Selling at a small market

[teonzo]

So, did you start considering about taking over the Blue Chair business?

 

 

 

Teo

 

[quiet1]

2 hours ago, chromedome said:

I'll second that, if no-one else stakes out the territory. 

 

When I was doing farmers markets, there were two pet-food vendors and one bakery all doing a booming business at the same market with their fresh-baked pet treats. 

 

One of our local pet stores sells decorated cookies for dogs that frankly don't look like they are that tasty (pretty but not tasty) for seriously absurd amounts of $ per cookie. They seem to sell well, too. (By not tasty I mean I strongly suspect they have all the flavor of sweetened cardboard, based on the ingredients and appearance. I know some dogs eat anything, but I've had dogs who took their time eating and really seemed to enjoy different flavors and I think they would be offended to be offered one of those cookies.)

 

Anyhow, I agree I probably wouldn't try to compete too much if someone is already doing it, but if not - even just one type in little bags will probably do well, as people pick them up for stocking stuffers for the dogs or as gifts when visiting someone with a dog, that sort of thing.

[FrogPrincesse]

Here is a picture of the booth. I did a mock-up on the kitchen counter before going to the market, so I had an idea on how I wanted to place items on the table. I had my copper jam pot and cookbooks as a conversation point. All my jam inventory was under the table;, I only presented one jar of each kind on the table. The cookies were on baking trays, all packaged and ready to go. Signage was handmade as I ran out of time to print things.

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2016 by FrogPrincesse (log)

[Smithy]

Thanks so much for this photo!  I really wanted to see your booth, and I'll bet I'm not the only one.  The copper jelly pot is a nice touch.  Did you feel like you had to watch it carefully to make sure it didn't walk away?

[FrogPrincesse]

Just now, Smithy said:

Thanks so much for this photo!  I really wanted to see your booth, and I'll bet I'm not the only one.  The copper jelly pot is a nice touch.  Did you feel like you had to watch it carefully to make sure it didn't walk away?

You are very welcome, Nancy! Here are more pictures of the booth that I took before the beginning of the market.

 

 

 

 

I wasn't too worried about someone casually walking away with my copper pot, as it's rather heavy and bulky (and I didn't leave my booth). We had one little girl try to run away with one of the bracelets my daughter was selling, but her mom caught her and made sure to pay for it.

 

[teonzo]

Just a minor criticism: displaying only 1 item per type, like you did for the jams, is a deterrent for sales. It's much better to display multiple items, like you did for the cookies.

 

 

 

Teo

 

[FrogPrincesse]

Just now, teonzo said:

Just a minor criticism: displaying only 1 item per type, like you did for the jams, is a deterrent for sales. It's much better to display multiple items, like you did for the cookies.

 

You know, I went back and forth on that. I didn't have much space on the table so I ended up only showing one of each. But maybe I could have displayed 2 or 3 or each kind? That might have required some type of vertical storage/shelves though, as the table was already a bit crowded...

[chromedome]

Department stores carry a kind of stepped wire rack, usually used for canned-goods cupboards or spice cupboards so you can see what's in there. I used those on my table at the farmer's market, for exactly similar reasons. It works well with small jars like the ones you were using. 

[IowaDee]

Your booth is so inviting.  The type of place where i would like to linger and get to know you.  Having the cookbooks on display was a wonderful idea.  I am always interested in whee people get their inspiration.  i'm so happy it went well and that you shared it with us!

Also the doggies treats are a good idea.  Our daughter bakes them as gifts for her dog owing friends every year.

She has three different sizes of bone shaped cookie cutters.  

Edited December 16, 2016 by IowaDee (log)

[Anna N]

1 hour ago, teonzo said:

Just a minor criticism: displaying only 1 item per type, like you did for the jams, is a deterrent for sales. It's much better to display multiple items, like you did for the cookies.

 

 

 

Teo

 

I have to say this struck me as a potential sales discouragement. A few things went through my mind including:

Will I have to order it because she's only showing one jar?

But I have three people on my guest list and I really want this flavour for all of them.

I think it would be better to show three or four of each variety if you do this again.

But I really think you did great on the booth and you obviously worked very hard to make the best jams possible.  Definitely a little more printed matter if only in point form on a blackboard stressing local and organic and unique.  Really selling your product to the public.   But I still think for a first time you did a great job.

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2016 by Anna N (log)

[quiet1]

37 minutes ago, IowaDee said:

Your booth is so inviting.  The type of place where i would like to linger and get to know you.  Having the cookbooks on display was a wonderful idea.  I am always interested in whee people get their inspiration.  i'm so happy it went well and that you shared it with us!

Also the doggies treats are a good idea.  Our daughter bakes them as gifts for her dog owing friends every year.

She has three different sizes of bone shaped cookie cutters.  

 

 

When I do cut out dog cookies, to make them more festive without adding a lot of sugar, I use the egg yolk method - egg yolk, water, food coloring to make a colored egg wash. As long as you aren't using a recipe that needs long enough in the oven that it browns the egg too much, it comes out nice and a bit more fun looking. (One recipe I've used has you flip the treats half way through, so for those I do the first bake, then flip and paint quickly, then back in the oven.)