Thought I'd share my experience as the first time I seriously merchanted at an event.

Ok, its the second time really. This time though I did a number of things wrong so i thought I'd use it as an example:

I decided the friday before the event (The event started next thursday) to go. Since I hadnt' intended to go till that day, I had exactly 4 products to sell (I sell handspun yarn). I did though, manage to get some business cards made up.

I sell handspun, and I did work furiously to put out another skein or two but quite couldnt do it.

I did have fun though. I sold three of the four skeins. Surprisingly it was the natural wool color ones, and not the squishy, soft pure black merino that I thought would sell.

One problem I thik I did do was have no table - I literally had a blanket on the ground. With a few friends sharing my shade (Graciously donated to me by the event steward) I think some people thought we were just hanging out, not selling stuff.

I did happily give out LOTS of business cards, and at that event 15 skeins of my yarn were given away as thank you gifts in baskets.

All in all, I made about 25 dollars (and spent 10). Could I have done better? Probably. I also brought some handmade hats for sale that my roomates' mom made, but since it was the middle of summer and they were winter hats, not a single one sold (I expected that but promised to try.)

So for sellers remember a few things: Get a table, or something to get your stuff off the ground, so it looks like a display table.

Get business cards. I have a potential 40+ people out there with my business name and a coupon code on it who may end up buying something later!

get a SIGN. A small sign to hang on your awning, a sandwich board, or a peice of wood painted with your name on it to prop against your table. Make sure people know you're a merchant!

Oh yeah, AND make sure you have a good amount of merchandise. I kind of gambled with four peices only.

It was a fun event though. Virtually no skeeters. I got a rather fishy business proposal from a nice gentleman that I may share with you guys. I already know its flawed though.

Question: were you in merchant's row or off somewhere else?

The reason I ask is that if you were in with the other merchants, a table, while helpful, is not necessary. This is especially the case in a situation like yours where you have just a few items. Also, in some cultures during the medieval period, it was the norm to spread a cloth on the ground instead of having a table.

AS to the rest of your list, definately have some kind of sign. I know a few merchants who don't and I can never remember the name of their business. Below is a pic of my booth from a Northshield event in 2010. The banner is my sign.



Having a good amount of merchandise is definantely(SP?)a good idea, but if you think about it, you sold 75% of the stock you took. That's really good! Granted, more stuff may have lead to more sales. But then again, that might have been all you sold that day. I've gone to events where I've sold five things out of 150. Others where I've sold 40 out of 60. One just never knows how things will go at an event. But more is usually better.

And I agree, business cards are a good idea. sales may not come right away from them, but someone may be sitting at home one day an find the card ans say "OOOOhhh, That's right I need to contact X and get (insert) from them."

Hopefully your fun experience will keep you merchanting. I don't always sell much, but I get to meet lots of people and my friends always know where to find me.

I was yes, on merchant's row. But I was letting people also use the shade under my awning (I was given a doublelong thing. huuuuge) and it was hot out too so it may have looked like just people using the grass and an empty pavilion.

I will work on some sort of sign.

This is the symbol I use for my cards, although its not 'period' really: shinystuff.us/pics/cardsample1.jpg

I may just have a simple 'modern picture but medieval medium' type sign made. Just a billboard.


And yeah, I am happy with 75% sales, even if it wasn't that much monetarily

I did have fun yes. Now to stock up!

Do you have a woodworker in your local group? You might be able to work out a deal for that person to make a sign that would be correct for your personna. Something that might represent your business in a more period manner coupd be a drop spindle carved or burned into a wooden plaque, or sewn onto a banner.

Have fun!

I do live with a woodworker, although not sure if she knows about burning or anything. I can easily paint a peice of wood though. I do like the idea.

Even if I adore the evil loom, this IS the sca.

I'll figure up something. I am not merchanting again till next year (I was supposed to take this year off from SCA period!) so I have time to figure it out.

Ah ha! I know you! And I know what event this was at too! We were a few slots down from you on the row in the colourful striped tent!