Christmas Stall - first time as seller! Pls can I have your tips?

[HappyOctober]

I’ve just found out that I’ve got a spot selling my pottery, which I’m excited about but have never done this before…

Thinking I’ll need paper to wrap them in, bags maybe, a float, is it a good idea to get a card reader? Price labels. A form for emails to be added to a (currently non existent) mailing list?! Anything else? I’m probably missing loads, any suggestions gratefully received. 💕

How exciting!

My top tips - make friends with the other other stall holders, you might end up networking with them in the future.

You can sign up to SumUp and download the card reader to your phone, this used to be free. I wish I had known this before I bought the card reader.

Have price labels and business cards.

Have a qr card that takes people to your socials if you have them.

Customers will appear the moment you eat, bend down or go to the toilet.

Have fun.

Info with your socials, website , details etc.
Business cards. A card reader. Obviously wrap and bags, maybe strong brown paper bags with your logo on if that fits with your aesthetic. Maybe a float but I'd offer card payments too. Maybe but about you, pic of you in the studio etc
Good luck👏

1. Definitely get a card reader of some kind. I use Square on my phone only. Remember to take your charger! Back up QR codes that take someone to a payment option are a good shout.
2. Display prices are helpful. Go high, so you show your work has value.
3. Packaging to get the work home without breaking it is very important - cover that in the price.
4. If someone buys something you can ask for an email for their receipt. For those who just want to know about future work you could QR code to a sign up page.
5. A nice cloth and raising blocks to display pieces will be helpful.

Good luck!

Card machine - yes definitely needed. As is a decent float, although try and keep your pricing simple.

Would highly recommend secure packaging.

Make sure your table is fully secure (I've seen what happens when they collapse).

Make sure your display has different heights. Don't lay everything flat on the table. You can use all sorts of things for this, without shelling out. I used to put the boxes I transported stock in underneath my tablecloth and upended to use as stands.

Clear pricing. People won't ask.

Take business cards if you want to share your business.

Don't set up an email mailing list unless you are registered with the Information Commissioners Office. It's illegal.

Smile, greet people as they walk past. Don't sit on your phone. To be honest, don't sit unless you really have to.

Take food and drinks.

Make friends with your stall neighbours.

Tell people about your story, how you make things, your inspiration, anything really. People buy from people.

I've never had a stall but as a customer
-clear price labels are a must
-I sometimes like to know where you will have your stall next time for a leaflet is handy or a list I can photograph
-I'm in my 40's, fairly tech savvy but don't have instagram, tik tok of whatever the latest is. I do have facebook or am happy to look up a website to know where you will be next time.
-I despise QR codes and don't bother scanning them. I just want the info, even if I have to take a photo of a poster/sign on your stall that says that info.

A flask of coffee, a bottle of water, and food
Your table, a table cloth (a flat double bed sheet works well), a folding chair - generally I prefer to stand, but it gets tiring
A cash tin
A notebook and pen
Some blank price labels for anything you’ve forgotten to price, or that you decide to change
Sellotape, scissors, safety pins (you’d be surprised how many times I’ve needed these at fairs and markets)
A ground sheet - depending if you’re indoors or outside, sometimes it’s helpful to have something to put down so your things aren’t directly on the ground
Lip balm, paracetamol, hand cream, hand sanitizer

Plan to get there as early as they’ll let you. It’s so much easier setting up your stall in a leisurely way, rather than dashing in at the last minute. Plus, at some venues you can drive up and unload, but then have to move your car, and if you’re not early, it might be a struggle to park.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

Display, display, display.

You need to attract people over to your stall before you can sell anything. They need to see what you selling from a distance. Height in your displays is key. If your wares are all sitting at the same level on the table they can't be seen from across the room and the display looks literally a bit 'flat' and dull.

Build a cheap set of risers with bricks or sturdy cardboard boxes and small planks of wood. Make sure your pieces won't fall off or the whole thing collapse if customers start picking things up.

Have 3 'zones' on your table
• a tall eye-catching display at one end to draw people in
• a middle zone of pieces people can choose from and easily handle
• a 'payment' zone at the other end with your prices,space for wrapping/ the customer to put their bag. Group any small pieces you have here for last minute impulse buys.

Good luck, it's very exciting!

I remember the advice of a very successful retail business man which was nobody should come in and not buy anything, so if you can produce a cheap simple irresistible thing that will draw people in. Perhaps some simple single Christmas tree decorations in addition to your other pieces.

Are you inside or outside?
need your own tables?
wind / rain alters things and can be cancelled.
Is the wifi any good?

Food and drinks and sweets 🙀
Take lots of warm clothes / hand warmers / uggs - it gets freezing after an 1 hr stood out on a cold day - the more comfortable you are the better you will feel.
Is it a high street? Or a school / indoor place?

Make sure the sheet covering your table goes all the way to the ground and looks neat and even. Hide all your boxes, packing and gubbins under the table behind it. Check how far you might have to carry your stuff from the car. Some venues allow you to unload near the entrance and then move the car to the car park. But if it's a large venue it may still be quite a walk within the building to your stall. Pottery is heavy and multiple trips to collect your stock could take ages. Think about investing or borrowing a collapsible festival trolley. Make it the last thing to go in the car so it's the first thing out at the venue.

