Market Happened: A Post-Market Stall Summary

Two months ago, I wrote this blog post: To Market, To Market: On Failure and Mentally Preparing Myself for my First Market Stall. Well, last weekend market happened, so it’s time for a post-market review and summary. Here’s what I learned, what worked, what didn’t, and how it went down.

First up, I need to say that I literally lost sleep being anxious about my first market. I slept poorly for the three nights beforehand, too busy thinking (and catastrophising). I wrote this poem the night before, which shows you where my brain was at ----->

I don't know how to fix that issue, besides maybe alcohol (I don't drink) or sleeping pills lol. Open to suggestions.

Two days out, I gathered all of the things I needed into piles in various locations. Last minute, I spent time finalising my pricing, making signage, scheduling promotional Facebook posts to advertise the event, testing my Square (electronic payment device), organising change ($100: 5 x $10, 4 x $5, 10 x $2, 10 x $1), and triple checking (times ten) all of the market details (parking, site location, start and packup times etc etc). Hubby helped me pack the car the night before, and I just just threw in a few last-minute things in the morning (Like cash and a...

Leaky drink bottle. Ooops! Yeah. This was my first stuff-up. I was dry-mouth-sweaty-armpits-nauseous-tummy anxious on the morning of the market, and I didn't close the lid of my drink bottle properly. This was stupid. Fortunately, I didn't put my drink bottle in a box with my book stock, but I did put it in a box with some signage and various things that needed to be dried up. I threw a cloth in a box the night before, which ended up being a blessing, a) to dry up the water, and b) to wipe off my whiteboard signage so that I could re-do them. So learn from this: a) Close drink bottle properly, b) Keep drink bottle away from everything, and c) Cloths are handy.

I was so grateful to have my husband help me set up and pack up. I chose my first market to be just down the road from our house, in case I forgot something or something went wrong. He drove down with me, attempted to keep me calm, walked home when I was set up, then walked back when it was time to pack up. Being local, I also had friends and family pop in to provide moral support (and coffee). This was so lovely and welcome, and a lovely distraction when nobody else was around. FYI: I didn't forget anything. The only thing I asked hubby to bring when he came back to help me pack up was a ziplock bag. So, maybe I should chuck in some ziplock bags, just in case, for future markets.

Bump-in (market-speak for the time you can arrive and start setting up) started from 7:30 am, and we had to be all set up and ready to trade by 8:45. When we arrived at around 7:45 am, nearly everyone else was set up already, and I may have freaked out just a little bit (hard to imagine, I know). Turned out that with hubby's help, we had plenty of time. Also turned out that I was almost completely set up when two other parties showed up to set up non-trading marquees (one was some government informational thing, and the other was a local arts group). So yeah, I didn't need to freak out at all.

We were fortunate enough to get a very close car park. We arrived too late to drive onsite to unload, seeing as though most of the other marquees were already set up, but that didn't really matter. We didn't have far to carry things, and I could see the car from my marquee for the whole day, so I could easily leave things in it and duck back to get things if I needed to (I didn't). The toilets were also really close, and I would have felt comfortable asking my friendly neighbour storeholder to watch my stall for two minutes while I popped to the loo (I didn't need to). This leads me to my next point...

I had really friendly neighbours. Anne from Great Ocean Road Cordial Syrups, was my first market friend! She came over to browse my books and introduce herself, was up for a chat between customers, happy to share her market knowledge, and was just overall a lovely, encouraging human whom I was thrilled to do my first market alongside. Checkout Great Ocean Road Cordial Syrups Facebook Page, and you can see a pic of her market setup in her banner. Anne even bought my books, so a special shoutout and thank you to Anne for being super awesome!

My other neighbour was also a really friendly and lovely lady from Lovecraft Industries. I forget her name, but she was beautiful, sold crystals and candles, and also offered words of encouragement when she found out it was my first market. Her store was shmick, and I watched one guy buy two candles without even smelling them, so she was definitely doing things right. Checkout Lovecraft Industries Facebook Page.

