Selling Pottery: Must Haves for the Potter’s Next Market
Looking to sell at an Arts Festival or Market? Below are some recommendations to help you with your set up. While this post is geared towards potters (that’s what I am, after all), I’m sure there are useful tips here that would benefit any maker. I’ve been to my fair share of markets, so hopefully my learning experience will be of use!
Point of Sale
Whatever your display looks like (which I will discuss below), a priority should be figuring out how you will accept payments for your sales. While cash, check, and Venmo may work for you, today, being able to take credit cards or Apple Pay is a good idea. Most of my buyers in North America use Apple Pay these days.
I use Square Point of Sale, and it’s been so easy to navigate.
The benefits I appreciate with Square Point of Sale include:
Being able to add items to the app for easy check-out (you can include specific pricing or variable pricing),
Being able to track purchases and trends,
Being able to accept credit cards (including Amex) and Apple Pay,
Being able to easily add team members to the account (ex. if somebody else is selling for you),
Being able to quickly add relevant sales taxes (if needed),
Being able to quickly download reports for accounting purposes,
Being able to add automatic discounts (ex. I like to give other vendors a discount of 5%)
If you don’t get a contactless card reader when you sign up, you can buy one from Amazon. You will likely run the point of sale from a phone or tablet.
→ Pro tip! There is a chance that if you have a busy market (or a slow one where you find yourself on Instagram…) you may drain your battery. I recommend you have a portable charger like this one on hand (it comes with a pouch and you can keep your card reader in there too). Imagine the horror of checking someone out for a purchase and finding that your phone is dead and the buyer doesn’t have cash! Gasp!
Setting Up
Ok, so you have a way to collect your earnings. Now you need to think about putting together booth, which includes set up and take-down.
At first, setting up your booth will take some getting used to. My first few markets, it took me over an hour and a half to set up and take-down. Now that I better understand shopper flow and how best to display my pieces, I’ve got the system down to 30-40 minutes.
Alas, with pottery (as with glass blown pieces) it does take longer than other materials because we have to package our pieces carefully to put them away between markets.
Read on for tips on storing & transporting your wares, as well as displaying them!
Storing & Transporting
You will need to cart your precious wares from place to place, and you want to make sure you use storage containers that are up to the task. While it might be tempting to get large bins for pottery, you do have to remember that you have to carry them… and pottery can be heavy.
These Rubbermaid 10 Gallon Containers do the trick for smaller pieces (they are super sturdy and they stack well). They are not transparent, so I write out the contents on a piece of paper I tape to the box.
For a transparent storage option, Sterilite makes clear bins with wheels & a latch lid.
For a multi-purpose option, I like these Collapsible Rolling Carts because 1) they are sturdy, 2) they have a large cavity, 3) they fold flat when not in use and take up little storage space in my small studio, 4) they can roll or be carried, and 5) they also serve as chairs / stools when shut (to sit or stand on), which I find useful at markets.
→ Pro tip! Make sure your boxes can fit under your tables. Many markets will require your boxes to be hidden from sight for aesthetic purposes. I will sometimes cover my boxes with a table cloth and use that surface as my packing station, which I discuss below.
Tent & Tent Weights
If you are considering outdoor markets, you will need a tent and some tent weights. Be sure to purchase a white 10x10 tent like this one. Markets will often require a 10x10 tent, and some markets will require an all white tent for aesthetic congruence. This tent is sturdy, well made, and easy to set up with only one person.
Most markets will also require 40lbs of weight per leg. Stackable tent weights (pictured below) are easy to use. They do take up space and are a little challenging to transport.
Worried about wind? Recently, I was at a market in the worst wind tunnel, and my tent needed more weight. The market organizer came to the rescue with these plus size sand bag tent weights (pictured on the image of the tent). The sand bag tent weights can take up to 60lbs each per bag, they have a handle for carrying, and they hug the tent legs well. You have to procure the sand yourself to fill them.
Displays
What do you want your booth to look like?
I’ve experimented with various designs and layouts over the years, and in either configuration (depending on my spot and the shopper flow), I’ve found the following items to be useful:
Tables:
You will most likely want some tables for your booth. If you are like me and have a small car, you will need foldable tables. Something like this 6ft Folding Table will do the trick.
