If you have ever considered participating in a local market to sell something you make or produce, it can be an overwhelming prospect. Especially if you have little kids. There are so many details to work out and finalize, inventory to prep, things to remember….it can be rather daunting. I’ve participated in local markets in the past, but this weekend, I had to opportunity to be a vendor at a really big one. It was a two-day event, Friday evening and Saturday morning-afternoon. I was so excited at the chance to advertise my art before a large audience, but I was also nervous. There was a LOT to do and I wanted to put my best foot forward, but I’m also a mom of four children ranging in age from 8 yrs to 10 months. I needed to somehow juggle market prep and moming, not only in the days leading up to the event, but during as well. My kids were very excited to participate, and I was excited to have them, but it did add an element of challenge as my husband and I worked together to keep them occupied and fed while also manning the booth I set up to sell my art.
I documented a lot of what I did, as well as some strategies and tips for managing children and preparations for an event like this. If you ever find yourself with an opportunity to sell in a similar fashion, maybe some of these take-aways will be helpful!
PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION
If you are anything like me, you want things to be just-so and perfect. It’s great to make an effort and work to the best of your ability, but, more times than not, perfectionism actually prevented me from trying new ideas. A clear example of this happened as I prepped for the markets. One of the products I sold was Christmas cards. I was so excited about them, and I think they turned out really well. (There’s still time to purchase some before Christmas here!)
However, I quickly realized that I hadn’t really thought through all the necessary elements to selling the product. I had the cards, and envelopes, and a clear plastic sleeve to put them in. But I had forgotten to put any kind of logo or brand name on them, missing a clear opportunity to market myself. I also knew I needed some way for my potential customers to be able to see the different designs I had made (each pack of cards holds 5 different designs). I didn’t know exactly how I was going to accomplish these two tasks, but I did know I didn’t want to spend any more money.
So I did what felt like a perfectionist fail. I handwrote my website on the back of the cards…all 300 of them. And I designed a card insert, with the designs clearly displayed, on Canva. Then I printed them, on computer paper with my home printer, and cut them out with scissors. Yup, scissors…all 60 inserts. Then I placed the inserts in the back of the package and sealed them up.
It’s really easy to get the impression that successful people have all their ducks in a row from the beginning, but it’s not true. What I’ve learned, from reading books and listening to podcasts, is that the road to achievement is build with handwritten branding and scissor-cut inserts. It’s people who figure out a way to get it done, within the time and financial constraints they are working with, that end up succeeding. Obviously, I put a lot of effort into my presentation…my hand-writing was neat and clear, and I tried to design an insert that was effective and attractive. But it was also the art equivalent of a film festival movie…very low budget. In the end, it served it’s purpose exactly as I hoped. No one seemed to notice that it wasn’t professionally printed. Instead, people were able to see the scope of my work and observe each design, which often led to a sale. Don’t be afraid to figure things out in ways that may seem less than ideal, but all build together to propel you further.
MAKE A LIST…AND LOOK AT IT!
I am a dedicated list maker….and then it sits, abandoned, on my desk, as I fly through my tasks and go crazy trying to keep it all straight in my brain. Actually using the lists I’ve made to help keep myself on track is something I am slowly getting better at. I made sure that the moment a thought entered my mind, I jotted it down. I tried to keep my calendar at least partially organized, but by the end, it was more a random assortment of scribbled notes and to-do lists. It didn’t have to look pretty to remind me of the things I needed to accomplish. Despite having mastitis a few days before the market and the kiddos (who, incidentally, were also sick a few days before the market), I was surprised that I was actually well-prepared and nothing major fell through the cracks. I accomplished what I needed to, on the correct timeline, and left enough space for making sure I also had things prepped for my family during the weekend. I owe it all to the lists.
INVOLVING THE KIDS
There will never be a time when involving tiny, eager hands is easier or faster than not. Whether you’re cleaning, cooking, or trying to start a business, kids are adorable…and they are slow, ask a million questions, and get distracted by e v e r y t h i n g. But there’s also no way that you will take a small child and turn them into a capable, confident adult unless you teach them. Even when it takes up more time and makes more mess, it is so worth it to bring our kids alongside and give them real life examples that can show them skills, principles, and character. I had little hands helping me package cards, set up tables, and bag orders. I am really proud to have given my kids a chance to be exposed to that kind of thing. I also learned that, while they will one day be reliable, a six year old helper may accidentally include two of the same card in a package while she’s helping prep inventory. When I discovered that a few packs had duplicates, I had to go through and check each package before placing it out for sale. Yes, that took longer, but it was worth it to involve her in the process. There were definitely times when I had to hurry or work on a tighter deadline and had to tell the kids they could only watch, but as much as possible, I let them pitch in. It was really special to be able to experience something that was so important to me with them alongside.
MORE THAN MONEY
A business needs an income. I can’t continue to buy supplies and paint and accumulate a huge inventory of pieces without selling anything because, simply, I can’t afford it. However, I was listening to a podcast episode by Lisa Bass on Simple Farmhouse Life and something her guest said struck a chord with me. Her guest, Grace from Harmony Farms, was talking about how time consuming it can be to start a business. She commented that, unless you have something more drawing you to a cause or product or lifestyle than just money, you probably won’t last through the beginning years of much effort and low income.