The other awesome thing was the amazing background music. I was lucky enough to have the very talented Anthony Dellamarta play his very chill set right behind me, and I loved being able to bop and sing along. It wasn't loud or obnoxious, and it offered a really beautiful, chilled-out Sunday sorta vibe to our Saturday market. Honestly, this music probably helped me stay relaxed and not want to hide under my table and have a cry when people were rushing past my table while other tables were full of browsers (that was all in my head, right?). Music is important. Have a look at Anthony Dellamarta's Facebook Page.

Things I forgot: Hat, sunnies and snacks. I thought that with a marquee, I wouldn't need a hat or sunnies. I was wrong and did end up with the sun in my eyes for an hour or so of the market. Not a big deal, the sun was nice, but next time I'll try to remember to pack my hat and sunnies. I deliberately didn't pack snacks because I knew I'd be too nervous to eat, and I kinda was, but I also wonder whether if I had eaten something, then I may have felt a tiny bit better lol.

One unexpected bonus was seeing a whole heap of gorgeous dogs. I didn't realise how many people took their dogs to market. It was fun to see so many different breeds, and I watched so many dogs and owners meet and exchange pleasantries. Makes me wonder if a dog-related store would do really well at certain markets, or maybe I should fill up a bowl of water for passing doggos and pop it right beside my setup ;)

My bookish conversation starters:

• Do you like books? (when people were standing further away), and

• You like to read? (when people were closer)

I know, not great, right? lol

Once, when someone was looking from afar, I gestured to a book with a smile and told her that she was welcome to have a look. This didn't work. She couldn’t have run away fast enough lol. Lesson learned. Leave distant browsers alone.

I think that the more markets I do, the more relaxed I will be, and the more comfortable I will get at engaging people in conversation and gently dropping in my books.

Funny note: One lady was holding my book and reading the blurb, and I used, "You like to read?" She replied, "No," then I had absolutely no idea what to say haha (turns out that she was lovely and was looking for a gift for her friend).

I had a newsletter signup notebook open on my table, and I did manage to gain a new subscriber, but despite my attempts at heading the page and columns, it was not clear what the open book was for without me pointing to it or people taking the time to read it. A large and clear sign/standing banner with a big QR code for a free book that leads people to my newsletter signup would be great. It's on my wish list.

Free stickers worked well for kids, but not so much for adults. I don't sell kids' books, and I didn't wrap up my books all nice (because I don't like the waste. Every single person I asked declined the offer of a bag, so I think other people are on the same page here). So, once my stickers are all gone, I don't think I will buy more. I will trial other little freebies to capture my book-loving passers-by (suggestions welcome).

Although I included art, my main aim was to sell books. The art was just another thing to hopefully draw people over. This did work, I had a handful of people come over to look closer at the bookmarks. Zero interest in the cards and framed picture. Handy to know. This could work in my favour. Perhaps the bookmarks could be the freebies, but I think I would make them free with book purchase because each one is handpainted and takes time and effort to make. I'd hate to see them in the hands of people who don't really appreciate them. I will muck around with this idea.

One thing I know for sure is that I am definitely lacking signage. I think, eventually, I will need:

• a t-shirt that says 'author' (every person asked whether I wrote the books)

• a hanging banner for the back wall (to explain that I am an author selling my books. Maybe a 'meet the author' vibe?)

• A standing banner (with aforementioned QR code to free book in exchange for newsletter signup)

I didn't want to sit down because I thought I should be standing up, looking approachable. By the end of the market (and for the rest of the day) my back ached. Next time I'll take Panadol. Anne from the cordial setup next door had foam mats and a high seat that she could kinda lean against. If someone is doing a lot of markets, I'd say that they need good shoes.

Stock/inventory:

• I took 20 copies of The Silver Sheep (Book 1 of Earth Legacy Series)

• 15 Copies of The Silver Shepherd (Book 2)

• 20 copies of Other Than Mother (a standalone)

• 30 copies of The Perfect Gift

I definitely did not need to take that many books. I was obviously pretty hopeful and wasn't sure what to expect.

Sales:

I sold 5 books

• 2 x The Silver Sheep

• 2 x The Silver Shepherd

• 1 x Other Than Mother

With the pricing I set, this had me bring in $90.

