I started vending at markets in 2022 and quickly fell in love with meeting vendors and connecting with people over my art! Coming from a catering and hospitality background, there was a certain familiarity in setting up and tearing down, fine-tuning systems for efficiency, and finding ways to make each setup smoother. While I won’t say I have it all figured out, I’ve learned a lot along the way. In this space, I’ll be sharing some of my market essentials and lists!

What to Bring for Every Season

After a few years of vending at markets, I’ve learned that a well-packed setup makes all the difference. Summer markets mean being prepared for sudden wind, heat, and rain, while winter markets are often indoors—meaning fewer worries about the elements but different considerations for setup and comfort. Here’s my go-to list of market essentials!

Market Setup Must-Haves

The Basics

• Tables, tablecloths & chairs – Always check if tables are provided, especially for indoor markets. A comfortable camping chair is a lifesaver for long days.
• Tent/canopy with weights – Essential for summer markets! I secure mine with bungee cords to milk crates filled with rocks and topped with water bottles for extra stability.
  
• Banner & branding – A clear, eye-catching sign helps customers recognize your business. Indoors, I use a large banner that unfurls to cover the front of my table.
• Tabletop display – I use 12x12 metal grids that clip together, making setup and teardown a breeze. In winter markets, I like to add twinkle lights for a festive touch.
• Side tarps or shower curtains – Useful for shielding against rain, sun, or wind and covering stock overnight.

The Market Tote Box (a.k.a. The Lifesaver Kit)

This goes to every market with me and includes:

• Zip ties, scissors, rope (handy in wind!), elastics, clip hooks (shower curtain hooks work well), S hooks, carabiners, bungee cords
• Spare paper, pens, sharpies
• Safety pins, display easels, price sign clips, risers, business cards, an "about me" sign
• Tissues, sanitizer, masks, wet wipes, Tide to Go
• Granola bars, first aid kit, flashlight
• Sunscreen & sunhat (for summer)
• Hand warmers, lip balm, cough drops, scarf, toque & gloves (for winter)

Game-Changing Gear

• Wagon with thick wheels – A serious upgrade from handcarts and bungee cords! Easier to pull on grass, gravel, or through winter slush. Pair this with stacking totes and hopefully you won't be illegally parked for too long!
  
• Wireless clip-on book lights – A must for dim indoor venues and night markets (charge beforehand!).
  
• Dog water bowl – A small but thoughtful touch if you're on grass with access to water. Can admittedly get messy!
  
• Thermos with hot tea or coffee – Essential for staying warm and hydrated at winter markets.
  
• Extra set of warm clothes – Summer mornings and nights can be chilly, and winter markets are always unpredictable!

Grab from the Studio/House

• Cash float
• External battery & charger cords
• Square Reader
• Sales tally sheet & clipboard
• Price signs
• Water bottles (stick them in the fridge the night before!)
• Snacks
• Merchandise: prints, greeting cards, postcards, stickers, bookmarks, tote bags, calendars, coasters, magnets, keychains, tree ornaments (seasonal)

Above: I love using these shower curtain hook clips for everything - hanging up art prints, clipping twinkle lights out of the way, hanging keychains off of, and more!

Above: The dollar store is the best place to grab market essentials! I like to grab different sized containers to hold my different products, clip-on booklights to brighten up my table, dish rack holders to hold greeting cards, S hooks and zip ties to hold my magnet display whiteboard on, and cut up non stick drawer liners to make sure noting moves. 

Make A Few Lists!

I’m a big fan of making lists—seriously, I write them for everything, and markets are no exception. If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling at 2 am the night before a market, trust me, you’ll be so glad you’ve got a list to just check off everything! Here are a few of the key things I always make sure to do before and after markets:

To Do Before a Market:

1. Charge up your Square reader (for those credit/debit card transactions), external battery, and lights.
2. Post about the market on social media, and don't forget to tag other vendors and the organizers!
3. If it's a summer market, fill up those water bottles and pop them in the fridge. And if you’re using water for your tent leg weights, make sure those bottles are all set to go.
4. Count out your cash float to avoid any last-minute panic.
5. Make your price signs! I like to keep things simple and clear.
6. Create your own sales tally sheet— I like to set this up in a table on Word, print a fresh one for every market, and jot down prices and discounts as the day goes on.
   
7. Make your stock— I always leave reprinting and restocking to the last few days before a market. Because I always cut it close, I recommend making your most expensive products first just in case you don't have enough time to make the cheaper/tinier ones. For me, this would be focusing on restocking prints before stickers. It's happened more than once where my printer acts up and I can't make everything I intended to!

To Do After a Market:

1. Count your cash and input sales numbers into your bookkeeping software (I personally love Wave because it’s free and user-friendly!).
2. Jot down insights from the day—what sold well, the vibe of the market, who was shopping, and any adjustments you might want to make for next time. I like to write notes as I go, and then I’ll transfer them to my to-do list or use them to fine-tune my setup for next time.
   

Keeping everything organized makes the market experience so much smoother, and makes more time for having fun, making friends and connecting with customers!