Hello again, I’m Nisa, and I have been selling my artwork at craft markets since I was 12. Markets have been such a good way to meet people and get involved in my community. Currently, I do one market every month because that’s what works with my school schedule, but you have the freedom to sign up for as much or as little as you want. They’ve been a really fun extracurricular to add to my week, and I can make unlimited amounts of art without cluttering my house. The first part of this article consisted of the very first steps to starting at markets, things like finding venues, applying, and pricing your work; however, in this one, I’ll detail what to do once you’ve been accepted to your first market.

When making the final decision on your shop, you need to consider branding. When naming your business, I wouldn’t recommend using something super product-specific. My business name when I first started was Doctor Perler on Instagram, because I was selling Perler Bead jewelry; However, later I had to change it once I expanded to other crafts. While it was a pain to change my username and make new business cards, creating an Instagram for my work was a great way to get out there in my early stages. Having a portfolio of your work is so important because when you’re applying to markets, the organizers need to know who you are, what your vibe is, and what you sell for proper curation. It’s most common to use Instagram, but Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok are also used. Some application forms will allow you to add photos directly, so an online presence isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s still a good thing to have

Now, you have to start preparing for the market day. Some organizations might lend you a table, but if you’re considering doing markets more frequently, it’s easier to buy your own. When purchasing a table, you’ll need something that fits the average booth size (usually 6x4ft or 10x10ft) and is easily portable; so get something foldable, between 5-6 feet wide, and with a handle. Don’t get the cheapest thing, but don’t get anything too expensive because this table will end up getting knocked around a bit. I bought mine from Walmart for $54, and it’s held up really well.  Next, you need a chair to sit in. I just used camping chairs from the Academy that I had lying around, but they’re generally $15 each. Get a couple in case you want to bring friends. Most anything will do, just make sure that it’s not too much shorter than your table.

An optional investment for when you start getting more serious about markets is canopies. These can be on the more expensive end, with a 10×10 canopy being $150, but they’re great for outdoor events. Some venues won’t allow them, so investing in these will depend on where you usually sell them. When buying Canopies, you should buy a high-quality one as these will be subject to wind, rain, and the sun. This doesn’t mean get the most expensive, but don’t cheap out either. Canopies also require getting weights to stop them from blowing away. You could buy weights from Amazon, but I just use barbells in a bag, or some people use water jugs. Do not skip out on weights, though. I’ve seen many products ruined by a falling tent. 

Selling can feel like a large initial investment, but it’s all about being resourceful and finding what is useful for you and what you do and don’t need. It’s really easy to DIY a booth display or shelving, so don’t get too caught up in buying everything new. Part of the fun to making and customizing everything. In the end, creating what makes you happy is the real goal.