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. 💕

Definitely agree on the thief point unfortunately! Last time I had a stall selling second hand clothes; the thieves were targeting cash boxes when the stall-holder was busy with other customers. I always wear a money belt now.

Good luck op! I hope it goes well for you!

Take your time in your stall layout and really look at it from the customer point of view. Don't be tempted to put all your stock out on the table - it makes it look scruffy. Give your pottery space to be admired and space so that buyers can visualise it as a piece in their home, rather than all piled up. Use a plain tablecloth that complements the colours of your work - for example, if you use darker pigments, a white tablecloth would be stunning, but if you use a more natural clay, they will be lost in white, so consider something darker to really make them pop.

If you have any items which are made to serve a purpose - e.g. vases, have one on display showing its purpose - like for the vase have some flowers in it. If you do something like glugglejugs, make sure you have some water handy to demonstrate the "gluggle". For something like pottery, you really need the customer to visualise the piece in their home, especially for your more expensive, "showstopping" pieces.

Also agree with the thieves, unfortunately. Wear a money belt or bumbag, or chain your cashbox to the table.

@HappyOctober obviously I don’t know what kinds of things you make but if it is handmade pottery (as opposed to, say, pottery you buy and then decorate) your prices sound low.

Like I say, I buy quite a bit and would happily pay £20 or more for a really lovely small bowl (for cereal or yogurt, say). Attached are a couple of pix from a recent event – I bought from both these stalls.

The small bowls at the front where most of the items are blue (first pic: I love the layout of that stall btw) were £24 and the bowls on the more varied colour stall were £15 – they were a total steal and probably the cheapest similar item at the event. I’m happy to pay more than you say (unless your most ££ item is very small I guess) for a handmade item from the maker.

Lots of different price points so there is something for everyone. Ideas / props showing how to use items & showing them in their best light. Also sell 'associated' items to cross / up sell?

Wow both of the stalls / items look lovely!

Practise your display at home first on a similar sized table. Put everything out exactly as you would on the stall, the cloth, your stands, your pieces, price list etc. Plan out where everything goes, see what works and what doesn't. Stand back and see how it looks from a distance. Taking a photograph can really help to show up gaps or anything that doesn't look right. Adjust and play around until you're happy. Have a plan for what pieces you will put in the gaps as items are sold. Take a final photo for reference when setting up on the day.

Can you take an extravert with you to assist with sales, chat up customers and watch the stall when your busy/ in loo etc.
I agree small items stocking filler stuff could sell v well.

You will definately need a card reader. People don't use cash, even for items costing a couple of quid.

Can you post a photo of some of your items as, from what you've said, it does seem that your prices are extremly low.

Are you sure about a cloth that goes to the ground, with pottery on display?

IME most customers are lovely, but I remember one who argued with me about what my art 'was really about' (hint: she was wrong). Another told me she thought my work was fabulous, unlike anyone else's, & did I have a business card with my web address on it? She wasn't buying anything, so I pointed out that my cards (which were very popular as there wasn't much that was low-priced at the art fair) were only £1 each & had my web address on the back - to which she replied, "Oh no, I don't want to buy anything! But I love your work so much that I want one of your business cards," which was annoying because I produced my own cards with my images on them & I felt I had to hand one over when it was obviously going to waste.

Also, prepare yourself to be told about relatives who do/used to do 'exactly what you do' - even if that turns out to be nothing like what you do. This happened so much at craft rather than art events that I used to steel myself against it, & it always happened several times at each event.

And be prepared that someone will love what you do but prefer it in another colour. Or size. Or finish. Or shape. Sometimes they'll tell you that you ought to produce that, & that you'd sell lots more if you did. The first time this happened to me, I listened & made what was suggested, took them to the next sale & didn't sell a single one.

Other stallholders can be great. They're useful sources of information & can be encouraging & even buy your items! I sold one top-price item to a stallholder before the sale even opened, which was a fantastic start. On the other hand, the stallholder next to me at one event set up her stall & then stood in front of mine surrounded by her family & friends, so no-one could see or get near my stuff. I was getting a bit edgy. Luckily they all moved when the sale opened. I was a customer at another one, where one stallholder did nothing but moan loudly, & I felt sorry for her neighbouring sellers as she was ruining the mood & putting people off going near her.

