You don’t need a big fancy logo or a degree in graphic design to a) have a great brand and b) translate that great brand into your market booth displays and design!

Carry your brand essence (the magic!) into your booth display!

1) It should feel like you, your brand, your vision board, your style

Your brand should reflect your vision board for what your business looks like, feels like, stands for, and represents.

Do you have a vision board yet? If not, start there: make sure to include things like textures, vibes, places, colors, furniture, design references, patterns, food, objects, and things that go way beyond your actual product or logo design. Create a mood, or picture an ideal customer’s life or home.

I love to use Pinterest for creating a brand vision / mood board, but you could use magazine, photos from your own camera roll, found objects, or other journaling techniques! I’m not talking the “I want my brand to make xyz dollars” type vision board - maybe mood or style board is a better term.

Here’s one I created for a fictional / hypothetical brand in Pinterest — can you catch my vibe? What my fictional business values are? Maybe some potential products I might sell? The type of customer that would likely shop from this brand? Colors that represent my brand?

Now that your have your board made, use that to carry your brand elements into your booth display! Is your brand clean and modern? Natural and boho? Playful and colorful? Use those elements even more than your actual branding in your booth with some key elements:

Structures: These are the things that you’ll put your product on. Make sure they align with your vibe - clean modern shelving? Vintage crates and boxes? Metal baskets and racks? What fits your brand the best?
Textures: These are the things that you’ll use to accentuate your product and create a mood in the space — maybe it’s a great rug, tablecloth or other fabric covering, how about wood vs metal accents. Use your creativity to bring in some of those textural elements from your board!
Decorations: These are the finishing touches and definitely not necessary for a great booth display, but they can really elevate that customer experience when they’re in your booth. This is a great way to incorporate your inspiration for your product or bring another brand element into your booth. Live (or fake!) plants, decorative vessels to hold some of your products, maybe a garland, or images from your production process. Add that signature flair baby!

2) Include your branding… blatantly

This may seem obvious, but you need your brand / logo / business name somewhere obvious in your booth.

What do you do if you don’t have a logo?

Maybe you don’t have a great logo yet because you’re just starting out and haven’t invested in it. That’s ok! Find a font you like that’s LEGIBLE and feels close to your vision board. If your brand is super clean and modern - go with a sans serif font like Helvetica, Futura, Century Gothic, or Bebas. If you’re brand is more traditional or eclectic - use a serif font like Times New Roman, Baskerville, Merriweather, or Caslon. Stay away from curly, scripty, frilly fonts - as fun as they may be, they are not great for logos in terms of legibility.

I’ve been to a LOT of markets and I can tell you there are some booths that I literally do not know what the brand name was because it wasn’t anywhere obvious. I would’ve had to go all the way into the booth and either asked or picked up a business card to see it. While you don’t need to be the person with the giant vinyl sign hanging in their tent or in their booth, you also shouldn’t be this person with their branding and business name so tiny. You’re missing an opportunity to market your brand!

Show off your brand! Make sure your logo and your branding are showing off somewhere in your booth! This could be in a framed sign on a table, a vinyl banner, a printed fabric banner, a handmade sign — whatever makes sense with your vibe. However, don’t get caught up in what “everyone else” is doing with their booth displays. Stay true to you and showcase your logo or brand name in something that feels authentic to you.

Incorporate it into your booth display so that even people walking by can see it! You don’t want people to have to come into your booth to know what your brand is. We’re an introverted people here in the Seattle area lol… Make sure it fits into / is incorporated into your overall booth display plan.

Photo from Enigma Candle Foundry at the Making Local Market November 2022 event.

3) You! You’re the magic!

Ok ok ok roll with me here. Whether it’s you, your partner (in business or life), a friend, or whomever — the person behind the booth can make all the difference in bringing the magic of your brand to life in your market booth space. This is about approachability — do you have resting b*tch face? or are you approachable and available? Are you overly enthusiastic and scaring people away (I’ve definitely done this), or are you inviting and confident?

YOU are the magic behind your brand. The ultimate brand ambassador and the perfect person to embody your vision, your mood board, your style, and your product! Embrace it! Enjoy it! Be confident and comfortable in that space (even if inside, you’re not). More tips on this specific subject to come later, so stay tuned for that!

What do you think? What are you doing well with your booth branding and what needs improvement?

Tell me about it in the comments!

3 Tips to Bring the Magic of Your Brand to Your Booth