Markets and Fetes

In the three years that D2BN has existed, I have done many, many fetes, markets and shopping centre stalls.

Stalls are always a double edged sword. You never know what you're getting yourself into, even if it's a stall in a place you've been before. You see the best and the worst of people, you have to have thick skin, and you have to love it.

I love it, as I get to meet my customers face to face. I always list on my facebook and website pages when and where I am having stalls, and it's rare for me to go an entire day without someone popping in to introduce themselves.

I get thrown the trickiest questions: are your lip balms suitable for people with coeliac disease? Are your soap colours vegan friendly?

Yes, and yes, as it turns out! I had to double check the first question, but the second was easy, as a good friend and customer has a daughter who is vegan, so I have always used vegan appropriate soap colours.

People show me their festy feet, fungily fingers and scaly crusty bits. Because I have samples of everything there, people with super sensitive skin can try a bit of something, walk around the market, then come back and buy the product if they've not reacted to it. People often suggest new product ideas, asking me to come up with something they haven't been able to find- goats milk moisturising cream being the latest request.

Last year, I did a kids & babies' market in an upscale area of Canberra. Every woman who picked up my "Monkey Farts" body butter swooned, I swear! Horrified! Gasp!! However, it's my best selling kids scent, and last weekend sold out of it before any other product. The Banana Mascot from (not sure where she was from actually, I'm assuming the local fresh food market?) even posed with Emma holding some. Not sure she got the joke though, that Monkey Farts smells like banana!

It's a given in Canberra that when you do a market, that people will tell you they could make your stuff at home- I'm sure they could, I do! They'll tell you something stinks, or they only use a different brand of your products, or something equally rude. It's also a given that the weather will stress you out! I have sat in 42 degree heat, I have been so cold I have worn a beanie, scarf, coat, slippers, and stood on an electric blanket (inside!) If I can possibly manage it, I will go inside as it reduces my stress levels by about 80%. It's also a given that I'll be "panic making" extra products a day or too before a market, and lay awake the night before, wondering if I have enough/too much, have I packed my table cloths, etc.

Also, sometimes you don't exactly know how much room you'll have. A 3x3m stall could have 4 sides showing, 3 showing, or just the front. I've had to invest in a pop up marquee, tables, and find creative ways to create height.

Sometimes, I'll sit all day and sell 3 things. I'll go back and do the same market the next year, and be close to sold out by the end of the day. If at all possible, I'll try and badger a friend into spending the day with me, or at least spot me an hour or so, so I can go to the loo, look around at other stalls, or just people watch and laugh with them. A six hour day can be LLLLLOOOONNNGGG!

My hopes for a market are always low:

1) Cover my costs

2) Make one new regular customer

3) Meet one previously unmet customer

Having said all that, I have met some of my favourite people doing market stalls.

The couple I met one Mothers Day, when the wife retrieved the husband who was buying her a battery charger (yes, really!) and told him anything on my stall would be prefereable; the local pollie who's fingers were so cracked and peeling he was starting to avoid shaking hands with people and who now buys copious amounts of my Heel Balm; the many, many kids in Canberra who use Goats Milk Soap and so are pleased to be able to get it in fun shapes.

Now, I must get on and make that Goats Milk Hand Cream......