10 Things that worked (and didn't) at my October markets
Every market teaches you something, here are 10 lessons I've learned from my markets this year. I’ve had setups fly away in the wind, sold out of scrubbies, and so much more I'd love to share with you!
October was a whirlwind of markets, coffee fueled evenings, and way too many last minute stuffing campaigns and ends to weave in. I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to sell my crochet items in person, what gets people attention, what drives a sale, and what doesn't go quite as planned.
So, if you’re curious about how it all went, here are 10 things that worked for me and 10 things I’ll definitely tweak next time.
10 Things that worked
1. A Clear, branded display: Having my logo and brand name clearly displayed on my table made a huge difference. Before even starting the conversation my patrons knew what I was selling and how to find me on social media. In my last two markets I also added stickers with my logo and website on them, business cards are cute, but kids love stickers. Even if someone doesn't want to buy right now, that sticker helps to spread brand awareness, and a free little gift goes a long way. It also increased my website visits significantly and adds a small layer of professionalism to my market display. My table felt a lot more like a business than just a bunch of crochet items on a table.
My logo is proudly displayed at my stall and on all cards/stickers I give out
2. Tiered layouts: Table displays are largely trial and error, I have personally tried quite a few from flat, to stacked, to layered and each have their own benefits and drawbacks. Flat displays encourage more conversation and is great for browsing small items like face scrubbies, although they won't grab the attention of a passerby as effortlessly. Stacked displays with overlapping items look great for colourful items, but can get too busy very quickly. Sometimes less is more, and that brings us to tiered layouts: tiered layouts are great for a few reasons. The first is they grab attention, having items at eye level for kids, adults and everyone in between starts a lot more conversations. They also help to make a large amount of products look more organized and less clumpy. I found it was helpful to also have non-sale items like plants or flowers in-between displays to add a sense of atmosphere and curation to my stand.
3. Small, affordable impulse buys: This one was a hard lesson to learn, when I started I had mostly high value items on my table, but just because you know the time and effort it took to craft these items doesn't mean your customers will. This also depends on the market audience but by-and-large people aren't looking to spend R500+ on single items in a cost of living crisis. The big ticket items are definitely great for grabbing attention and showing your skill but more often than not its the smaller versions of your big items that will sell. My face scrubbies, keychains, and under R50 items sell well and consistently. They’re budget-friendly, perfect for gifts, and let people take home a piece of my work without overthinking the price. More than just making a sale though, impulse buy items are quick to make and easy to display. Getting a keychain stand was a game changer too, everyone loves spinning a display and you can show a wide range of mini-makes on it.
Tiered displays add height and make my small items easier to notice. Variety is key but be careful not to make any display too busy.
4. Rounded prices: I know what you're thinking, shouldn't I take advantage of marketing strategies like charm pricing (R149 instead of R150) and other marketing strategies like odd-pricing to imply value (prices ending in 9 tend to imply value and sale)? Short answer yes, these strategies are tried and proven, but you can still take advantage of psychological thresholds by pricing something R140 instead of R149 and make the maths easier on you and your customer. Neat numbers make transactions smoother, faster, and reduces my mental load during checkout.
5. Card and cash payment options: Having a Yoco for card payments is a lifesaver. I rarely carry cash, and the same can be said for my customer base. Some people had cash, but the majority only carried cards and used their phones to pay. Being able to say “no problem!” either way saved several sales. An important note on having both is making sure your float reflects your pricing, if most of your prices end in 5 make sure you can make the necessary change.
6. Friendly, genuine interaction: As a shy person this is hard, personally I like browsing stores in silence but more often than not a warm smile and a bit of conversation go a long way. Engaging with customers on a personal level and not just regarding my products is both rewarding on a personal and professional level. People love hearing about the process, touching the yarn, and chatting about who the plushie might be for, but they also love telling you about their own hobbies, pets and why they came to the market. Engagement turns a once off sale into a recurring customer.
7. Business cards: My Instagram handle and contact information were displayed clearly, and quite a few people followed me on the spot, or contacted me afterwards. It’s such a good way to turn one-time buyers into long-term supporters. Keep your audience in mind here, I take custom orders and having my social media handles on stickers and cards helps potential customers see my process and all the cute things I've made.
8. Cute stickers and packaging: A small “thank you for your support” message always makes people smile. It’s such a easy thing to miss but it leaves a lovely, lasting impression. I like to attach my Thank you cards to my bags before the market and keep a couple extra loose in-case someone doesn't want a bag. These are also a great way to add incentive by adding a discount code (with expiry date) directing them to your website.
