We might sound a little controversial here, because although Christmas IS the biggest selling season for most businesses, festive trappings can easily make your stall look tacky! We’ve put together 8 great tips to make your stall stand out at Christmas without it looking tacky. Here goes…
What you need to know…
Yikes, we have seen quite a few other business’ blogs lately about focusing on a ‘red and gold’ festive theme, and encouraging ‘going all in’ on changing your brand fonts to a festive theme. We say a firm NO to this!! There are several reasons why.
- Brand recognition is super important and your market stall is an extension of your brand. It’s important to not only be continually recognisable but to stand out in a sea of competitors, but don’t lose your integrity over it. Festive touches are great, but they have to fit within the remits of your brand, as it is all-year-round.
- Flashy tat like bold tinsel actually suits some brand – if disco glitter is a main pillar of your branding, go for it! Pile it all on. However, if your brand colours are more demure, or you sell smaller trinkets, adding something like tinsel to your could just make them look lost.
- Certain colours/themes can cheapen your stall. Sometimes, we subconsciously associate certain colours or styles with ‘sales’ (like those neon yellow paper stars you get at supermarkets sometimes!). If you’re having a sale then great, if not, this could make your products look like they should be cheaper than they are. Don’t undersell yourself!
Remember, although there is a heap of competition for those all-important Christmas sales, working smarter and not harder is always the key to success.
We’ve put together a list of 8 tips to make your stall stand out at Christmas without it looking tacky, which you can use as a checklist for your Christmas markets.
8 great tips to make your stall stand out at Christmas without it looking tacky:
Here are the things you need to consider when thinking about your festive stall set-up.
- Get good lighting – Shine bright like a diamond, as Rihanna would say! Adding some fairy lights or even a fake candle (don’t start a fire risk – you can find some really realistic and cute battery-powered ones these days!), can add an ambience to your stall that tiers in perfectly with the twinkly festive spirit we all imagine for Christmas.
- Use props – Festive props can go large or small. As we said above, really consider your branding. A miniature for free, some fake snow, or a wreath may all fit your vibe – consider your brand colours and what would fit in with that theme.
- Think about height – This is a common essential as different heights on your stall are necessary – but just a friendly reminder! Have things at eye level for your customers – you could create something with miniature ladders, stands or even from the floor up. Set your stall up at home if you can, or look at photos of your past set-ups and have a review of the space from a distance! Make your stall stand out at Christmas, literally.
- Diverse product ranges – To Christmas or not to Christmas, that is the question! Do you have dedicated seasonal ranges or do you sell all of your products all year round? It’s easy to make a stall look Christmassy if you’re selling themed wares, but then you have to sell everything in the right season or you could be sacrificing stock. If you haven’t got seasonal wares, consider adding small touches (like the props we mentioned above) to make your stall feel festive – it’ll draw more people in!
- Bundles and wrapping – Both ideas for those super savvy shoppers. Sell a bundle with an offer, i.e. 2-for-1 for 3-for-2. This can work both to get rid of your seasonal stock (!!!) and as a shopping incentive. Don’t forget the Pedddle QR code system!! Find out more and get to know how our QR codes system works.
- Make it interactive – Make your stall the light in the room! Think about different displays, games or ways you can get customers to interact – then they’ll definitely come up to your stall! You could targets adults or children, get them involved in a game, get them to colour something in, stick a pin on a board for a reason, etc. Think outside the box! This could be a great way of getting Instagram follows, and collecting email addresses, too. A unique way to make your stall stand out at Christmas!
- Make your marketing stand out – Stay present virtually as well as physically, across whichever social media platforms get you the best results. You can now schedule posts directly via Instagram, so take advantage of the new feature and prep posts and Reels ready for all your festive markets, so it’s one less thing to think about during your most busy season!
- It’s all about YOU! – The real star of the show is YOU!! Show up and be present, and your personality will draw those lovely customers in. Bring the energy!
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, where you’re selling at this festive season.
Fancy shopping online instead? See what’s happening with online markets on Tresstle.