Selling soap at Farmers Market

Farmers Markets have being getting political over the years, and there can be conflict between the market organizers and the vendors. And perhaps everyone has a good point, but here are some of the things I noticed over the years.

selling soap at Farmers market on Saturdays will always do better than markets on other days, even Sundays

often you can buy a years worth of table rentals in advance, which may save you a little money

if you do buy in advance, ensure that this allows you to select your vendor space in priority over someone who has not paid in advance

ask if you can sublet your space to someone else if you can't make it, otherwise you are paying for that space and so is the person that is using it that week (double dipping)

OR, is it all 'first come first serve'?

are the food spaces separated from the artisans (and baked goods, and eggs, etc)

how much is the registration and the insurance for the year?

where do all the vendors park?

where do all the customers park?

what is your alloted space? (usually 10x10)

when other vendors exceed their alloted space, does the manager correct this?

are vendors allowed to place racks and such out front their alloted spaces?

what about sandwich boards?

electricity?

how about the advertising for the market and how is that paid

are you required to donate something at some point

does the market have a website and does it cost you to be on there.

There are usually safety features too, when selling soap at Farmers Market, such as having heavy weights to hold down your vendor tent. I used small weights once and my tent was shuffling away from me. Had to buy those heavier concrete blocks to hold it down. I've also seen people who did not weigh theirs down at all and it took off so fast and knocked over another vendors umbrella, fly over another vendors tent, then started across the highway. They are very lucky no one got hurt. And the requirements were very clear in weighing down your tent.

Another important consideration for your soap is the location of the sun on your products. Jars of lotions and butters will leak, and your newer soap will soften, in direct sunlight. You need to consider your location and/or ways of blocking the sun from your products and preventing damage.

Selling soap at Farmers Market should include making your vendor space look pretty. I know that it shouldn't have anything to do with the quality of the soap, but it is all in people's perceptions of your product. Like attention to details.

Consider doing these:

have a table cloth that almost reaches the ground, black goes with everything

have the soaps in their own line or basket, and try to have a cloth in the basket that matches the soap somehow

try to keep the cash box out of sight

have signs that clearly state what the scent is, and what your prices are. No one wants to ask what the scent is of each and every soap and you don't want to repeat it all day long.

"2 or 3 or 4 for $" prices work really well, mine were $3.75 each or 3 for $10.00

definitely have a sign that potential customers can see from a distance. I had one sign with S O A P in large letters, taking up one sheet of paper each and placed on a acrylic painting board. The font size was 400 to fit one sheet. Also add any other pertinent info like vegan, natural colors, etc.

From 'selling soap at farmers markets' to 'selling soap at craft fairs', similar info, but different ...

Still looking for some name ideas for your soap? Click here...

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