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VENDOR RESOURCE GUIDE˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ ｡ ☆
01. Equipment
1. 10 x 10 Canopy
When vending, having a canopy is a great addition to your booth setup. A fire-retardant canopy is an important investment, as most event venues are required to meet fire safety standards. As a vendor, having a canopy provides a more organized and structured booth layout, creating the illusion of stepping into a 'store'. Customers can have a better shopping experience, and your inventory and merchandise won't be at risk of sun bleaching.
Before an event, refer to the email instructions from Soul Real Market to ensure your canopy meets the requirements.
3. Commercial-Grade Rolling Garment Racks
If you are a clothing vendor, it is important to invest in sturdy, commercial-grade rolling garment racks. Rolling racks are optional but make setup, breakdown, and transporting easier. It is important to find a durable rack that can hold 100+ lbs of clothing.
You can find many great commercial-grade garment racks on Amazon, ULINE, and even Facebook Marketplace (very affordable and accessible prices).
4. 'Circlular' Clothing Rack
A circlular clothing rack is great for fitting a high volume of clothing and makes your booth look more organized; you can also play around with the layout visually. It can also act as the "centerpiece" of the booth, making your booth layout resemble a boutique. It is also perfect for curating collections (i.e., fairy y2k, vintage masc, etc). If you're vending at a Soul Real Market event, you can curate based on the theme (click here for previous Soul Real Markets to get an idea of themes used).
It is also great to have a place to put your best pieces and/or make it your designated 'sale' rack!
7. Signage
I will go further in-depth regarding visual signage in Section 05, Visual Merchandising, but it is important to have signage for your booth. Think of your pop up/booth as if it were an actual store, customers gravitate towards branding that resonates with them.
Signage includes your business/store name (i.e. banner or physical sign) and payment method (i.e. printed QR code of Venmo/Zelle/Cashapp).
5. Sturdy Tables
If you sell handmade crafts, goods, collectibles, and art, having a sturdy table is important to display your merchandise; it is the foundation of your setup. Most vendors use a 6-ft folding table (72 inches long x 30 inches wide), it is easy to carry and fits in 10 x 10 booth spaces. It's important to find a table that will be able to withstand your product display, in all weather conditions.
Pro Tip: Adding a tablecloth will enhance your set up and make it more aesthetically pleasing. It also covers the storage underneath the table such as extra inventory, packing materials, etc.
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6. Comfortable Chair(s)
As a vendor, you are on your feet all day, from packing your car to setting up and breaking down your booth. It is important to bring a comfortable chair for the work day. Many vendors opt for a camping chair; it's comfortable, compact, and lightweight. Other vendors also bring stools and foldable chairs, but it ultimately is up to you and your preference!
8. Heavy Duty Utility Wagon
Having a heavy utility wagon is optional but is extremely helpful during set up and breakdown. Some recommended utility choices include the Timber Ridge Double Decker Folding Wagon and the Gorilla Carts Folding Wagons.
10. Packaging Supplies
For packaging supplies, make sure you have shopping bags, price tags, bubble wrap, tissue paper, and/or other supplies you may need. Having these supplies can make all the difference in your customer's shopping experience. If you use branded packaging (ie. shopping bags with your shop's logo), it will make your store more memorable for your customer.
2. Canopy Weights
Weights on your canopy are mandatory to ensure it stays in place and aligned with venue safety standards. There are two types: actual weights or sandbags (which you would have to fill with sand, rocks, or bricks). It is important that all four corners of the canopy have weights attached to them. If you do not use canopy weights, it is considered a safety hazard.
9. Cashbox
At markets, there are 2 payment methods customers will pay through: mobile payment apps (i.e. Venmo, Zelle, Cashapp) or cash. For the latter, it is always important to ensure you have a place to safely keep your cash throughout the day.
As a vendor, it is important to have the correct equipment to set yourself up for success. The specific equipment you need depends on what you sell (i.e., handmade goods, vintage clothing, etc). Here's a list of 'must-haves' when preparing to sell at a market! Click here to shop Soul Real Market's Amazon Storefront.
8. Heavy Duty Utility Wagon
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