Hope it goes well, you enjoy it & sell lots.

Thank you all for such interesting help! I appreciate every post. @clarythe photos of the stalls uou bought from are such a help! Great ideas for display and such beautiful work. Very helpful to hear prices too. My work is much more ‘rustic’ 😬😳🤪 but happy to post some photos as
@Petrinementioned (thank you!) it’s amazing to get any (honest please) pricing guidance. I’ll add some photos shortly. Thank you all so much. 💕

Yes to a card reader. I never carry cash.

This is my pottery, not all of what’s pictured will be for sale but most of it and some other smaller bits I’m working on.

As a customer I'd say make sure everything is clearly labelled. I hate it when there is no price label and it puts me off straight away. Also make customers feel welcome but don't pressure them to buy anything, let them take their time looking around and don't hover around them that also immediately puts me off! Definitely have something to allow card payments very few people carry much cash now.

I agree to think about your prices as they sound very low for lovely handmade pottery, especially if you have also painted it. At my local craft market last year I bought a small jug for £20. I think she was selling coffee cups for £12-£15 depending on size. Serving plates could be £25+ depending on how fancy they are. But stars for hanging from a Christmas tree could be £4 if you can make lots at once.

Definitely think about how the customer will transport the items home safely without it being too hard to carry. Tissue paper, potentially bubble wrap of very fragile and sturdy bags. Factor the cost of this into your pricing, as well as the hours you spent making the items, the materials used and the cost and time spent at the market- you need to make a profit!

These are lovely 😊

In addition to the brilliant advice you have received, I would just add the following:

With the food - take things that can be eaten in small bites. For example, sandwiches cut into small bite sized pieces, no rocket or similar leaves in a salad. The minute you put food in your mouth, someone will appear and ask a question!

End of November is pretty close to Christmas so Christmassy lights, maybe red ribbon around a small stack of plates/bowls and a gift tag to give ideas for Christmas presents.

If you have things like french butter dishes, be ready to explain how they work to anyone who looks curious.

White table cloths go with everything and show up all colours nicely apart from white so if you have any white items, put them on a small dark coloured runner. Amazon sell these stretchy white table cloths that give excellent coverage and they are designed for the table legs to go on the cloth for extra security and a cleaner look and they are not very expensive.

If you have space on your table, you could show how things are made - so a lump of clay, a thrown bowl (leather hard); bisque fired bowl, glazed bowl. People are always interested in how high the temperature in the kiln firings go so maybe put all that sort of info on the cards in front of the appropriate bowl?

My view as someone selling functional pottery is that if they break by people picking them up and putting them down they wouldn’t be fit for purpose so I always ask people to please pick up the pieces.

Your work is lovely, good luck!

Love the stripey jar!

My favourite is the 'wave' plate and the green 'squiggle' bowl next to it. Love your work OP!

As it happens I've been to a craft sale today. Several potters with rustic bowls and plates had 'Touch me' signs on their stalls.

Oh! Thank you so much for the lovely messages, I am really touched.

Such a good point about saying people are welcome to pick things up ….and the inevitable kiln temp question!!

Thanks again to all, this has been a massive help and I will be SO much better prepared thanks to all your messages. 🥰💕

Your pottery looks lovely and I would say you’re definitely under pricing. All the craft fairs I’ve been too the pottery is much more than that (at least £20 for a small jug) and it certainly didn’t put people off buying it.
i love the blue lemon juicer, very unique.
what area is the fair in? I do love to potter around a craft fairs!

My Dh does a stall too. He’s also got a Christmas one the same weekend as you ☺️ he always forgets food and drink! He’ll go all day without any as he never takes any so I’ve had to swing by with snacks for him sometimes.

I forgot to mention on my previous post - safety pins! I used to use a double bed sheet as a tablecloth, so that it went down to the floor at the front, but I could safety pin the sides so there was no hanging cloth that could be pulled / trodden on.

Which brings me to insurance: You might already be onto it, but make sure you have public liability insurance in place. It’s an annoying cost that you’ll hopefully never need, but it’s not worth the risk of going without. Many market organisers insist on it anyway.

Don’t pounce on potential customers. I like to browse but if the sellers starts talking and waving goods under my nose I’m off. Just let people look in peace.

Your pottery is really nice, some unusual pieces there.
Good luck with your stall.x