or other equipment while there is still time to sort them. An outdoor stall also needs a plan for wind and rain, including how to protect your products and keep the display secure. Your own venue may have rules I have not encountered, so its instructions come first.

Build the stall once at home

Lay out the table using the space you will actually have. Put your display stands, signs and products where you think they will go, then stand where a customer would stand. Can you see the prices? Can you reach and pick up the smaller items? Is there enough room for someone to look without having to move everything else?

I would include a statement piece or two if they represent the work I most want people to notice. They do not need to sell on the day to earn their place: they can draw someone over, where they may discover a smaller item that suits their budget. You probably do not need to pack several copies of an expensive piece for a first outing. I have written more about that in How Much Stock Should You Take to a Craft Market?

A trial setup also tells you what has to go into the car and in what order. Take a photo of the finished display. When you are setting up under a time limit, that picture is easier to follow than trying to remember where everything went.

Arrive with time to spare

Work backwards from the opening time, allowing for unloading and carrying stock to your pitch as well as building the display. Give yourself more time than your trial setup took: you may need to find your space, wait for access or make adjustments on site. I would aim to have the stall ready at least half an hour before the event starts. That leaves time to straighten the display, check prices and payments, and take a breath before customers arrive.

Once you are there, introduce yourself to the traders beside you. If you are working alone, a neighbour may be willing to keep an eye on your stall while you take a comfort break or grab a coffee; ask first, and return the favour if you can. It is also a chance to see how other traders use their space, ask questions and pick up ideas for your next event.

Test how you will take payment

Charge and test the card reader or phone you will use, along with any point-of-sale app. Check that the right products and prices are there, including any market-specific prices or offers. Consider what you will do if the signal is poor or a device runs out of battery. If you accept cash, bring a float and somewhere secure to keep it.

Make prices easy to see before someone has to ask. Think about how you will wrap a sale, provide a receipt if needed, and give people a way to find your work again. A small sign with your website or social account can do that without turning the stall into a wall of information.

Pack for yourself as well as the display

It is easy to remember the finished products and forget the things that hold a trading day together: spare labels, tape, scissors, cleaning cloths, packaging, chargers and a power bank. Add water, food and clothing that suits the venue and the time you will be standing there. Put the items you need first during setup somewhere you can reach without emptying every box.

Keep a separate note of anything particular to this event. A list that worked for an indoor fair may miss the weights and weather protection you need outside.

Make room to learn

A first market is also a chance to find out how your work looks in person and what people respond to. After you pack down, make a quick note of what sold, what people picked up or asked about, and what you wished you had brought. Do it while the day is still fresh. One event will not tell you everything, but it will make the next one easier to prepare for.

I have put the essentials into a printable First Market Packing Checklist (PDF). You can add your venue-specific items to it, then use the Post-Market Notes Sheet (PDF) afterwards. Both are in Maker Resources.