Stall Expenses:

• Stall Fees - $69.80

I told people that I broke even plus $20, because my earnings covered my stall fees and I had no fuel costs seeing as though the market was literally just down the road from my house. That being said, there were a heeeap of large costs involved in getting all set up to do markets...

Market Setup Costs:

• Public Liability Insurance - $124 (for 12 months of AAMI Market Stall Insurance)

• Square - $60 (to accept electronic payments)

• Marquee, weights, walls, tables, tablecloths, chairs - $400 (I picked up a package deal of all these items from someone who was giving up doing markets)

• Book Stock - $1104.10

• Book and art stands - $10 (I already had a heap from when my books were stocked in a local cafe, so I only paid for a large art stand secondhand)

• Tubs and storage - $0 (these were gifted)

• Signage (whiteboards and markers) & Table runner - $30.67

• Total = $1728.77 + $69.80 stall fees = $1798.57

• Other things to consider = hours put into organising and doing the markets, cost of making the art and book products, and fuel.

Okay, so let's say that I end up making $100 each market that I do (I have pleeeenty of book stock after my $1k+ order so that'll do me for a while). I would end up needing to do 18 markets just to break even (with a lot of voluntary hours and excluding fuel lol). Now, I hope that some markets I would make a lot more than $100, especially book and art/craft type markets, but let's just assume that I don't. Okay, cool. Now, here is where I am at an advantage over a lot of the other stalls at markets; Their goals most likely include sales and money, but mine is gaining an interested audience. If I do 18 markets and sell my books, and people leave reviews and sign up for newsletters, and pass their books on to friends and family members, the flow-on effects for me can be generous, and I could gain more readers, book sales, and opportunities. My focus is different. Also, getting myself out in front of people means that they see I exist! Then, maybe one day they see me at another market, or they see my book somewhere, or read something that mentions me, and it triggers a familiarity, and ya know, good things. This is probably a whole other blog post, but you get where I'm going with this, right? A successful market, for me, doesn't equal a big pile of money. Talking about money...

It would be easy to eat into profits by spending at the markets (and on the way there/back). Add a coffee and a snack, see something you like and buy that too. Take the kids and they want a donut and a donkey ride. Stop for lunch on the way home. Buy fuel and get a choccy bar. You know, it all adds up. When hubby brought my twinnies down to visit me, he spent $20 on crystals for them from the stall nextdoor. Yep. There goes my profits lol.

A note on the breeze. Do not underestimate the elements. I had a perfect market day with perfect weather and occasional gentle breezes. Well, those gentle breezes were enough to blow my tablecloth and runner around and blow over a little chalkboard sign. I can see how strong wind would definitely wreak havoc on my stock and display, and make the whole experience completely unenjoyable and potentially disastrous (the way I have things set up).

At the end of the market, La Madre Bakery was giving away their leftover stock, and I went home with a beautiful potato and rosemary sourdough loaf. Honestly, it was delish, especially when my bestie and her fam popped in for a visit the next day and I served them up my beautiful artisan loaf for lunch; it kinda felt like a nice little unexpected bonus for my market efforts.

A final thing to note. After 3 nights of less than optimal sleep, anxiety, an early morning, physical work, hours on my feet, pack up and a comedown, I was exhausted. Like, completely knackered. I then went to a social event in the evening and probably did not deliver my most captivating social performance. I think each time I do a market, I will be less anxious (and get more sleep), so the exhaustion probably won't be as heavy. But if it's your first market, expect the rest of the day to be a write-off.

So there's my first market experience in a nutshell: A Post-Market Stall Summary. One thing to note is that this market was a farmer's market. It was never going to offer a thriving book community, prepped to receive fresh new reads, and that is okay. I knew that beforehand. But now that I'm all set up, I can easily choose to do any new markets I like, without necessitating any large outlays or super amounts of effort.

My next market is Clunes Booktown Festival in two weeks. This should be a totally different experience with very different results. I'll keep you posted, so watch this space.

Any questions? Let me know in the comments.

Prepping to do your first market? Let me know how you go!

Happy reading (&/or market-ing).

Much love,

Marley x

Anyone still reading?! This ended up being my longest blog post EVER!

If you got this far, you may also be interested in reading my first blog post about Setting Up a Market Stall in Australia.