How to Increase Sales at your Market Stall. Part 3.
If you missed out on Parts 1 & 2 visit them here:
How to Increase Sales at your Market Stall. Part 1.
How to Increase Sales at your Market Stall. Part 2.
7. What’s The Story Behind Your Product?
You may not think people care that the necklace you’re selling is made from bull horn from Columbia or the fabric you used on that hand bag is hand woven by women in a small village in Papua New Guinea. But the fact is, they do. People visit markets for this reason alone. To find something unique they can show off to their friends. If your product has a unique selling point, make sure your customers know about it!
You can make a sign with the information, which people probably won’t read, or you could tell them when they are looking at or holding your product. This knowledge has now created more of an investment in the product on behalf of the shopper, increasing the chance of a sale.
It’s also lovely to let customers know the process of how your product is made, so think about perhaps demonstrating the process or having some photos ready to show customers if they ask.
8. Record your Sales
It’s super important for you to write down every sale you make, noting the product, including colour, size etc, its price, time of day it was sold and a description of the buyer (i.e approx age, sex etc). I took photos of all my products and printed out contact sheets with thumb nail images. It takes a while to initially set up but makes it so much easier on market day to simply tick off the products sold.
It’s a good idea to also ask the shopper if they’re buying for themselves or is it a gift?
These statistics make very interesting reading when you get home.
Analyse them carefully and make sure you use them to improve sales at your next market stall.
9. Your Stall Display
Remember that you’ll be competing for sales with between 30 to 200 people at bigger markets, so you’re going to have to stand out. Laying your products flat on your table won’t allow shoppers to see your wares from a distance. From far away, your stall will look empty and uninviting. Set products up so you turn people’s heads from a distance. If they like what they see, they will come over for a closer look.
Build up levels on your table and if appropriate hang things from spaces behind you or around the sides. Every day house hold items often make great props. I used a candelabra to hang jewellery from and glass kitchen bowls and baskets make great display containers.
Remember to avoid clutter and ensure that your table cloth colour doesn’t conflict with your products. Keep it simple, and avoid crushed velvet. (Unless you’re a fortune teller!)
Another great way to promote your stall display is by taking pictures of your stall set up and sharing these on TMR’s scroll wall on market day.
Are you a stallholder? Put your product in front of thousands of market goers with a TMR profile. Sign up!