Booth Boss: How Much Inventory Should You Bring to a Market?
A Little Love From Made in Iowa At Made in Iowa, it doesn’t matter if we’re hosting a market with 30 vendors or 160—we’re paying attention. We notice what you’re selling. We notice what’s flying off your table. We notice what’s still sitting there at 2:00 on Sunday afternoon. And yes… sometimes we notice that […]
Organizing Your Space for Success
One of the biggest challenges vendors face is making the most of a limited booth space. Whether you’re working with a 10×10 space indoors or setting up under a tent at an outdoor market, a well-organized booth can make a huge difference in both sales and customer experience. Think Up, Not Out When space is […]
Booth Boss: The Market Is Slow… Now What?
Every vendor experiences it. You arrive with high hopes, your booth looks fantastic, and then… the crowd just isn’t there. Maybe the weather changed. Maybe there’s a big event across town. Maybe people are simply browsing more than buying. Before you write the day off as a loss, remember this: successful vendors find ways to […]
Booth Boss: Vendors vs. AI — The Conversation Every Market Is Having
It seems like no matter where vendors gather lately — markets, Facebook groups, art shows, maker communities, or craft fairs — the topic of AI eventually comes up. Some vendors are excited about it.Some are cautiously experimenting with it.And some are deeply frustrated by it. Now an additional concern is surfacing:“What happens when even market […]
Collecting Emails & Social Followers Without Feeling Pushy
One of the biggest mistakes vendors make at markets is focusing only on the sale happening right now. Yes, today’s sales matter. But the vendors who steadily grow their handmade businesses over time understand something important: The real value of an event often happens after the market ends. Every person who visits your booth is […]
How to Prepare for Wind, Rain & Heat at Outdoor Markets
Every experienced outdoor vendor eventually learns the same lesson: Weather is not a possibility. It’s a guarantee. Maybe not rain specifically — but something will happen. Wind Is Usually the Biggest Problem Wind can: Tent weights are not optional. Not bricks.Not tiny sandbags.Not “it’ll probably be fine.” Real tent weights matter. In Iowa, especially at […]
Small Touches That Build Big Customer Loyalty
At markets and events, most vendors focus on making the sale — but the vendors who truly grow year after year focus on something even more valuable: building relationships. Customer loyalty doesn’t usually come from giant marketing budgets or fancy systems. More often, it comes from small thoughtful touches that make shoppers remember you long […]
Booth Boss: When Another Vendor Badmouths You Online
It happens more often than people realize. A vendor gets upset, emotions run high, and suddenly there’s a public post, comment thread, or vaguebooking situation aimed at another business or event organizer. Your first reaction might be to defend yourself immediately. Sometimes that’s the worst thing you can do. Before You Respond Ask yourself three […]
Booth Boss Talk: When Inspiration Crosses the Line
One of the hardest conversations in the art world is about copying. Recently, an artist shared that another vendor began creating work extremely similar to theirs — using nearly identical color palettes, compositions, titles, canvas sizes, and overall collection style. The artist had invested years, energy, and significant money building their brand and body of […]
Booth Boss: Dear Customers, You Matter More Than You Know
When people think about markets, they often picture the shopping — handmade candles, fresh baked goods, jewelry, art, soaps, woodworking, boutique clothing, and all the treasures waiting to be discovered. But behind every booth is a person. A family trying to make extra income.An artist pouring their heart into something they created by hand.A retiree […]