Setting up can feel intimidating, whether you’re brand new or a seasoned vendor. We’ve got a few recommendations to help make market day smoother:
Bring:
• A tent
• Tent weights
• Tables + tablecloths
• Clear pricing/signage
• A way to take payments
• Bags or packaging
• Water, snacks, and weather-friendly clothes
• Lights/battery packs for evening markets
A little prep goes a long way. Make your booth easy to shop, easy to understand, and easy for people to walk up to. We’re all learning as we go, and every market gets a little easier.
Signage matters more than people think.
People need to know who you are. A good sign helps customers remember your booth, find you on social media later, and recognize you the next time they wander through the market with an iced coffee and zero memory of where they bought that one amazing salsa. 🌶️
The good news? You do not have to spend a ton of money to make it work.
Your setup can be as simple as a chalkboard with your business name written clearly, or something more custom made locally. We use a magnetic sign made by CLT-Alt and it does exactly what we need it to do. Simple, clear, recognizable.
There are so many options:
• Chalkboards
• Hanging banners
• Table signs
• Tent banners
• Printed menus
• QR code signs for socials or payment
Next time you’re at a market, really look around at the booths that catch your attention. Usually it’s because their signage is easy to read, visually clean, or memorable in some way. If it made you stop and notice them, it’s probably doing its job.
Lights. Especially for night markets? They change everything.
That little booth glow pulls people in. Humans are basically oversized moths with tote bags and snack opinions. We see twinkle lights and suddenly we must investigate. 🦋
If you do evening markets, grab yourself a battery pack. It’s useful for way more than markets too. During one storm when the electricity went out, ours kept phones charged and patio lights running, so don’t underestimate having one around.
For lighting, almost any patio lights can work:
• String lights
• Clamp lights
• Lanterns
• Warm booth lighting
• Small spotlights for products
One recommendation though: go for plastic bulbs if you can. They’re less breakable, easier to replace, and way less stressful when West Texas wind decides to audition for a disaster movie. 🌪️
Definitely check reviews before ordering from Amazon because some lights look cute online and then arrive with the energy of a gas station flashlight from 2004.
We added our list of lights we’ve personally used and had verified by other vendors too, so you’re not going in blind. A little lighting can genuinely help sales, make your booth feel more welcoming, and turn your setup into somewhere people actually want to stop and hang out.
Miscellaneous Market Things
We made a list of things we personally use that people might not think about when starting markets. It does not have to specifically be these exact items, but they’ve all come in handy more times than we can count.
Honestly, this list exists because vendors ask us for these things constantly during setup, so we figured we’d just put it all in one place and save everyone the “does anybody have…” conversation at 7:15 AM.
Think of it as your:
• “I forgot that existed” list
• “Why did nobody tell me this sooner?” list
• “Dang… that actually would help” list
Markets get easier the more prepared you are, and sometimes the smallest random item ends up saving your entire day.
Weights. I do not care if they’re homemade, from Academy Sports + Outdoors, or attached with a bungee cord to your toddler (please don’t actually do that part). Get something to keep your tent DOWN. 🌪️
Flying tents are genuinely dangerous. They can ruin your setup, damage other vendors’ booths, hit customers, break products, and turn the market into an accidental action movie.
And if I have to chase your tent across the parking lot and catch it myself… there is a very real chance I shred it out of pure fear and adrenaline. 😭
Tent weights are not optional around here. Sandbags, gym weights, PVC filled with concrete, water weights, ratchet straps, whatever works for your setup and budget. Just make sure your tent is secure.
Please. I am begging y’all. Do not make me fight a runaway canopy in the West Texas wind.
Us at 7am when you need a zip tie, jk well always share.
Tents can feel a little intimidating at first, but they really can fit any budget. Some vendors start with a simple $50 setup from Academy Sports + Outdoors, while others eventually upgrade to custom tents that cost a few hundred dollars.
The biggest thing we care about? Shade. Texas sun does not play around.
Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to have the “perfect” setup right away. Pick something reasonable for your budget, make sure it gives you some cover, and grow from there. Most vendors upgrade over time anyway, and honestly having a backup tent around here with the wind isn’t the worst idea either.
A good booth isn’t about having the fanciest setup. It’s about showing up, staying cool, and making your space feel welcoming. We attached a link for the ones we use, they have parts that can be ordered and replaced, not saying it’s perfect but they have done the job so far!