5 Tips for your first Vendor Market
In-person, vendor markets are a great way to make long-lasting connections with your community, explore new places in your city or state and of course make some hard-earned money from your art or products!
As someone who has done over 100 markets over the past two years, I have a lot of advice that I wish someone could’ve given me when I was first starting out. For now, we will break it down to five tips for first-time vendors.
If you have more questions, feel free to submit them through Instagram @yamz.world or email me!
FIRST OF ALL
Congratulations! You're gonna be in your first-ever vendor market! I have to say I am incredibly proud of you. It takes a lot to be here and you're doing it.
Maybe this isn't your first, maybe it's your second, third, sixth, or eleventeenth. It may never hurt to see what other folks are doing to bring themselves a better vendor/ popup experience.
1.Get clear on who you are and why you're there
Who are you? How are you talking to people about yourself?
The thing I always tell first-time vendors is that folks don't buy what, they buy your why. Meaning that they love buying your products because there is an awesome story and person behind them that has a deep-rooted story and purpose!
Get clear on your elevator speech -
Hi, there my name is Brayan! I am an independent graphic designer, commercial illustrator and artist here in Denver Colorado. I am passionate about helping small businesses, nonprofits, and the occasional fortune 500 company with their design work. I primarily focus on Queer owned, women owned and BIPOC-owned businesses. When I'm not doing that I am turning my personal artwork into the products you see here.
Now my elevator pitch may be a little bit more winded, but make sure you're talking passionately about yourself and what you do.
Here are a couple of things you may want to take into consideration. Where are you from? Why are your products so special? What makes your items stick out? Handmade? What service are you selling, if any? How is this helping someone?
Practice it a couple of times before you head out.
Why are you there? What's your intention?
Every time I head out of the house for a market, I set an intention for the day. Sometimes this is connecting with as many attendees, fellow vendors and organizers as possible, sometimes it can be highlighting and sharing the story behind a certain product, and sometimes it is just trying my best to chat further with folks.
Get intentional about why you're there. If this is your first market it may be learning. Learning can be an amazing intention.
If your intention is to make as much money as possible, sometimes that intention can be great but it may be disingenuous or can be setting yourself up for failure. Connecting with people and sharing who you are will bring a lot more money than you think.
2. Start with what you have
It’s your first market so you might be tempted to jump in and buy a large setup for your booth. To an extent, it's awesome to invest in your booth BUT you don't have to pour a lot of money into your first one.
A table, a tablecloth, and your product are more than enough. Sometimes we see people with massive setups and think we have to be at that level.
One thing I would recommend investing in for outdoor markets is a sturdy canopy. Remember that you will definitely make back the money you invested in the beginning.
You can get some great displays on Amazon or other craft stores.
Remember that you will have to be carrying around all these things to every vendor market you are at. Making it easier to move around will save you a huge headache later.
3. Have a range of products
In my booth, I have 4$ stickers, 9$ Pins 25$ prints and 60$ hoodies.
This is one of my favorite tips to give artists and makers at their first market. Especially when they ask “What products should I invest in”. In my experience as a vendor, it is a great strategy to have a range of products, from economical to the downright “expensive”. Here is why.
After you give folks your incredible speech and share with them your story, they will definitely be more inclined to buy something. If you only have $50 plus products it may be tough for folks to jump into that investment right away if they don't know you as well.
Things like stickers, pins, key chains, and magnets are great and easy to connect with folks for a LIFETIME, and if they want they can also invest in your big item. Most of my sales at vendor markets are stickers.
Investing in a range of products that will allow folks to support you in every capacity.
4. Don't wait for people to come to you
Look, I'm gonna tell you right now that you have to do a couple of things at vendor markets. You have to be nice, engaging, thoughtful and interactive. Sometimes creatives are introverted and shy and that's ok. Vendor markets are a great way to practice talking to people and building confidence.
One thing I always notice at vendor markets is that a lot of vendors wait for people to approach them and when people don’t they get disappointed! Some strategies that work for me are:
1 . Saying hello and asking them about their day.
2, Genuinely complementing their outfit or a piece of jewelry.
3. Letting them know that they can ask you anything about your products.
These are some small, easy-to-get conversations going. Remember you won't be able to sell if people don't know what you have or who you are.
5. Start small and scale from there
Remember that this is your first market. You're not gonna have everything figured out and that's ok.
Sometimes as small business owners and artists, we get so excited about all the possible products our art can go on, from stickers to magnets to massive 24x36 prints. We also need to think about what we are getting ourselves into as these can be costly investments that we don't know if they could play out well.
Always start small and test different designs at vendor markets. The learnings at markets are so valuable as your community will tell you what it wants. People will suggest amazing ideas for you for the future.
Some of my most popular designs came from stickers that then turned into prints that then turned into apparel.
Always start small!
How are you feeling? Are you ready to take on an awesome market? Are you feeling nervous? That is totally normal and expected. Remember to cut yourself some slack because this is your first-ever market of many!
If you found this helpful please, consider buying something from my shop or leaving a tip.
Remember you got this!
Brayan AKA YAMZ