9. Specials and bundle deals: A classic buy 2 get 1 free special, visible "Sale - X% off" signage and a little mystery box is great for your hesitant buyers. I like to offer R30 mystery packs which include a mini-make, some stickers and a sweetie or two, but learnt quickly you need signage that tells people what to expect inside. A cute box with no indication of what's inside makes it hard for customers to justify spending any amount of money. That being said, people love surprises, and it gives my stall a fun, playful vibe.
10. Market checklists: After the first two chaotic markets, I started making checklists and it changed everything. Having my float, signage, bags, and packaging all prepped made setup calm and easy. Adding the small forgettable things like a notebook, calculator, and pen also saved me plenty of time. Putting snacks and my water bottle on the list saved me a lot of money, and by some magic every time I snacked someone came to browse. If you're comfortable and at ease at your stall, your energy will attract visitors so make sure you have a list and check it twice, especially this festive season.
10 Things that didn't work
1. Too many products: At my first market, I tried to bring everything I’d ever made. It looked cluttered, and people didn’t know where to look first. Now I stick to carefully chosen collections, more of the same items in different variants to cater to everyone without the table feeling overwhelming. This makes my whole stall feel calmer, cleaner, and more appealing.
My first solo market set up was a disaster, no tablecloth, underestimated table size, missing price tags and general chaos.
2. Not knowing the market audience: Knowing who you're selling to will help you sell better, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that not every market is the right market. Some events are full of kids who love plushies, others attract shoppers looking for décor or handmade gifts, and sometimes it’s mostly people just out for food and music. Now, I do a little research beforehand and make sure to check the vibe of the event, the kind of vendors attending, and what price ranges sell best.
3. Underestimating set-up time: I once arrived with barely 30 minutes to set up. Never again. Now I give myself a at least a full hour, I’d rather sip coffee and tweak my layout than panic over tangled fairy lights. Many of the markets I've attended also assign stalls on arrival, getting there early will get you a better spot and more time to interact with other vendors before you get busy.
4. Missing price tags: Occasionally in the rush of packing and set up a few items don't get visible prices, and I've noticed people hesitate to ask. Clear labeling keeps things flowing and saves you from repeating “it’s R50” a hundred times. This varies from vendor to vendor but I find having both a overall price list and prices on individual items helps a lot, especially when your stall is busy and you can't talk to everyone at once.
Keychain stands are great for layering displays, but no price tags will cause hesitation in a lot of customers
5. Weather drama: Wind, sun, and crochet don’t mix well. I’ve chased runaway scrubbies and fought with flapping signs. My first two markets were a constant battle with the elements, now I pack table clips, gazebo weights, and if the weather doesn't let up I simplify my set-up to prevent fly away plushies!
7. Missed content opportunity: Between chatting, selling, and fixing displays, I often forget to capture content. Those moments are great for social media and future market promoting, so now I plan a few quiet minutes just for photos. Coming prepared with ideas will take of stress to film spontaneous content, I'm a type A personality and spontaneity is not my strong suit so I like to add a few ideas to my "at market checklist".
8. Not everyone plays fair: It’s not the nicest topic, but it’s real, sometimes things go missing. Small items like keychains or scrubbies are easy to pocket, and in a busy market, it can happen before you even notice. It’s disheartening when someone takes something you poured hours into, but it’s also a learning moment. Now I keep smaller items closer to where I stand, use baskets that make it harder to grab and walk, and gently keep an eye on the flow of people. Most market visitors are absolutely lovely, but a little awareness goes a long way and it protects your stock and your peace of mind.
9. Not promoting the market early enough: A few markets came up so fast I barely had time to post about them, and unfortunately market hosts don't always spread the word well. Sharing early sneak peeks and “come see me!” posts really does help people find you.
10. Burnout before market day: Trying to crochet everything a week before a market left me exhausted. Now I pace myself, make a schedule well in advance with you guessed it checklists reduces market stress significantly. If you run out of time its always better to have fewer well made pieces than a table full of rushed ones. If you need some help with setting up your checklists check out my checklist templates in my shop!
Every market has something special, between the laughter, the curious faces, the little hands hugging plushies, and the quiet pride of seeing someone fall in love with something you made. But they also come with lessons about patience, preparation, and staying calm when things don’t go to plan. Success isn’t just about selling out; it’s about connecting with people, growing with each experience, and enjoying the moment. The wins feel wonderful, the flops make you stronger and even the hard moments remind you why you started, for the love of making.
I’ve learned that not everything will go perfectly, and that’s okay. Every market brings something new, a better way to set up, a clearer idea of what people love, or just a good story to laugh about later.
