How to create a New Year market plan
It’s a brand new year - an opportunity for growth and change, for trying new things and improving current ones - how do markets fit into your New Year's plan, and how do you plan for them? Grab your calendar and your goals for the year and we’ll get started!
Let’s create a New Year market plan!
When I talk about “markets,” I’m specifically talking about maker markets - however farmers markets, pop ups, and other in-person selling events also apply! Markets should only be one avenue of your business plan. They’re a great way to get in front of new customers, collect email addresses for future sales/marketing, and to connect with other vendors.
Schedule your most important markets first:
What are your “must-do” markets this year? They could be markets you have done before that were profitable and fun to participate in, or it could be a new market you are hankering to try out. Make sure those priority events get blocked out on your calendar early so you know when to apply for them, have ample time to prepare for them, and have all the tools to be the most successful when the market date rolls around.
Are these holiday markets in November / December?
Summer markets?
A favorite market location or organizer?
Add in some new markets:
What are your bucket list markets that you want to try out? How will additional markets help you reach your goal? Are there cities or areas you’ve wanted to check out or see if you product is a good fit for the demographics?
Is it a market out of state?
How about a smaller city in your area?
A market you’ve heard great things about?
Prepare a backup plan:
Ok, so, say you don’t get into one (or some) of your most important markets or the new markets you chose - that’s ok! What are other markets you could apply to as a backup? Sometimes this is tricky, because you don’t want to spend a ton of money on application fees for markets that aren’t your first choice, but it can be worth it to meet your goals overall. There’s a balance there. Do the markets you WANT to do. But also plan for additional, maybe less desirable markets, just in case your original plans don’t come to fruition.
Are there some that are on overlapping dates? If Market A on this date falls through, then do you have a Market B for that month?
Are there new types of markets you’d like to try out that have accessible application and vending fees, like weekly farmers markets or pop ups?
Do you need to do a market if you didn’t get into your first choice or will you still meet your goals without it?
Don’t forget!
Make sure to add those market dates to your calendar, but also work backwards and make sure you know when the application dates or cut-offs are.
You don’t want to miss out on a selling opportunity because you didn’t apply in time!
How’d it go?
Do you have a full calendar of markets or at least a good idea of which ones you want to participate in? I’d love to hear what markets you have planned and what your busiest times are (besides the holidays of course)!
Tell me about it in the comments!