Christmas is the perfect time to raise awareness of your business whilst making some extra sales. One of the best ways to get your products into the hands of potential customers is to set up a stall at one of the UK’s many Christmas markets.
From bakers to beer brewers, and jewellery makers to pottery painters, there are all kinds of wonderful businesses getting involved every year. However, with all these amazing stalls it can be difficult to get noticed.
Here are a few tips to help you stand out at a Christmas market:
Choose your product range carefully
The first thing to consider when preparing to attend a Christmas market is the kind of products you will try to sell – this can make or break your overall success at the market.
Think about your current customers and what they would want from your business at this time of year. This can help you to refine your product options. If you know what your best-sellers are, then to prepare, you may only need to add seasonal packaging or design gift boxes.
You could use the market as an opportunity to push an individual product, and in this case, you should consider giving the product a festive makeover.
Create a limited edition festive-themed product based on the product you want to push – if you are designing something, use festive prints, or if you are selling a food or beverage item, add a seasonal twist to capture interest.
Consider your payment methods
In a fast-becoming cashless society, it is worth considering offering more than just cash payments at your market stall.
It is likely shoppers will only be carrying small amounts of change and so asking a potential customer to get cash out and come back is an inconvenience and may even cost you the sale.
This situation could be avoided by investing in a mobile card terminal. They are easy to use, wireless and operate using a built-in SIM that connects to mobile networks. This means they can be used pretty much anywhere, making them the perfect option for events such as a Christmas market.
Advertising that you accept card payments could also set you apart from the surrounding stalls and attract more customers.
Get creative with visuals
Christmas markets attract a large crowd and to be successful you need to stand out from the stalls around you, so planning how you will organise your stall is imperative.
You only have a small amount of space to work with, so you’ve got to be clever with what you do with it. You’ll want to showcase as many products as you can, but you need to avoid making it look cluttered and overcrowded. Placing items with attractive packaging and best sellers in the most visible places will attract attention – make sure you have extra stock under your table to keep your stall looking full.
Promote your stall and products before the market starts
It is no longer as simple as setting up your stall and hoping for the best when it comes to Christmas markets. It’s up to you to promote your business and products ahead of the market by using social media and other types of marketing.
Some businesses may want to use every social media platform possible, but sticking to one or two that you are comfortable with and have an engaged following on can be just as advantageous.
When you begin promoting this event, start by capturing the interest of your customers by launching your newly designed packaging or limited edition festive-themed products that you will be selling at the market.
It may also be worthwhile for you to hold an online competition, where people must like and share your post to be in with the chance of winning one of your new Christmas products. This will not cost you much and will raise awareness of your products and business as competition posts can reach a huge audience.
Marketing material
When it comes to making sales on your Christmas stall, it is important to acknowledge the fact that not everyone is looking to buy something there and then. Many people who visit your stall will only be browsing or getting inspiration for gifts to give to their friends and family.
When these shoppers get home, they may wish they had bought something from you, if they have been supplied with a flyer or business card with a website or address on, they can purchase your products even after the market is finished.
It is also likely that some of your products will be gifted, so this is another potential customer base you can reach. It would be beneficial to include information such as a website or social media account on the packaging or inside the gift. This way, if a customer is happy with the product they have been gifted, they can visit your store or website for future purchases.
Preparation, hard work and perseverance are the key to Christmas market stall success. If you follow a few of these steps, you will be able to celebrate a Christmas that makes all the work worth it!
