Skip to main content

Vendor Packing List


This month I had back-to-back markets, so I thought what better time than now to share my vendor packing list!

I usually set up shop at local Farmers Markets or indie craft fairs that tend to be on the smaller size. Mostly because I find that my products tend to fit in better at these events & locations.

These events may only last a few hours, but there is certainly a lot of prep-work that goes into them.

Most markets require you to submit an online application several months in advance. Generally I write out a list of what events I want to attend and then start searching for application details. Once I have all the information, I'll set reminders on my calendar so I don't miss the deadlines. Be sure to have photos of your booth display and products on hand to submit with the applications.



Once accepted, the entrance fees are generally around $25-35, depending on the event. The organizers will send you load-in time, vendor booth number, load-out details, and general event guidelines and rules.

Next I work on creating my booth itself. Tent, tables, racks, baskets, etc. This didn't happen overnight. I started out with what I had on hand and then slowly added items as time went on. Pinterest has a ton of ideas, so definitely start there!

And then begins the biggest hurdle, making inventory! I usually start making as much product as I can as soon as possible. You will want to have enough stock so you can replenish your stand as the day goes on. It took me a few markets to figure out how much I would sell on a normal day, so now I have it down pretty solid how much inventory I need.

For me, I like to have everything packed and ready to go in the car the night before an event. Or at least packed and by the door for an easy load in. The morning of an event you want to be relaxed and just hop in the car because you will be doing plenty of work at the market itself!


My last few words of wisdom are bringing water and snacks/lunch along with you. You might not have the time to run and grab something, plus it saves you some cash. And most importantly you don't want to pass out!

So here we go! Here is my go-to packing list for pop-up shops! Do you have anything to add to the list? We would love to hear your ideas.

Happy vending!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Market time again!

Last week we packed up our goods and headed over to the Ashland farmers market for their sustainability day and we had one of our best selling days ever! The weather was gorgeous, the people were friendly, and the feedback from customers was beyond supportive and positive. I even had a few people run back to my booth around closing time to pick up some more goods. Overall a wonderfully successful day that not only re-motivated me, but made me realize that following my dreams isn't so crazy after all! We set up shop with our usual tent, but this time added a nice new handmade sign. A definite plus for getting our name out there! Although some people were wondering where the papayas were...And please ignore Axel who looks so thrilled in the background of every picture. I swear, he really was excited to be there! There was a huge turnout for the market's sustainability day event. All the vendors had a focus on reusable and sustainable products, so our produce ba

Hello world!

Hello there! And welcome to my little corner of the blog world! I'm Alyssa, owner and creator around these parts. I'm a mama to my sweet & sassy Amaia, wife to Axel, and the maker behind my little Amaia Papaya shop. Since this space is new, I'll give you a little intro to me and my life. I've been a maker & crafter for as long as I can remember. Sewing and crafting has always just been my thing. Growing up I'd trade the sports field for drawing and painting in a heartbeat. So it's no surprise that life's path would take me here to starting my own little handmade business. During my college years I developed a love for all things natural, organic, and environmentally-friendly, so I combined the two passions and started making handmade reusable goods with an eco-friendly focus. And since this is such a new world to me, I thought what better way to document my journey than right here with you! So join me as I dive head first into maki

Amaia goes to the farm!

We recently had a rare Friday afternoon off with absolutely nothing to do (laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc. don't count here) so we packed up and headed over to our town's community farm to make lots of new animal friends! Here are three quick reasons why we love this place: 1) it's free 2) it's all organic and 3) it is super toddler/kid friendly. They even have a toddler garden where everything is at Amaia's level and perfect for exploring. She was in heaven! This is Amaia's first time ever seeing chickens, cows, pigs, and goats, so it was truly an honor to witness her discovering such a new world for the first time. There was a lot of hooting and hollering coming from her direction. This is something I never thought about before being a mom, so I truly treasure moments like this. I can remember coming here as child myself to learn about making maple syrup and how to plant seeds, so I'm super excited to bring Amaia here. They offer ton