Setting Up Stall at a Farmers Market
If you are lucky enough to be a small scale grower or food producer, and you are not yet utilizing the selling power of your local farmers market, now is the time to get yourself motivated, and set up stall. There are many different kinds of farmers market, with some being extremely low key and localized, and others being huge weekly events that draw producers and shoppers from far away, but one thing they all share in common is the desire to give local farmers a platform to sell from. People are fed up of buying mass manufactured foods in the supermarkets, and farmers markets are becoming increasingly popular as good quality organic produce bought straight from the farmer cannot be beaten.
Things to Think About
It is important to do a little market research before you jump in and set up a stall. It is a good idea to visit the farmers market a few times to see how things operate, how busy it is, who is shopping there, and what other produce is being sold. Doing this one year before you intend to begin selling will give you ample time to decide what you might like to sell as well as how quantities you might need to produce and rough competitive prices. Each farmers market will have different rules and regulations about stalls so it is best to speak with the organizers before you turn up for the first time so that you can be fully prepared. Most farmers markets will have a set of legal guidelines which must be adhered to and ours is no different. Individual food sellers should be in compliance with local and national laws with regards to the production, preparation, and storage of food items, as it will ultimately come back on you if there are any issues with the items you are selling. Liability insurance is essential for anyone dealing with members of the public, and if you have a registered smallholding, your cover should extend to selling at a farmers market.
Identify Your Niche and Start Small
When you attend the market to look around and conduct a little research, it is a good idea to think about what it is that you wish to sell and see if anyone else is already selling the same thing. If the answer is no, then you already have a niche market as your items will have a unique selling point at the market. If you notice that other sellers are already selling the same things, you might need to come up with a unique selling point in order to distinguish yourself from them. People are extremely loyal when it comes to their shopping habits, and this means that if you are not offering them something different, the chances are that they will continue to purchase from the seller that they are already familiar with, and have built up a relationship with. Offer something a little different and they may be willing to give you a try.
Starting small is the key to not overspending and not producing too much food that could ultimately end up being wasted. It is better to begin with a smaller amount of produce and to sell out than to create lots of waste as there simply aren’t enough people to purchase it. You don’t have to go out and buy a load of expensive equipment and items for your stall before you have tested the waters, ensuring that you have high quality produce to offer buyers is by far the most important thing.
Prepare Yourself
Personal preparation is just as important as produce preparation before a market, as you will not be able to sell well if you are tired and unprepared for the day’s events. A good night’s sleep is important as you will need to be up early, and it can be a long day. You want to look and feel your best, as a ‘grumpy farmer’ is never a good salesperson! You should also ensure that you have gone through the correct procedures to become a market vendor as this will save you time and hassle if you have not gone through the correct application process.
by: Melissa Hathaway
Contributing Writer