What’s In My Box?
What goes into vending at a market? What do I do? What do I need? Where do I start?
This will be the first of a series of blogs where I break down what all goes into what I do for in person events! This blog will go over what I would recommend anyone should pack in their market/event kit to help them be prepared for whatever situation rises.
I’ve been in plenty of pickles over the years and have MacGyver’d my way through it, and because of these problems I’ve faced, I’ve changed and added to what I bring with me. Some things are no-brainers, but some are items you might not have thought to bring unless you were already in the thick of it without it. The kit I have today I feel keeps me pretty prepared, so I am sharing what I have to help others and also pull back the curtain to show what all goes into working an in-person event.
S-hooks
Great for hanging merchandise, decor, or lights from the overhead bars of your tent.
I have some that are about 4” long and a couple that are 10” long, they are originally used for hanging plants! You can get some from hardware stores but if you only need a couple, you might have luck at the dollar store.
Velcro Cable Ties
Perfect for strapping things together such as the S-hooks or securing display elements. Easy to put up and take down, infinitely reusable, and cheap. You can find them in all sorts of colors to match your displays or brand colors.
I use them to secure a chain across my over-the-table display bar, making for a perfect spot to hang my witch bells or longer necklaces at eye level for customers, and helps better utilize my table space.
Paracord
Sturdy, versatile, and great in a pinch if you need to tie down a tent, or make a makeshift hanging display for merchandise.
You can find this in all sorts of colors at most craft stores and hardware stores. Combined with other pieces such as S-hooks and zip ties, you have so many possibilities and uses!
Mini Clamps
These small clamps are commonly used for small wood projects, or for setting up photography backdrops, and can be found at any hardware store.
These are perfect for clamping down a tablecloth to it’s legs when the wind isn’t cooperating, or for hanging a banner from your tent.
Duct Tape
An essential item for any kit for its versatility, you’ll be a lifesaver for a neighbor or coordinator in need.
You never know when you need to make a repair to a chair on the fly, or tape down a rogue tablecloth.
Zip Ties
More permanent and sturdier than the velcro cable ties and can be found at any hardware store in all sorts of strengths and sizes, and are pretty affordable if you clip them and dispose at the end of every market.
Good for pinning tablecloth corners to table legs, or securing a display sample to a shelf or your tent, or hanging up a light in the wind.
Bungee Cords
Perfect for strapping down banners or anchoring weights to a tent, or even strapping your things to a cart for transporting to and from your car and your spot.
I carry ones that are about 12” long with plastic balls on the ends, but the hook style ones are just as good. These can be found at any hardware store or at some auto parts stores in all sorts of styles, sizes, lengths, and colors; find ones that fit the best for your situation.
I like to wrap a bungee cord around the tent legs of my tent and my neighbor’s tent when the wind is acting up, adds a bit of security to prevent either tent from moving in the wind.
Business Cards
Lots of people may come into your booth without purchasing anything, but may grab a business card, so have way more than you think you need. I always go to markets with at least 50-100 cards as well as a QR code linked to my socials displayed with my payment station.
Make sure all of your socials are listed on the card but the focus should be your business name and/or logo. Simple is good but do what you need to do to have the customer remember you and why they liked you enough to grab a card after they have left the event.
Scissors
Should go without saying that a decent pair of scissors is essential for any kit. These can be used to cut zip ties at the end of the day, paracord, or thread for an item you are making at the market. I’ve even used them to cut out more business cards on the fly.
Jewelry Repair Kit
My kit consists of pliers, cutters, stainless steel ear hooks, extra jump rings, and extra clasps.
Great for fixing a piece that may have been damaged one way or another but I get the most use out of it by offering to adjust pieces for customers on the fly; makes it more personal for them and takes next to no time to do for them, win win!
Glow Stick Bracelets
Grade-A child distractors! Kids can’t be grabbing or pulling on things they shouldn’t if they’re distracted by a newly acquired glow stick bracelet.
I grab a few packs from the dollar store and just have handy to hand out to kids that pop into my booth; makes both kids and parents happy with minimum effort and expense!
You can have freebies like this in your kit, but make sure you ask parents or guardians for permission to give these to kids when you can. The freebie itself might not harm them, but training them that it’s okay to take things from strangers does.
Power Bank & Charge Cable
These are a commonly overlooked must-have! Most markets and events I’ve worked have not had access to outlets or power sources, so these are a life saver!
Small ones are usually good for one full charge of a phone and are easy to find, but you can get bigger ones based on your needs.
Card reading apps can zap a phone’s battery life quickly, so having a power bank to charge it comes in handy. I have also used them to charge my card reader itself! Got to a market and found that my card reader did not hold its overnight charge so I had to charge it throughout the market with the power bank; these things happen so it’s good to be prepared.
Make sure you have all of your necessary charge cables organized and packed up just in case. If you have too many things that would need to be charged, finding a universal cable with multiple plugs is a good space saving option.
Cash Pouch
This should go without saying, but you need something secure to keep your cash in. A lockbox is a common solution to this, but they can take up a lot of space, be costly for a quality one, can be stolen, or keys can be lost. Some simply use a zippered cash pouch, but they are not as secure. Others have their cash in an apron pocket to keep it within reach. Do some research and see what works best for you.
I have a fanny pack I keep my cash, card reader, power banks, some pens, and extra business cards in. It doesn’t lock, but I keep it on me at all times so it doesn’t get stolen. This also allows me to be able to walk around my booth to help customers where they need me.
I carry all of this with me to every market and event, and I am able to fit everything into one roughly 10-12 quart box, complete with a handle. Everything is small enough to be nicely organized in there and can be tucked anywhere in a fully packed car or under a table. Keeping everything in one box keeps my booth tidy and easier to search for something I need. This isn’t everything I bring (for example, I also have a mini first aid kit for my clumsiness and my prescription lotion for my eczema), but this list is what I think is fairly universally useful for anyone that is looking to start working markets. This is an excellent start, and as you get some experience, you can tailor your own kit that’s perfect for you!
