At markets you want to your stall to shine, and at Christmas more than ever! This article will explain how to create an on-brand Christmas stall, so that customers are more likely to shop from you and you can go to your festive markets feeling confident and Christmassy!
Designing your stall for Christmas is not just about your product offering; it’s about creating an experience that captures the festive spirit and entices shoppers to explore your products further.
Here are some tips to turn your stall into a winter wonderland and boost your sales during the most wonderful time of the year.
6 ways to make your stall a ‘little more Christmas’
- Add Christmas-themed props
- Offer Christmas ranges within your products
- Offer sets or bundles
- Create a sensory experience with interactive displays
- Offer personalisation of products
- Think about seasonal sustainability
Let’s delve into each of these points!
1. Christmas Themed Props
To create a festive shopping experience at your stall, simply ‘shop’ from your own home – basically, raid the loft and grab some products that you would usually put out at home but don’t take up too much room on your stall! This is a great way to add a little festive love to your stall. We have also spoken to people that have been to their local charity shop to grab a few bits (perfect for sustainability!).
TOP TIPS – Don’t buy a crazy festive table covering and think you have nailed it (*gasps in horror*). UNLESS that happens to fit with the vibe of your brand. Think about your brand. Are you minimal or do you love the maximal look? Would bold colours work best, or something understated? Some brands get away with cracking out the tinsel, but certainly not all. Consider what works for your brand – even adding some minimal fairy lights could spruce up your stall and add that simple festive touch!
These examples below show different stall ideas, from Upsydaisy Craft (left) and Teppi (right). Both go for quite different looks, but both have a way to celebrate the festivities.
Alternatively, make your whole stall about your Christmas stock – see point 2 for more on this!
2. Offer Christmas Ranges Within Your Products
Although this doesn’t suit every business, some people may wish to create Christmas themed products. We have recently discussed this within our community and there were 2 quite clear camps! Those that felt their products could lend themselves to have a change of colourway (ideally a festive one), or could include a Christmas range, and those strongly against it – usually for sustainability reasons. However, a dedicated Christmas range is an easy way to create an on-brand Christmas stall.
If you can create Christmas products, this should usually start early on in the year, and by August at the latest you should have the images taken and product listings complete ready to launch (in an ideal world! We know it doesn’t always work out like this). Whatever works for you is fine!!
If you are in the camp that is against making products specifically for Christmas, then think about our next point below… keep reading!
Pictures below are from Nova & Me and Old Man & Magpie Candle Co.
3. Offer Sets or Bundles
If you don’t want to create specific ranges for Christmas, help your customers visualise how they can use your product for gifting instead. You can do this by creating gift sets – and it’s a great upsell, especially if you can bundle your products!
Make gifting as easy as possible for customers, and by providing cute packaging such as a little bag or a box, it saves them wrapping things up – a service they could even pay extra for. You could offer bundles at a discounted rate too, or a 3 for 2 deal. There’s plenty of elements and upsells you could consider with this.
Considering creating the perfect gift as a collective (and use more than one of your products), or offer a lovely box/bag etc as part of the bundled price. Check out Tiny Box Company for some lovely gift boxes in various colours.
4. Create a Sensory Experience with Interactive Displays
These are becoming so much more popular with traders over recent months – not least because we keep bashing on about it!!
Interactive displays can make your stall fun, and give customers both something to engage with and something memorable, so they will remember your business in future, and perhaps even purposely seek it out at future markets (ideally). A delightful experience will not only boost your sales but also encourage repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
How can you make it interactive? Here are some ideas:
- Lucky dip boxes. This is a great way to get rid of older stock too!!
- Gum ball machines. These are a total hit with younger clients and can keep them busy for a while – the element of fun and surprise all rolled into one.
- A prize draw of some form. You could use this to get people on your email list or similar. You could get them to buy a raffle ticket, do something interactive like colour in an image, and with each place coloured they enter a draw to win a free gift. There are many ways so have a think about this one! Over the festive season this could get completed and you could showcase your customers work to draw in more people, too.
5. Offer the personalisation of products
Again, not everyone can offer this but it could be a great thing at an event (if it’s easy enough for you to do). If customers are purchasing bespoke products, you may be able to complete it right in front of them, which could keep them at your stall longer, both to chat and potentially shop from you more. These little personal touches make the customer’s shopping trip much more special is more likely to make them a repeat customer, too.
6. Promote Sustainability
Christmas is the season of giving, and many shoppers are increasingly more environmentally conscious. Showcase eco-friendly products, highlight your sustainable practices and ethics. If you can use recyclable or reusable packaging, clearly communicate your commitment to a greener planet. Customer love this and it will encourage them to shop. Show them what you’re made of – literally!!
Good luck with your Christmas stall!
Good luck in your festive endeavours to create an on-brand Christmas stall.
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