How to guide for farmer's markets and pop up shops
2021 is the year of the entrepreneurs! The pandemic has made people rethink how they will get their money to support their lifestyle. Depending on a paycheck and creating your own paycheck are two different ways to work in today’s world. I have been an entrepreneur since late 2019. Pre-pandemic there were times I thought I should just “go back to work” and try to do both. Working for someone else and being on their payroll with an expected amount of money to be received is a lot easier than trying to create your own business, wear all the hats, and make more money than you spend. It takes a certain type of person to decide to be a entrepreneur. That certainty has to come from a place of bravery, trust, ambition, determination, and self belief. When you work for someone else, your money is determined by the amount of hours you work. You don’t care how your money is being paid to you, you only care and depend on the pay you will get after taxes so you can pay your bills. When you work for yourself, your money is determined by every small and large decision you make to spend money to only hope you will see a return one day. The hope is turned into action plans to grow your brand and your business. You have to keep adjusting, changing, and creating new ideas. Trust your product, trust yourself, and trust you will make decisions that will mostly benefit your business. Mistakes will be made and some will cost you small and some will cost you big. You have to keep a positive perspective about every pitfall, and turn the lesson into something bigger and better. The definition of entrepreneur should be: A person who believes in the philosophy of “Balls to the Wall” and is willing to lose to eventually win. #believeinyourself
“Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow”
Those who work for someone and those who work for themselves depend on each other like a person who can’t swim wearing arm floaties in the deep end. It is our American economic system. People spend money to receive goods. Companies create goods to be sold. Money is exchanged regardless if it was received from a W-2 paycheck or a 1099 self employed document.
Now that how money works is established, have ya’ll noticed how many pop up markets and farmer’s markets there are around the entire state? Probably the entire country. Colorado Springs has the Open Air Night Market, Denver has Denver Bazaar, Made By Us Merchant Collective, The Remix Five Points, Tiny Market Denver, 303 Night Market, Northside Market, Aurora, Boulder, Golden, etc… and that’s all I know off the top of my head. Not including all of the Farmer’s Markets around town in every city during the weekdays and weekends. There are so many options it could be overwhelming when deciding where to go. I suggest you follow your favorite small business. If I make your favorite smoothie then put one of my markets in your rotation. I am the biggest cheerleader to support small business. Not only because I am a small business owner, but you have to respect someone who is trying to make something out of nothing and they are succeeding. It takes so much hard work to set up at markets, be extraverted enough to talk to strangers without being pushy, design your space so the brand and message is clear, and present products in the most professional way.
It’s Outdoor Market Season!
No masks required, all money accepted, support small business
Dear Customer,
Its market season, small, medium, and large productions it is happening on every corner, in every city, in every neighborhood. You can’t miss them. Go to them all or go to the one walking distance from from your house. Either way, your dollars are supporting small business and that purchase increases confidence for the business. On the other side of that coin, honest feedback should always be shared with the small business. Positive or negative, it needs to be heard. You don’t need to blast them on Google or Yelp (unless it’s positive), regardless if you enjoyed or was disappointed with something you bought at a farmer’s market or pop up market, I encourage you to share your thoughts. Feedback is how a entrepreneur can make corrections or continue succeeding. Follow your favorites on social media, and like or comment on their post to support them for free.
Dear Entrepreneur,
If you are a vendor at a pop up or farmer’s market at the very least I assume you have business liability insurance. If you are a food vendor verify if you fall under the cottage food act, you can verify and apply online at cdphe.colorado.gov The cottage food act falls under a business that makes food products that are non-potentially hazardous to be sold directly to the consumer without licensing or inspection. If you are selling food that requires hot/cold temperatures to keep products safe for consumers, then you will need to keep your insurance and business license on you during the markets. With the abundance of markets around the cities, you never know when the health inspector will come by and ask for it. Each city/county requires a business license. Tri-County covers Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. Denver covers Denver county, Jefferson county, Boulder county, etc… Decide which area(s) you want to participate in markets and apply/pay for your license(s). If you are selling food, beauty, or crafts make sure you apply and register for a retail sales tax license with the IRS. Speak with your tax accountant and verify if you need to file sales tax monthly, quarterly, or annually.
Next you need to send e-mails or DM to the markets you want to participate with. Start the search early March/April because the markets get booked pretty quickly. Continue reaching out throughout the season you never know when there is a opening. All markets have a vendor fee. Pop up markets will have a one time fee for each market date you are working and farmer’s markets will require a seasonal fee that will cover the spring through fall market season on a set day. Read the vendor agreement contracts as most markets will request an additional percentage fee of your sales revenue at the end of each market. These fees should determine what your sales quota is for each event. You should calculate the amount of products you need to sell to make up the cost of the market fees to know your break even and go from there.
Lastly, you need to get creative. The 10x10 vendor space you paid for is your personal business space. You have a blank canvas to make this space all about your business. Depending on how little or how much you put into it, will determine how people judge your business before they even think about stopping to talk to you. Remember that you are a consumer too, so think about what makes you trust a brand versus what doesn’t. You need to set up your booth with some type of signage with your business logo, name, and information. You don’t need to start big, so start small and work your way up to big. You may need a 10x10 covered tent if you want to be protected by the elements, but it is not required. A foldable 6ft-8ft table(s) will be required to display your products. Think about how products are displayed at your favorite stores. Pay attention to the table covering, accessories, info graphs, height levels, colors, texture, brand placement, and product placement. You don’t want your space to look like a hoarder just emptied their garage in your little space, but you also don’t want it to be so sparse it looks like a abandoned haunted space. Find a happy medium, watch a few episodes of HGTV or watch a few YouTube videos on how to decorate a space for the specific products you are selling. Look at how other successful people design their spaces, mimic it, but do it better. You have a advantage over brick and mortar businesses because you are face to face with many potential customers at one time. It is up to you to bring them in your space and sell your personality and your products. Some call it a elevator pitch because it should take you the same amount of time to ride in a elevator to tell someone about your business. It shouldn’t be a long winded story. Nobody has time for that. Be clear and stay on your talking points. Say enough to encourage questions and conversation. Sitting down and waiting for people to come to your tent isn’t a proactive way to sell your products. Talk to people as they pass by. Look at their body language, sometimes people need a nudge to come over to get more information about your products. Play music, have fun, and invite people in your space. You have total autonomy over your business success or demise. Choose wisely and go hard.