Markets have been around for centuries, but in the modern age, they have become increasingly popular with independent retailers who want to show off their products and attract new customers. Many people enjoy spending a Saturday or Sunday afternoon browsing through stalls to find some truly unique products, whether that is tasty food, handmade soaps, flowers, and even fashionable attire.
Vintage clothing, in particular, is always a popular choice, as many shoppers can find unique items and combine the styles of decades gone by with modern clothing to create a stunning outfit. If you are a retailer who sells vintage clothes and accessories and you have been thinking about taking your shop to a market, here are some top tips to help you set up your stall.
Point of Sale
One of the most important things you will need to consider is making sure that your customers can pay for their items easily and securely. Having a cash box with a float in it is a must so that you can provide customers with the right change. You should also look into getting a card reader that syncs up with your business bank account, as many people prefer to pay with a credit or debit card these days. Make sure that you have both options; otherwise, you might lose out on sales if customers can’t pay easily using their preferred method.
The Display
You will need to make sure that you have all the essentials to display your items properly, so you might want to think about investing in some extra garment rails so that your clothes can hang neatly and avoid getting wrinkled or dirty. Display cabinets might also be worthwhile, particularly for any accessories that you have on sale, as this will make it easy for your customers to see them but also provide a secure place to reduce the chances of theft or damage to your products.
Bring Business Cards
Having a stall at a market is not just a way to make a few sales; it’s also an opportunity to promote your business brand. As an independent retailer, you should make the most of this by having your business cards there to either place in your customers’ bags when they make a purchase or for people to pick up and take with them if they want to look at your website or come into your main shop at a later date. You can also use the market as a potential networking opportunity with some of the other businesses there, which is another good reason to have your business cards with you.
Promote Your Stall
Finally, in the weeks running up to the date that you will be at the market, make sure that you are promoting it on social media and any other outlets that you can. This could encourage your current customers to come down and do a bit of shopping, or if you tag the name of the market in your posts, people who tend to go there regularly might be more intrigued to visit your stall. You could even post some pictures of some of the items you will be taking with you to create more buzz, too.
If you are an independent vintage fashion retailer and you will soon be setting up your first market stall, consider these tips to help you make it attractive to customers as much as possible.