One of my favorite things to do as a small-business owner is take my business on the road. I love setting up shop in markets and bringing visibility to LUNA LAB, showing off my beautiful press-on nail sets in the process. Today, I want to walk you through my tried and tested method of setting up shop at a vendor market as a small-business owner. 

9 AM: Gather my supplies and load them in my car

After doing several markets where I would either forget something or drag way more stuff than I need, I now employ an efficient way of carrying the right supplies and equipment to a market. Here is what helped me:

• Bins for the win: I have 3 big bins - each labelled and serving a different purpose. My product is usually in these bins well covered under another layer for protection. 

• A sturdy wagon: I do markets on my own often which is why I do all my prep keeping in mind that I might not have help! A wagon helps me carry my bins and any extra equipment I need to bring. The good news is that wagons are super cheap on Canadian Tire or Amazon, making them a quick fix for my small-business owner woes. 

9:30 AM: Reach the venue and unload my supplies

Once I reach the venue, I immediately get to work. The first thing I do is get my table or booth ready. Then I get my signage out, like a banner or a poster. Next come my supplies such as a tablecloth, stands for my flyers, and any marketing material I want to lay out. For this market, I also carried a bouquet of roses to give out to moms for their special day. 

When setting up, I maintain room for my product i.e. the LUNA LAB press-on nails. These take center stage at the end, so I can make sure they remain in their pristine condition.

9:45 AM: Bring out the stars of the show 

The final step in getting ready to start selling is to lay out the product. I usually carry 40-50 sets so I have a variety of designs to lay out. Usually I will have 2-3 sets of each shape and size. I pick the sets based on the type of market. In this case, I decided to pick colors and patterns that were a mix of sophistication and comfort. I tried to make sure that I had something for each kind of mom.

Here are some tips that have helped me plan the way I set up shop in booths or pop-ups:

• Create a layout that works

Markets usually run for long hours, from early morning till late evening. Most vendors get to their booths at different times. By the time I got there, I saw that some booths were already set up and tending to customers. Some walked by my booth while I was still unloading my inventory, but since I already had everything ready to go and just had to lay it in place, I was able to answer questions and give away some flyers. 

Being extra prepared is the key to succeeding in a market as a small-business owner!

• Map out the customer’s journey

While making a sale is important in a market, I also take this opportunity to assess how new customers feel about my branding. Sometimes, I see younger people more invested in my nails while older customers such as moms or professionals end up asking me logistical questions about the durability of press-on nails. Figuring out the right way to sell can be tricky, since the process is different each time. 

Markets continually teach me how to gauge a customer’s interest. Over time, I have learned how to persuade people without seeming pushy. Each market, I try to do something that sets me apart or calls out to interested customers. This market, the bouquet of roses helped me draw the attention of moms or of families who were looking for a mother’s day gift.

10:00 AM: Cross things off the checklist

Once I have everything ready, I take place behind my booth and start greeting people. While I do this, I also like to cross things off my checklist to make sure I have everything I need ready to go. This step is crucial because if I forgot to lay out extra flyers or some samples, I can quickly get them out rather than fishing through my bag while a customer is waiting!

Finally: Shake off the nerves

Being a business owner usually means a lot of behind-the-scenes work. However, these markets put us founders in the centre stage by making us directly interact with customers and sell them on our products. I have found that the only way I can sell press-on nails to people is if I am sold on them myself, which I very much am.

Press-on nails have been an important part of my journey with business, art, and personal growth. And that is why I love speaking to their benefits. If you too are passionate about what you’re creating, a vendor market will be easy to coast if you follow these helpful tips!

Hey there! If you liked this blog, you might find more that interest you in LUNA LAB Blog. I write about press-on nails, founder life, small-business successes+failures, art & fashion, and more!