Market Displays, Questions

As you all know I go to the markets often.  I  go to look at the different ways all the items are displayed, what other stall holders are selling, and the selling price of items are at the markets here in Melbourne area of Victoria.  Melbourne has so many wonderful markets.   

While I was going through the literally thousands to photos my husband has taken over the years, I realized I have been going to markets for most of my adult like.  I found some amazing photos of of markets in Hong Kong, Thailand, and of course many places here in Australia. 

  I thought this week I would talk about some of the advice I have been given by some of the people I have talked to who have market stalls.

  

   There are so many ways to display your items for sale, but the question I always have in the back of my mind is, what makes the items stand out?  What catches my eye as I walk past?  I asked a few questions of market stall holders I met at the Blackbird market where a friend of mine was exhibiting.  Here are some of their answers:

1. Use displays with varying heights to display your items. 

 I found these photos of a friend and I at markets in Bangkok.  Some of the displays were difficult to navigate all the items for sale.  The items on the tables all at the same level and the sheer volume of things for sale made it time consuming to look at everything that was for sale.  I must admit it was like a kid in a candy shop. We went crazy over all the fantastic beads and jewelry items. My luggage was chockers with the market haul. hehe

 

These photos are of a market in Perth in 2002.  Wow, I do go to a LOT of markets!

Rotary Fair, Perth, Western Australia Circa 2002

Docklands Markets, Melbourne, VIC circa 2012

2. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your displays.  One stall holder said she got some of her displays for less than $10.00. 

  My son's fiance found an old vintage wig box on the side of the road and picked it up for me to use in my market stall.  I would love to find out more about this box.  The label has asian writing that looks like Chinese lettering.  I have no idea about the age but it is certainly quite old.

Wig Box, with Asian writing on the box and labels

 One of my items I used, was an old Asparagus crate I got free at a market many years ago. I had intended to paint it but never got around to painting it.  I used it as a storage for my sales journal, and hiding the cash box out of site.

  These 'babies' were an amazing find.  I got these at the Sunday markets in Camberwell, VIC.  I make hand made Vintage inspired cards for guys. So, I wanted to get vintage suitcases to display my cards in.  I have been to second hand shops and found the cases were to expensive.  I did not want to pay more than $50.00 for one.  Last week while at the Camberwell, Sunday market I saw these two brown cases that looked quite old.  I thought it would not hurt just to ask what the seller wanted for the cases.  I was so surprised when they asked $30.00 for both cases!! Bargain!!

      

Globite Cases, circa ~ 1950's

3. Display a variety of your work out where it is visible and eye catching. 

 One of the markets I went to was a really small venue and my friend had a 1m square table set up with her silver jewelry set up on the table.  She had most of her items on the table and kept some in reserve when the items on the table were sold.  She had arranged her items so that  you could see all that was for sale in nearly one glance across the table.  The items were blocked out in sections, i.e. small earrings in a display box with the price marker at the top of the box. The long necklaces laid out on top of a cloth that complemented the items that were for sale.  The bracelets and rings were in another section on the table with a price label on them.  This was all on one VERY small table.

4. Have a variety of displays that will catch the buyers eye.  

  One item that really caught my eye at a market, and I used it with good effect, was a display board.  I used mine at the market to change the cards I had on display every so often.  It was the one display that I got the most feedback from customers.

     What display ideas do you have for your market?  Or, what displays have caught your eye at a market?

Happy Blogging

Tracy @ Warratahstree

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