farmers market Archives - Page 2 of 2

Introducing the Farmers Market Collection

April 16, 2018 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

If you’re ever feeling uninspired, head to your local farmers market. The sights, smells, and makers there are sure to get your creativity flowing. Our new Farmers Market Collection will too – it has fresh products handpicked for you. Shop all the new Farmers Market products here.

Avocado Fragrance Oil
If avocado is an option, always say yes. This fresh scent has notes of blackberry, citrus, and mint.

Raspberry Jam Fragrance Oil
This sweet fragrance is a mix of lily, loganberry, rose nectar, and cranberry.

Cucumber Garden Fragrance Oil
You’ll love the notes of orange, green vines, and wood in this fresh scent.

Blueberry Thyme Fragrance Oil
This scent is inspired by artisan cocktails. It has notes of lemon, Spanish rosemary, and vanilla.

Farmers Market Fragrance Oil Collection
For a limited time you can try all four new scents and save 20%.

6 Cavity Silicone Goat Mold
Create adorable goat soap with this sturdy and flexible mold.

Bee Pollen Powder
This nutrient-rich powder adds a lovely yellow color to soap.

Spinach Powder
If you’re on the hunt for a natural green colorant, this is a great option.

Tomato Powder
This powder creates a gorgeous orange-red shade in handmade products.

Alfalfa Powder
Give your DIY products a subtle green shade with this natural colorant.

Red Sandalwood Powder
This powder will give your soap a gorgeous red-purple hue.

Arnica Flowers
Add a unique look and feel to your next recipe. These flowers also work well in infusions.

Cucumber Seed Oil
Those with dry or mature skin will love this oil. It has excellent moisturizing properties.

Raspberry Seed Oil
Keep your skin feeling smooth with this oil. It’s packed with essential fatty acids.

Carrot Seed Oil
This oil has a silky texture that’s hard to beat. It’s especially suited for those with sensitive skin.

Raspberry Jam Scrub Kit
You only need a few ingredients to create this skin-loving scrub.

We can’t wait to see all the fresh designs you create with this collection. Share using the tag #BrambleOn.

How to Set Up Your Market Display

March 24, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings, Tips & Tricks

Preparing for a market can seem overwhelming. There are supplies to transport, displays to set up and potential customers to talk to. If you’re new to the market scene, we’re here to help. The following tips will help you prepare for whatever the event throws at you. Before diving in, make sure to check out the first post in this series, Are Markets Right for You? OK, let’s get started.

What to bring to the event
A list of the supplies you need is really helpful. There are quite a few things to bring, so jotting it down will help you remember each one. There are really helpful lists on Pinterest to reference, like these from StudioDax and Creative Income.

“Organization is key,” said Christie with Birchwood Botanicals. She’s been making soap and other herbal body care for about 37 years, and has been selling her lovely creations at the Farmers Market here in Bellingham since 2005.

Christie with Birchwood Botanicals showcases her products at the Bellingham Farmers Market.

Start by breaking the list into three categories – products, display supplies and miscellaneous. You can use more or fewer categories depending on your personal preference. For the first category, write down what products you plan to bring and how many. Researching the event beforehand can help you decide what to bring. A good place to start is about 5-10 each of your most popular items. As you build up your customer base, you can adjust and expand your product line to suit their needs.

Samples and testers are essential. Shoppers can touch, smell and try the products, which will help bring them back for more. We all know once you try handmade soap, it’s hard to go back to store bought!

“For years I handed out soap samples in little Ziplocs,” Christie said. “I would give kids their own little soap and it made them so happy. They would hold onto while their parents shopped around.”

The next category, display supplies, will include items like tables, a canopy, a price list, a cash box or money bag with plenty of change, debit/credit card readers, calculators, a hammer and nails, bags for your customers, etc. Christie brings several card readers and an extra phone charger. Susanne with Passionfruit Island said an apron with a zipper is really helpful. She sold her products at markets for about 7 years and is now focusing on online sales. You can carry samples, cash, business cards, etc. in the apron and hand them out easily.

Passionfruit Island‘s beautiful display at a local market.

The miscellaneous category includes anything else that’s helpful for you. That includes plenty of water, snacks, sunglasses, a hat, a coat, allergy medication, tissues, etc. Christie brings a portable office with her – that includes staplers, paper clips, extra pens, paper, tape, towels and cleaning wipes. That way she’s prepared for any possible scenario.

How to transport your products
Once you have the items you need, the next step is getting them from your house to the event. Christie recommends using clear plastic bins. It can be tempting to use cardboard boxes to cut costs, but clear bins allow you to see what products are inside so it’s easier to stay organized. As you put the items in your bins, make sure to check them off on your list so you don’t forget anything. You can use cloth, newspaper, etc. to protect your items. Susanne recommends packing the containers tightly so the products don’t jostle around in the car.

“Pack them as full as you can,” she said.

If you don’t have a lot of space in your car, you can pack your products in your displays. Susanne made shelves out of old wine boxes that were donated from a local grocery store. She was able to transport her products and display them in a fun and unique way.

