Hi All
Has anyone had or recent experience of market stalls ?
Is it worth it ?
What sells well , what doesn't ?
All advice appreciated
Market Stalls
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Rainbow
- Posts: 933
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Re: Market Stalls
One of my competitors had a weekly stall in a small market town. I think they had it for a few years, so I guess they found it profitable, although they may have got bespoke business from the exposure as well as direct sales. They don't do it any more, but whether that's because it became unprofitable or because they got fed up of the work involved and hanging around in the cold and wet, I don't know. Mostly the table was laid out with boxes of ready-made frames in various sizes. They also had a few prints for sale (either framed or just mounted). From what I can remember they were all prints of local scenes. IIRC they had a few mouldings there, but mostly it was just rows and rows of ready-mades.
As to whether it's worth the effort and the time, maybe it depends on the location as much as what you're selling etc. The market town mentioned above used to be very busy, had some wealthy residents, and got a lot of out-of-town visitors as well for a day out. Maybe that's why it succeeded for a long time, but the town is no longer busy and there are not many market stalls now at all. Not far away is an indoor city market, which has a different ambience completely and wouldn't be the right environment at all IMO.
As to whether it's worth the effort and the time, maybe it depends on the location as much as what you're selling etc. The market town mentioned above used to be very busy, had some wealthy residents, and got a lot of out-of-town visitors as well for a day out. Maybe that's why it succeeded for a long time, but the town is no longer busy and there are not many market stalls now at all. Not far away is an indoor city market, which has a different ambience completely and wouldn't be the right environment at all IMO.
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Sinerva10
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Re: Market Stalls
Nice thoughts
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sable filbert
- Posts: 51
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Re: Market Stalls
Yes I am a market trader now, I have been framing for almost 40 years, had 2 shops and 5 full time staff and plenty of vat and rent!
For the past 8 years I have purely run my business from a weekly stall, indoors, and work from home.
The stall is once a week for 3 hours.
Quite often business is slow, I don't offer readymades, all bespoke work.
However, I will then get calls and emails from people who have picked a business card up and then come to my workshop.
I am very busy.
Like anything I suspect, business takes a little time but once trust is earned word of mouth comes into play too.
I live and work in a rural area, however the towns are large and one has several framers in it, who are busy too!
So I'm not damaging their trade.
Many of my clients have become friends.
Good luck if you decide to do it, markets are becoming thin on the ground I think, but bespoke framing surprises new visitors, I have dozens of chevrons on display, the table is 6ft long.
This week I have advised on damp in frames, took in 2 small jobs, have accepted work from a very good photographer and so on.
Im no millionaire though!
But I'm mighty glad I'm not responsible for the landlord anymore.
For the past 8 years I have purely run my business from a weekly stall, indoors, and work from home.
The stall is once a week for 3 hours.
Quite often business is slow, I don't offer readymades, all bespoke work.
However, I will then get calls and emails from people who have picked a business card up and then come to my workshop.
I am very busy.
Like anything I suspect, business takes a little time but once trust is earned word of mouth comes into play too.
I live and work in a rural area, however the towns are large and one has several framers in it, who are busy too!
So I'm not damaging their trade.
Many of my clients have become friends.
Good luck if you decide to do it, markets are becoming thin on the ground I think, but bespoke framing surprises new visitors, I have dozens of chevrons on display, the table is 6ft long.
This week I have advised on damp in frames, took in 2 small jobs, have accepted work from a very good photographer and so on.
Im no millionaire though!
But I'm mighty glad I'm not responsible for the landlord anymore.