Definitely chat to potential customers about how you make your pieces, methods, materials and glazes, firing, your inspiration, how you've developed/explored new skills and techniques. People aren't just interested in a piece, they want a maker and a story. Have a photo of your studio somewhere on your stall, maybe even wear a (clean!) craft apron to look the part!

Watching with interest. I will also be a seller at a Christmas market this year. Hope it goes well for you OP. 🎄

I buy a lot from makers (especially pottery! <glances at cupboard> but I do use it!) anyway I would say

• Prices – always put clear prices on items, people won't ask but if they can see, they can tell if they are happy to pay that
• Card-reader on phone – people don't bring cash
• Range of items ie range of prices – items around £10-15 will sell IME
• But also have some gorgeous hero pieces (if you have them) that are a lot more but that draw the eye and the customer - like a glorious big fruit bowl – then you sell the small breakfast dish
• Useful things rather than decorative (that's what I buy anyway)
• Business cards yes deffo
• Say hello but then wait to see if someone wants to chat – people like to look and be able to move on without feeling guilty
• If someone does want to chat tho have a story ready of how you make your wares

ETA yy Christmas tree decs are a great idea for potters. Simple to make I presume but will always sell.

All the best with it.

Some people - like me - will scurry off if you seem like you might be pushy. So if someone doesn’t seem like they want to chat, say hello and then be quiet. Have information like pricing clearly displayed so we don’t have to ask. A little sign saying more available on my website, please take a picture <web address>.

Have a sign saying Please touch. People get nervous about handling fragile items but for me, half the joy of pottery is tactile.

Contrary to pp I would have no issues as a customer with you sitting down or even sitting on your phone as long as you look up and smile or say hello. It’s actually kind of reassuring that you won’t be pushy or give me a lengthy spiel I can’t get away from.

Make your stall look attractive and show how your pottery can be used at the same time ( unless it is purely decorative) so if you have wide flat bowls buy a few pomegranates or shiny apples to show one of them being used, it’s autumn so put a few twigs of autumn leaves in a tall pot( no water) , in a smaller bowl you could put some nuts ( in shells so no one helps themselves) walnuts and hazel nuts look attractive. People are very unimaginative, you have to give them a little push sometimes!

Charge up a string of tiny outdoor lights , plain ones not flashing rainbows, cover the battery bit with tape so they come on. Especially useful if your table is in a gloomy corner.

Yes, agree with an initial friendly smile or hello to a customer but then have something to fiddle with 'backstage' so they can browse quietly at first without feeling watched.

Ooh yes that's good. People who (for example) crochet can say hello and then go back to their crochet work so I can look in peace. I guess for a potter that might be hand-painting an item?

But equally it is part of the pleasure of buying from makers to talk about what they have made. As long as the customer wants to tho.

Yes, fairy lights are great for drawing attention and making your stall stand out. Have your name/brand somewhere visible in big letters. If it suits your aesthetic have it spelt out on bunting (fabric or even stiff card) across the front of your table or hung above you on a wall if there is one.

Have a selection of lower prices and a some more pricy pieces.

Bubble wrap and boxes for people to transport them home.

Be mindful of thieves as well, horrible to say but they strike at events like this.

Finally, don't give any headspace to rude people that have no idea how much effort goes into making unique handmade items!

Want to add my 'as a customer' perspective.

I don't like over enthusiastic sellers who want to tell me about their history and how the company started etc. I'll buy something because I like it whether or not it's infused with chickens teeth and unicorn tears.

Also, I walked away from a stall at our local farmers market as the seller was too busy doing the above with another customer and I got bored waiting to pay and eventually put my stuff back and headed off.

Yup. You do have to develop a slightly thick skin. It's inevitable that some people won't like the things you've made. And may show it. It can feel hurtful. Smile and let it go.

You've had some great advice already. When I had a stall, I used a small chalk board (A-board) and wrote some basic info onto it eg website address, some prices.

I allowed people to browse in peace but was v smiley and available to answer questions.

I also had a small Christmas tree at the end of my stall. I hung plastic baubles onto it - the type you fill yourself. I filled the baubles with my smaller items.

Take coffee / tea and snacks / boiled sweets to share with the stall holder next to you. Take a book just in case it doesn't really get busy for a few hours.

Take black sacks for rubbish.

Take plenty of wrapping paper / bubble wrap, sellotape, string, ribbon, plastic bags, gift bags.

Good luck

It'll feel a bit tense until you've made enough to cover the stall fee. After that, relax and count all your takings as profit!

(Ok, I know Lord Sugar wouldn't agree, but hey)

have varied priced items low and high

Thank you all so much!!! This is such a lot of brilliant advice, so many things I would not have thought of! 😳😆

I really appreciate every response and am about to make a big list of things to remember (e.g. friendly hello but let them initiate any chat - and think about what I would say about my work.) - and physical things to organise eg. Boxes to raise things on, -SUCH a good point! Cloth that goes to the floor, was thinking maybe of making felt flowers to go in the vases as it’s all functional tableware really that I make. I love the idea of autumn nuts and fruit!

The Pricing info is very helpful too. I’m hoping to have some small items for £3-4 and others probably around £8-10, max £15.

I will certainly report back afterwards, it’s the last weekend in November so luckily I have a bit of time to organise things, though I think I have a lot to do!

Thank you all so much! 🥰💕