5 Tips to Make the Most From Selling at a Christmas Market
There is something wonderful about craft markets and small fairs at any time of year, but perhaps the time any crafter or small business owner wants to make the most of such days is in the run-up to Christmas. After all, everyone is on the lookout for the perfect unique present and the buyer knows there might just be one on a table at their local market, but it is the seller’s job to draw those buyers in.
To try and help you crafty people make the most of the Christmas markets you are attending this year, I’ve come up with 5 tips to help you make the most of selling:
Think about your display:
As a buyer, the first thing that draws me into a stall is what it looks like. If your stall is dark and dull, making it hard to see the products I am going to pass you by. However, if you work on your display, make it bright and inviting then it’s going to draw more people in. Pricing should most definitely be easy to see and easy to read. Remember you don’t need to put everything out at the start, too much on display can look cluttered, so perhaps try a few different setups and ask for feedback from friends and family before the day.
How are people going to play?
We live in the age of technology and many people don’t carry that much cash anymore. I personally can’t count the number of times I’ve skipped buying something as I didn’t have the cash, or bought more because they could take a card. After all, since the introduction of chip and pin in 2006, it is so easy to buy things on plastic, but how as a trader can you take debit and credit cards? It is actually very simple, all you need is a provider such as SumUp which not only takes chip and pin but is also contactless-ready and is easily compatible with iOS / Android smartphones and tablets. What’s more, there are no fixed fees, you only pay per transaction made, with money going directly into your bank account.
Think about business cards:
I often come across great stalls at craft and gift markets, which perhaps I don’t have the need for at that exact time, so of course, I look for a business card. You don’t need to have anything fancy, just something simple with your business name, contact details and website, can help you bring in customers at a later date.
Hold market only offers:
Consistency is of course key when it comes to pricing for small businesses, however there are still ways to add in offers, without compromising on price. Think about a few key items you sell you could market on offer, for instance, with cards; you may sell 1 for £2 but could look to offer 3 for £5, helping persuade the customer they do need one more.
Can you prepackage your items?
Christmas wrapping can be a pain, so could you package any of your items in a way they are ready to be gifted? Could you use cellophane and ribbon? Or could you offer a gift wrapping service for free, or just a couple of pennies extra? The more you do to make your items readily giftable may just make them more appealing to buyers.
So there are a few small ideas from me to make the most from selling at a Christmas market, can you think of anything else a seller could do, to draw you in?
*This is a collaborative post.
I tried it before. The technique there is to have the best presentation on your product without putting too much price on it. Great tips!
Most definitely I think if you crack the how tos you can make a lot as well.
Makes me want to visit a Xmas market right now! All great tips if I were to sell anything. Happy Holidays!
I hope you manage to make it to a Christmas market sometime soon 🙂
I hope you get to visit a Christmas market before the festive season is over!
Makes me want to visit a Xmas market right now! All great tips if I were to sell anything. Happy Holidays!
The display definitely has to be eye-catching! I can see why providing a super easy way to pay would matter too!
It is definitely the thing that brings most people to your store isn’t it.
The sellers presenting a great pitch about their stuff catch my attention. So excited for Christmas shopping ?
I think that’s the main thing that draws people in I often look from a distance and decide if it might have things for me.
Having a display that draws attention to you is so important at a market. I have been thinking about getting a stall at our local spring fair.
Ohh good luck if you do decide to go for it – I bet you will do amazing!
I agree! I don’t often carry cash on me so a stall on a market that takes card is much more attractive to me. Business cards is a great idea too x
I think it’s the same for most people these days, I don’t know many people who carry too much cash around.
Great tips! My mother is doing her first Christmas Market next month, so I’ll be sure to pass these onto her 🙂
Ohh good luck to her I hope it goes really well for her what is she selling?
I will have to share this post with my cousin! He often sells his wood creations at local markets and these are great tips.
I hope it helps your cousin a little with selling his wears.
The business card is the best tip and one that whenever went to a street fair or craft show,we took advantage of. If we needed to budget for an item but didn’t have it right away,we would contract the seller when we did and buy the item then.
Exactly I often see more expensive things I would love so grab a card and save up!
This is REALLY great advice. I have a few friends who sell at markets and have already forwarded this blog. Thanks!
Aww thank you so much – I do hope it helps them.
I like the idea of SumUp. This would be a very helpful tool for small business owners. I don’t sell at Christmas markets but my sister does. I will let her know about this.
It sounds really good and I like they only take a % of your payment.
Great tips here for anyone who sells at christmas markets, especially the business cards that is one thing I always look for if I see something I like x
I am such a business card hoarder I have to admit.
My mom and I used to do this years ago and it was a lot of fun. These are smart tips for making the most of a craft table!
It is great fun, I’ve both run a stall and love going to them and both have been such fun.
What great ideas! I have nothing to sell at markets, but I love to go to them. I always like when they give me their business card!
It is always fun getting to nose around and see what people have on offer.
Great tips for vendors at a Christmas Market. I really enjoy shopping markets and I will admit, if the booth isn’t visibly appealing, I usually skip right over it! So i would def agree with these tips
It is interesting to see how most people do go on first visuals to if they would like the stall or not.
I have never been selling on a Christmas Market but these tips will be really helpful to anyone who will. The displays are always important because they make the products even more attractive and catch the eyes of the people
You never know maybe in the future you will have a stall of your own.
Having a tool like SumUp is essential to sales these days. I never carry cash. These are thoughtful tips!
I think it really is unless your selling something very cheap – there isn’t a lot of time I carry much money.
The displays are always what makes me want to go over and look. I love craft fairs and such this time of year.
They are the draw aren’t they – props can really help as well if your item isn’t visually appealing on its own.
I think its also nice to go for bundles for Christmas. I think having a pleasant looking setup can also bring in the customers.
It really can I think, people are visual creatures often.
I haven’t been to a Christmas market in years. These are great ideas. I know that I’m always drawn towards the fun display.
I hope you get to go to a Christmas market if you so feel like it soon!
It is a turn off when you go to Christmas markets and Street Fairs and cannot make the purchase of the items you are drawn to simply because the vendors do not take credit cards. Like you said who walks around with cash these days?
Exactly I think it’s such a shame that it still isn’t often thought of at such events.
Thinking about payment options is the most important thing in my opinion. I almost never carry cash in my pocket and if a seller doesn’t have a pos machine I would probably not bother to go and get money from an atm, but buy from some other seller who has. These days having a pos machine is a necessity, not a luxury.
Often there is no ATMs near markets unless you are lucky as well – I’ve found some lovely ones in the middle of nowhere before.
Always great ideas thanks
The display is what always draws me in or causes me to keep on walking with barely a glance. I agree that a bright and inviting display always wins with me. Also, having business cards handy is a great idea.
It is a shame people don’t think about it more sometimes, I went to a fair the other day and some of the stalls looked so dark it was hard to see anything.