Soap displays that double as storage, like these by Passionfruit Island, save space in your car.

Don’t be afraid to practice packing the items into your car so you know what to expect. You can also leave certain supplies in the car overnight. In the morning, all you have to do is load up the heat-sensitive items like soap and you’re ready to go. If you plan to sell at markets for a long time, consider investing in a trailer. Christie used to pack her items in an SUV, but now has a trailer where she keeps her props, tables, etc.

“That has made all the difference in our daily vending,” she said. “It’s kind of like a second room – we don’t have to unpack every single thing.”

How to set up your display
In many markets space will be limited, so Susanne and Christie suggest going vertical with your display.

“We cannot always spread out, but we can always go up,” Christie said.

Christie with Birchwood Botanicals creates vertical displays to showcase her products in small spaces.

Sturdy, tall shelves are a great option for market displays. Susanne recommends putting the products at eye level so people can see them easily. Group your products in sets and have an easy-to-read price list so your display is organized and inviting. Make sure to take advantage of any leftover space on your table as well. You can display your products in cute baskets or platters, and it’s also a great place to put any testers or samples. Once you have an idea of what your display will look like, set it up at home. Take notes on how long it takes you. If you notice you’re having difficulty with a certain product or you don’t have enough space, you can adjust your display until it works well for you. When you’re finished, take photos so you can reference it the next time you set up your display. Get more tips in the Selling Success at Fairs and Public Markets post. Keep in mind your display may change based on the weather.

“I always think of the weather, that’s a huge factor in how I put my display together,” Christie said. “Be prepared to reconfigure and not display certain things.”

Tips for designing your display
An eye-catching display is a great way to attract customers. The thought of designing it can be intimidating, but Susanne said it doesn’t have to be.

“One of the things I wish I had known when I first started is that it doesn’t need to cost a lot,” she said.

She recommends not investing a lot of money on trinkets. Instead, opt for simple shelves, tablecloths and baskets. Not only will your display look clean and modern, but your products will really stand out against a neutral background. You can find shelves and other display items at thrift stores and garage sales. If you’ve got a knack for DIY projects, you can find low-cost or free materials and build the shelves from scratch.

Susanne’s colorful products really stand out on a simple market display.

Christie found a lot of her display items at second-hand stores. Over the years she collected plenty of props like lamps and picture frames. She also likes to bring a a selection of flowers like Lily of the Valley from the farm. They double as an item for display and an item for sale.

“It makes a beautiful, fresh display,” she said. “Even if we don’t sell them it sure brings a lot of ambiance and nature to the booth.”

If you’re not sure where to start, Pinterest and Facebook have plenty of ideas. Instagram is also a great place for inspiration, especially the #SoapShare tag. Don’t be afraid to ask other crafters on those social media platforms. The soapmaking community is really helpful and they have tons of amazing ideas.

Designing your display doesn’t have to be a chore – it’s a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful products you worked hard to create. If it’s not exactly what you want, keep tinkering with items until it is. The more markets you go to, the more you will learn about your display and selling your products.

“One important thing is to find inspiration and start being creative,” Christie said. “You will need to be patient and consistent. Finding out who your customer base is – that takes awhile. I sat at a market for one full year. I kept going whether I made money or not. I was determined and went there every Saturday … It takes a lot of work, but I love my customers.”

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Are Markets Right for You?

March 3, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings

Photo courtesy of Old Whaling Company. Photo by Leslie Ryan.

When you first start making soap, you’ll soon find you have more bars than you know what to do with. Many crafters give soap and other handmade products to friends and family. It’s pretty common for your loved ones to get hooked on those products and want more. Over time, people may ask about buying them. If that’s the case, selling your products is definitely something to consider. This post has more information on moving from hobby to business. Local farmers markets, fairs and events are a popular place to sell handmade products. But how do you know if that’s the right path for you?

Are markets right for you?
First things first, markets take time, money and effort.

Lauren with Single Barrel Soaps said it’s a lot of work to sell your products at a market. She’s been selling soap for about two years and does at least one market a month. Read our interview with her here. That work includes making the products from scratch, packing them up and transporting them to the event. Once you’re at the event, you need to set up your booth or table and sell products for several hours. At the end of the event, you have to take the display down, pack it up and transport it back. It’s a full day of talking soap and selling products.

Markets are also very social. April with Old Whaling Company said she talks about her products all day to multiple people. She started Old Whaling Company in 2012 and sells her products at the Charleston City Market every day of the week. People there are very curious about handmade soap.

“You have to be ready to answer a lot of questions,” she said.

Several of Old Whaling Company’s gorgeous market displays.

There are definite advantages to selling your products at markets. You have a direct line to customers. You can talk to them about your products, how you carefully chose each ingredient and why they feel so amazing on the skin. The products aren’t made in a factory by a large company; they’re personally crafted by the person standing in front of them. That’s one of the many advantages of handmade soap. Learn more advantages in this post.