Looking for an adjustable height table? Though a tad pricier, I recommend this Lifetime Adjustable Table (I’ve borrowed it from a friend, and it’s great).
Finally, you may want to consider a smaller table like this one for packaging purchases or for a place for your lunch and latte.
Of course, you will want some table cloths for aesthetics.
Shelving:
→ Pro tip! Attention Grabbing 101 - Place your finest work or most popular items at eye level.
Original pottery on tiered shelf by Jackcube Design.
I recommend placing this 3 Shelf Folding Student Bookcase on a table for vertical displays. The 3 Shelf Folding Student Bookcase is my number 1 shelf pick because it is foldable for easy transportation (though you will need a zip tie or rope to keep the flaps shut). The shelf is sturdy, you can place it on the ground if you like, and you can stack two on top of each other.
For another floor shelf option, I recommend this Foldable Plant Shelf. It’s super light and easy to set up. Because it’s lighter and taller than the 3 Shelf Folding Student Bookcase, I would not recommend setting the Foldable Plant Shelf on a table.
For smaller flat pack easy to set-up tiered shelving (think, looks like a staircase), this one by Jackcube Design is my favorite for displaying smaller works.
Have a bigger display budget and looking for a très chic look, check out Vertical Ledge. My friend and I had access to some of their pieces for a week-long pop-up, and I can confirm that they are easy to assemble, they pack flat, and they look fabulous!
Signs:
If you plan on many outdoor markets, you may want to invest in a customized vinyl banner with your business name and other relevant information you want to share (ex. your IG handle or your website).
For indoor markets, I like to use a simple chalk sandwich board. One side has my brand logo and my contact information. The other side has my brand logo and space reserved for different messages depending on the event (ex. if I’m having a sale or if I want a little message to celebrate pride!) which I write with erasable chalk markers.
On your display, help customers learn about your products or about pricing by placing signs like these Clear Sign Display Holders with Inserts. Are you pieces food safe? Microwave safe? Help customers identify what a piece is for, too. Is it a spoon rest? An oil pourer? I like to use small adjustable signs because I can fit them almost anywhere.
→ Pro tip! Use signs to remind customers of upcoming holidays and events: “Father’s Day is next week!” “Looking for a Wedding Gift?”
Price Tags & Packaging
I used to price my pieces with small stickers like these from Avery. If you do use stickers, they stick best on glazed surfaces.
→Pro tip! With pottery, you can just price with a pencil on an unglazed surface. It’s less of a hassle and it’s easy to erase the price when a piece sells or if you want to change the price.
Once a piece is purchased, you will want to make sure that it is well packaged for its journey home.
I recommend wrapping pieces in packing paper, or, for even more support, honeycomb packing paper. Bubble wrap is an option, of course, but that does take up more space and is not as eco-friendly if sustainability is a value for you.
For bags, I use recycled supermarket bags donated by neighbors (free!), but for gift wrapping options, I buy these brown paper bags or these small rainbow bags (I love rainbows!). When gift wrapping, I will also use some tissue paper to make it pretty.
→Pro tip! Set up a packaging station when you set up your booth. I usually set my packaging station up on top of the boxes I use to transport my work, but a smaller table like this one works nicely, too.
Business Cards
For business cards, I recommend Vistaprint. You will want your cards our on display for people to grab, and you will want to stick at least one in every purchase. If you know that the pieces purchased will be gifts, plan to provide the gift-giver with multiple cards for each recipient.
→Pro tip! Make the front of your business card a piece of art in itself; that way, people are more likely to keep it than they would a card with just a logo.
Insurance
Most markets will require you to provide a certificate of insurance. I have used ACT (Artisans, Crafters, and Tradesmen) Insurance, and it’s been so easy to use. Click here to learn more about how they can insure potters. Insurance will protect you and your work.
→Pro tip! Just in case, print a wallet-sized copy of your plan and leave it in your wallet.
Are you a seasoned market vendor? Do you have recommendations? Send them my way!
Note: This blog is not sponsored. However, as an Amazon associate, I do earn from qualifying purchases. As an artist, every bit of support counts!
