How to Prepare Your Vendor Booth for Merry Market with Art Garden KC
Merry Market at City Market, curated by Art Garden KC, is one of Kansas City's most beloved holiday markets. If you're a vendor, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your unique, handmade products to the local community. To make the most of this festive event, your booth needs to be both functional and visually enticing, drawing in shoppers from the busy aisles. Whether you’re new to outdoor markets or a seasoned vendor, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare your booth for Merry Market this holiday season.
The Plaid Badger at Merry Market 2023
1. Create an Inviting and Warm Booth Space
Decorating your booth is key to standing out in the bustling holiday market. Use a cohesive, festive color scheme—think muted greens, reds, and golds—or stick to decorations that match the overall style of your products. If your booth has a minimalist vibe, go for simple, elegant holiday touches like white décor and natural greenery. Banners, wooden signs, Christmas trees, tinsel, garland and wreaths can be useful for catching the attention of passersby from a distance.
Pro Tip: Make your signs fun and festive—chalkboards with holiday doodles or rustic wooden signs add a personal, seasonal touch. For an affordable way to decorate your booth, check out local thrift stores for unique, budget-friendly holiday décor that can add charm and character to your setup.
Lighting is also essential to create a cozy ambiance, especially during cloudy and cold weather. Fairy lights, string lights, and lanterns can add a warm, festive glow to your space while spotlights can highlight key products.
Since Merry Market is an outdoor event, it's crucial to think about staying warm. Consider using canopy walls to block out wind and create a more intimate shopping environment. The use of rugs can help to block cool ground temperatures and creates a cozy appeal. We recommend bringing a small propane or butane-powered heater to keep yourself comfortable. Make sure to bundle up with warm gear, hand warmers, thermoses full of hot drinks and have extra blankets on hand to stay cozy throughout the day!
2. Offer a Memorable Shopping Experience
Your booth should feel like a mini holiday store, inviting people to linger and browse. To do this, vertical displays are your friend. Raise your products off the table by using shelves or hanging racks so that people can see your offerings from across the market. This tactic not only maximizes your space but also makes your booth more visually dynamic.
Pro Tip: Arrange your most attention-grabbing or unique items at eye level to instantly attract curiosity from passing shoppers.
Clear signage is another must. Create a banner with your logo, website, and social media handles to increase brand recognition. You can also use smaller signs to guide shoppers through different sections of your booth or highlight special holiday deals.
Offering gift-wrapping services can take your booth to the next level. Many shoppers are on the lookout for thoughtful, ready-to-give presents, and gift wrapping adds an extra touch of convenience. This is a great way to encourage more sales, especially during the busy holiday season.
3. Market Your Vendor Shop on Social Media for the Holidays
Attract visitors to your booth by spreading the word on social media. Create festive, holiday-themed posts that show off your products, deals, or exclusive items for Merry Market. Use Instagram and Facebook to create a buzz by sharing pictures of your booth set-up, a behind-the-scenes look at your crafting process, or teaser images of limited-edition holiday products. Make sure to use holiday hashtags and tag Art Garden KC and City Market to maximize your reach!
Shoppers love seeing updates in real-time, so posting throughout the event—whether it’s showing a hot item flying off the shelves or a festive customer photo—will keep your audience engaged and excited.
Pro Tip: Make your booth Instagram-worthy by creating a photo-op corner with fun decorations, allowing shoppers to snap pictures with their new purchases.
4. Set Your Pricing and Offer Holiday Deals
December is one of the busiest months for shopping, so make sure your pricing reflects the holiday market. Shoppers tend to be more willing to spend a little extra for special, handmade gifts. Consider offering a variety of price points so there's something for everyone—small stocking stuffers, mid-range items, and higher-end pieces for those looking to splurge.
Holiday sales can be a great way to attract more shoppers to your booth. Consider offering deals like “buy two, get one free” on smaller items or throwing in a festive freebie, like a holiday ornament, with every purchase. Make sure to advertise these deals on social media and through in-booth signage so customers know about the promotions.
5. Create a Welcoming Atmosphere with Music and Personal Touches
Music can add a warm, festive feel to your booth, consider playing holiday tunes softly in the background to complement the market’s festive vibe. A friendly, knowledgeable team is also key to creating a welcoming atmosphere. Greet each visitor with a smile, offer assistance, and engage with your customers in a way that makes them feel appreciated.
To add even more to the experience, encourage visitors to snap photos of your booth and products. You can incentivize this by offering a discount or entry into a raffle for anyone who tags your business on social media or uses a specific hashtag.