Every sale I make sends me over the moon, but it really isn’t only about the money. For me, it’s about bringing beauty into someone’s world. Sometimes they may buy one of my pieces to carry something beautiful I’ve created into their lives, but other times, it’s just about reminding them of something they already have. A favorite flower, a love for painting, or a special memory that they recall with a fond smile. These conversations come readily when I focus on my customer and not just making a sale, and I don’t take for granted what an honor it is to have people open up and share with me. It’s honestly my favorite part of in-person markets. This Christmas market was actually really financially successful, but they aren’t always that way. That doesn’t mean they aren’t successful at all. If I am able to have conversations, help spark creativity, and spread joy to someone’s world, that’s a cause I will be happy to follow until I die, even if it never makes me a dime. Maybe it’s a produce stand with a cause of sustainable agriculture; a sourdough vendor with a mission of bringing homemade bread into homes; a shirt maker who is passionate about the messages they print on their products. What is driving the things you create? That’s an important piece of the puzzle. I think that having this perspective gives a broader context to what a “successful” market looks like and can help with contentment, even if sales aren’t high.
HAVE A FOOD PLAN
It’s really easy to think, “we’ll figure it out”, but every detail you can iron out before hand is one least stressor in the middle of a really busy time. I considered what we were going to do for all the meals of the weekend before the weekend started. Friday evening, the market began at 5, which meant we were there at four. I packed sandwiches, chips, and apples for an easy dinner. The next day, we made a plan for my husband to pick up breakfast at one of our favorite places, Salad n Go, which is delicious AND cheap. Then, I packed a TON of snacks for my kids. As a parent, I learned long ago that many bad moods are just a result of being hangry, so I made sure I had tons of options for a long morning at the market. We made plans to go out for a celebratory lunch afterwards (which turned into takeout because we were all so exhausted). We had leftovers for dinner that night. I also thought ahead through the meals we would need for Sunday, just to make sure I didn’t have a ton to do once the markets were over.
ACCOMODATE THE KIDS
Like I mentioned, I made sure we had plenty of snacks for the kids. We stocked the car with puffer jackets and blankets for the chilly morning. We brought a baby carrier for my ten-month-old to nap in (which she did, beautifully). We also brought a playpen so she could move around a bit, independently, along with some toys for her to play with. I am really glad we thought of that, because she was definitely getting a bit squirrely being held and wrapped so much. I had a little tin I was using to hold stickers I was giving out, and I gave her the lid, which she happily banged with her hand for a good 20 minutes. During the Saturday market, my husband was able to take the kids to the library, which was a few blocks away, which was a nice break for them. Something I didn’t do that I would in the future was pack some coloring books or drawing pads and colored pencils. I think they would have really enjoyed having that to do. Books, handheld fidget toys, or small games would be other great options for keeping little ones occupied.
DON’T FORGET A CHAIR
I don’t know why this is something I always forget, but I do, and trust me, it’s not fun to stand up on concrete streets for five hours straight. Even after forgetting a chair Friday night, I neglected to bring any on Saturday. I was hugely blessed when a sweet woman who worked for the market’s social media accounts stopped by my booth to let me borrow hers, since she lived less than a mile away. But next time, I’m going to write CHAIR on a sticky note and put it on my door, so I am forced to be reminded as I leave.
STAY HUMBLE
You’re going to make mistakes and you’re going to mess up and you aren’t going to be wildly successful from the beginning and that.is.ok. It can be really demoralizing to set up and man a booth for 5 hours and pay $40 for the spot and make…..$3 (that didn’t happen this year, but it did last year). It can be discouraging when you create art…or content….or posts….or anything else, and there is barely any traction. Sometimes, it’s because you need to adjust your approach or try something different; be humble enough to change course when necessary. But sometimes, it’s because you need to build a foundation of consistency and practice, refining your skill and technique until you have a product and method and audience that bring the kind of growth you hope for; be humble enough to keep doing what you are passionate about, no matter what. I’m speaking from the trenches here, in the very, initial, beginning stages of trying to grow a business and a brand. I’m not lecturing from the “other side”, with a six figure income and a sold-out shop. I’m encouraging myself as I encourage you to keep going. Good things aren’t easy to obtain, and just because something is hard doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
CONCLUSION
The Christmas markets this year were hard. The personal circumstances of sickness and other day-to-day challenges, combined with the practical challenge of juggling an increased workload AND four young kids, in addition to the stress and nervousness of launching a new product and being a vendor at an event that was the largest I’ve ever attended in this capacity….it was a lot. But it was SO worth it. SO WORTH IT. It gave me invaluable experience, taught me many lessons, provided amazing connections, and was a fantastic opportunity to show my kids an example of hard work and entrepreneurship. We all crashed when the markets were over, and, if I’m being honest, I kind of feel like we’re still recovering, even 5 days later. But I loved every weary, amazing, exhausting, beautiful second of it. I can’t wait to do it again next year.
