The weekend market life
For most of us, our lives consist of an eight to five job from Monday to Friday, and weekends where we burn through our salaries.
These spending sprees combined with rent, food and other utilities, leave us all with a serious deficit.
So it’s safe to assume that we can all do with a little extra cash on the side to lessen the load.
A great way to earn this cash when you have weekends free but can’t or don’t want to commit to a weekend job, is by getting into the weekend market life. Chances are you have visited one or two weekend markets in your day, so you know what I’m talking about.
Most suburbs and city centres feature some sort of market over weekends. These include music festivals, food events or product launches. If you’re lucky, your town will have recurring markets that become an institution for the town and its people. Here’s how to get involved in these markets for income generation and even exposure.
Which market?
Firstly, you need to identify the specific market you would like to participate in. This step is as easy as visiting as many markets in your area as you possibly can. Take one or two weekends to scout around and spend at least an hour at each one. After seeing all of your options, weigh up the pros and cons of each. Consider things like travel time, exhibition cost and general foot traffic. The ideal market will be reasonably close to home, competitively priced and super busy every weekend. But this ideal market probably won’t ever exist, so aim for one that at least ticks two of the three boxes. The next step is securing your spot. If they offer you one, ask if other spaces are available or if that’s the only one. If you get to choose, opt for one somewhere in the middle but preferably closer to the entrance than the exit. If you’re right by the exit, the people that pass by will have had their fill already and probably just want to get home.
What to sell
Next, you need to decide what your ‘product’ will be. As great as it may sound to simply rock up to a market for the purpose of exhibiting a skillset or a brand, the aim is to generate income. And that can only be done if you deliver a product or service that people will pay for. Now, this decision is not as challenging as it may seem. You’ve now seen the market you will partake in, so you have an idea of the type of stalls that are featured. Build your idea around this information by trying to do something nobody else at that market does. For instance, if there are predominantly food stalls, try offering beverages or some form of product that people with a full tummy might need. If the market is mostly product based, opt for a food stall as the people are sure to come to you when they become peckish. If neither of these things are in your wheelhouse, something as simple as playing music and asking a fee for song requests can work at pretty much any event.
Your stall
Now it’s almost time to host your first stall exhibition. In most cases, you’ll be required to provide your own table and chairs (or any other form of display you might need). If this is the case, you’ll be hauling heavy loads there and back for quite some time. If you start getting serious about your new market life (and it provides you with a relatively steady and significant income), you might need to consider acquiring a vehicle for the amount of product and equipment you need to travel with. Look into buying a durable and affordable vehicle like a second hand Ford with enough space for your equipment, products and yourself. You can even trade in your current vehicle if the prospect of owning two cars is frightening and doesn’t seem cost effective.
In terms of the physical appearance of your stall, you can really make an impact without spending too much. Something as simple as a tablecloth and a pot plant can liven up your display while staying within the bounds of a small budget. Arrange your products neatly and make signs that look simplistic but professional (in other words, don’t just write freehand on a piece of paper). If you want to draw even more people to your stall, and have access to a power outlet, consider brewing fresh coffee or plugging in an electronic air freshener. People react better to a multi-sensory experience and will likely visit your stall more regularly. The ultimate goal is for your stall to become the new go-to spot at the market with word of mouth leading new customers there every weekend.