How to prep for Christmas markets
September to December are some of the most lucrative months for a small business. The kids are back at school; the cosy autumn months are rolling in and of course customers are shopping for the festive season. But how can you maximise the best of those Christmas months? Don’t panic, our tip-packed blog is here to help; it is the most wonderful time of the year after all!
1
Christmas in July
Now we know it might sound crazy to talk about Christmas during British summertime, but being prepared is key to a successful festive season. In case you missed it, we recently shared a blog on the phenomenon which is Christmas in July and whilst you might not be ready to start pitching to press, you can utilise your ‘big business mentality’ and start prepping like a larger business does.
2
Be prepared
Applications to a lot of Christmas markets can start as early as March for bigger slots like Winchester and Bath, the key is to know your dates. Spend some time thinking about where you want your next market to be and start plotting down the dates in a spreadsheet or your notes app. Most markets will make it clear when applications will open but if you’re looking for a failsafe, try signing up to market app Pedddle for key dates and one click applications.
3
Application is everything
Drafting applications can be time consuming, but having everything you need in one place so you can turn them around in a timely manner will be the key to your success. Start to pull together all the key information for an application in one place so you can tweak, then copy and paste for efficiency. It’s also important to make sure that you update any links you’re including such as your website or Etsy to ensure these reflect your brand in the best way to people reviewing your application.
4
Share your success
Once you’re into your dream markets, it’s time to share with the world. Ensure you’re using your social channels, newsletters and word of mouth to tell potential customers where you’ll be and when. If you’re also looking to help drive footfall, why not reach out to your local newspaper or listings website to tell them the market is happening. Local press are always looking for fun, community focused events to share, so why not spread the news and drive some footfall at the same time!
5
Practise makes perfect
Ahead of your market, think about how you want your stand to look and feel and experiment with a few different set ups from home. When your happy with the final look and feel, make a list of all your products and kit so when it’s time to pack for the big day, you’ll feel clear on what you need to take. Practising from home is also a good way to spot other items you’ll need such as carrier bags, business cards and other marketing materials too.
6
It's market day!
You’ve made it to the big day, your market stand is looking fab and customers are starting to drop by. Be sure to engage people with a friendly hello and tell them stories about the products they’re interested in as well as a bit about your brand. Try to avoid sitting down or scrolling on your phone and be sure to engage throughout. It’s also always a good a good idea to make sure you send customers to your website and socials to ensure you make sales after the market or even just grow your audience – markets are about sales, but they can be so much more than that.
7
Post-market analysis
Once you’re home and unpacked from your big day, take some time to check in and evaluate how things went. Were the sales what you expected? Did you have any conversations or feedback that you’d like to implement? Your learnings at each market will help you to get better each time so this part of the process is key. Don’t forget to share on your social media too and thank customers for coming by – this is a great way to build a thriving community for your small business.