“Selling at markets gives us a chance to get out there and meet our customers – to physically see their likes and dislikes and get feedback,” said Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm. She’s been selling soap since 2014 and does about 8 markets a year. “It also gives our customers a chance to touch and smell our product. We have a sign in our market tent that says ‘smells are free’ and most people that begin picking up and smelling a bar of soap will usually purchase it.”

If selling at markets sounds like the right path for you, the next step is getting started.

How do you get started?
Deciding where to sell your products requires quite a bit of research. Start scoping out markets, fairs and events in your area. Once you find one that interests you, go see it in person! Lauren with Single Barrel Soaps recommends looking at the booths there, talking to vendors, talking to the organizers and buying products. Take note of how busy the market is. She also recommends paying close attention to booths that sell handmade soap and cosmetics. If you find your products are similar, you may want to reconsider what to bring. That way you don’t step on any toes, and you also stand out from other vendors.

One of Single Barrel Soaps’ beautiful market displays.

April with Old Whaling Company said event fees are something else to research. If they’re expensive and you’re just starting out, you may want to find a different event. Once you have a few markets under your belt and a loyal customer base, you can re-examine the larger and more expensive events.

Once you decide on a market, the next step is figuring out what to bring. While you’re visiting the market, see if there’s a theme. Do you notice a lot of products with neon colors and fragrance, or do the products contain natural colors and essential oils? Is there a lot of soap, or are the vendors selling other products like lotion and scrubs? Don’t be afraid to take notes to help you remember. Tailoring your products to the shoppers can be really beneficial. For instance, when Lauren sold her products in Kentucky, the customers preferred fragrance oils. However, when she moved to Maryland, she found they preferred essential oils. She adjusted her product line to cater to those preferences.

There is also something to be said for trial and error. When Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm started going to events, she registered at local places and didn’t research each one.

“After that first show season we really started ‘vetting’ shows to see if it was a good fit for us,” she said. “If people from our target audience attended and there was significant attendance, we usually attend.”

Over time, Jamie learned that fall shows are better for them than spring or summer shows, so she focused on those. You may find the opposite once you have a few markets under your belt.

While you’re at the event, don’t be afraid to ask the shoppers plenty of questions. Do they prefer soap, or would they like to see bath bombs? What skin concerns do they have? What draws their eye? They can give you helpful tips so you know what to adjust or add for your next show. The more shows you do, the more you learn. That experience is extremely valuable and will help you be successful.

Tips for success
Shopping is a psychological process. People tend to buy with their emotions and rationalize the choices later. That means attitude is incredibly important. A big smile and positive answers to questions can go a long way. If the event isn’t going like you planned, try to put a positive spin on it. For instance, if people aren’t loving your products, you can say, “I’ve been getting great feedback on my products.” If the weather is too hot, rainy, etc., you can say, “It’s so awesome that people are here supporting small businesses even in this weather! I’m really thankful you’re here.” The positive answers really make a difference about how shoppers feel toward you and your products. Get more tips in this post.

Lauren likes to stand for the entire event because it’s more inviting.

“I love talking about soap and getting their opinions. I think that enthusiasm carries though,” she said. “If you wake up and you’re not in a good mood, put it aside.”

Little details like what you’re wearing can also help you be successful. A clean and comfortable outfit is ideal for events. If you’re not sure what to wear, ask yourself if you’re comfortable going to a casual dinner in your outfit. If not, consider other options. The Selling Success at Fairs and Public Markets post has more helpful tips. April recommends bringing snacks and tons of water with you as well. Staying full and hydrated will keep your attitude and energy up.

Hannah helping Old Whaling Company at the Charleston City Market. Notice the big smile and clean, comfortable outfit!

Passion and knowledge about your products is important as well. Make sure to highlight all the wonderful qualities of your handmade products and have answers ready when people ask about them. It’s also helpful to prepare answers for questions you may not feel comfortable answering. Some common topics include why handmade soap costs more than store bought bars, how you make your products, why they only use store bought soap, etc. This post has some common questions and suggested answers that still keep it positive.

It also helps to emphasize your niche. Learn how to find your niche here. When shoppers ask about your products, focus on what makes your products stand out. For instance, Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm makes moisturizing soap with milk from her own herd of Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Her display features plenty of goat milk branding. She is able to talk about the benefits of creamy goat milk soap, as well as the goats themselves.

Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm makes soap with milk from Nigerian Dwarf Goats.

What are other selling options if markets aren’t for you?
If selling at markets isn’t right for you, there are plenty of other options including selling online and in stores. The Where to Sell Products post has more information. Markets can be something you avoid altogether, or revisit at a later date. The most important thing is doing what’s right for you, your schedule and your business.

What are your tips for selling at markets? Check back later this month for a post on how to set up your display.

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Where to Sell Products: Online, Markets and Retail

December 10, 2014 Filed Under: Business Musings

Deciding where to sell your products can be a tricky process. Options include selling at community markets, online via Etsy or Facebook, or inside retail shops. Where to sell will depend on your personality, skills, budget and the time you have available. With so many options, choosing the right outlet can have a huge effect on the success of your business. Because of this, it’s important to thoroughly research each market before making a decision. It’s also important to remember that you can sell your products more than one way!
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