A Vendor’s Guide For Maximizing Your First Thursday Market Booth
Setting up your booth for the First Thursday outdoor summer markets is more than just unpacking your products—it’s about creating an inviting, shoppable space that attracts customers and drives sales. Whether you're a seasoned vendor or new to the market scene, these essential tips will help you make the most of your booth setup.
Written by Stephanie Pedro-Graves and Becci Ravera
Setting up your booth for the Madras First Thursday summer markets is more than just unpacking your products—it’s about creating an inviting, shoppable space that attracts customers and in return helps you drive more sales. Whether you're a seasoned vendor or new to the market scene, these essential tips will help you make the most of your booth setup so you can have a successful event!
Create a Visually Appealing Booth
First impressions matter, and your booth is no exception. A well-organized, aesthetically pleasing space will draw people in and encourage them to browse. Keep your setup open and inviting—avoid blocking entryways or cramming products into a small space.
Use height and layers: Instead of laying everything flat on a table, create levels with shelves, risers, or crates. This adds dimension and makes your display more dynamic.
Declutter: A messy or overcrowded booth can feel overwhelming. Keep your space neat and organized so customers can easily see what you offer.
Lighting: Since this event goes into the evening, consider adding battery-operated lights to highlight key products and create a warm, inviting ambiance.
Keep Your Display Fresh & Engaging
Your booth shouldn’t look the same all day—keeping it fresh will entice new and returning customers.
Rotate products throughout the event to make the booth feel new, even to passersby who have already walked through.
Fill empty spaces: If you’re selling out (yay!), shift items around to make the booth look full and vibrant.
Feature a bestseller or new arrival front and center to catch attention.
Make Pricing Clear & Accessible
One of the biggest customer turn-offs is unclear pricing. Many shoppers will walk away rather than ask how much something costs.
Use clearly marked price tags or signs for all products.
If you have a variety of similar items, consider grouping them with a single sign listing the price range.
Digital options like QR codes linking to pricing or product details can also be helpful!
Ensure Accessibility for All Shoppers
A welcoming booth is accessible to all potential customers, including those with mobility challenges.
Keep pathways clear for easy navigation, so your customers can easily get close enough to see everything you are offering.
Place popular items within reach, avoid putting everything too high, too low, or just out of reach.
Offer digital payment options for those who prefer to go cashless. By having digital payment options you make it even easier for customers to take home one of your amazing products!
Be Prepared: Vendor Must-Have Checklist
Nothing ruins a smooth setup faster than realizing you forgot an essential item. Here’s a quick checklist of booth essentials to keep on hand:
✅ Business Essentials: Business cards, product tags, price signs, promotional materials
✅ Sales & Payment: Till or cash box with change, POS system (like Square), receipt book (if needed) ✅ Display & Branding: Table, chair, canopy with weights, banner/signage, shelving or display stands
✅ Handy Tools: Scissors, tape, zip ties, safety pins, extra product packaging (bags, tissue paper)
✅ Comfort & Convenience: Water, snacks, sunscreen, portable phone charger.
Your booth is a reflection of your brand—make it welcoming, professional, and easy to shop. By focusing on visual appeal, organization, accessibility, and preparedness, you’ll set yourself up for a successful First Thursday market experience.
See you at the market, and happy selling!
Maximizing Your Social Media Marketing Strategy
Social media can be a game-changer for your business—but only if you use it strategically. It's not just about posting pretty pictures or hopping on the latest trend. Success comes down to five key elements: visual appeal, smart platform choices, consistency, audience engagement, and tracking results. Let’s break it down.
A Small Business Guide to Effective Content and Consistency
Written by Stephanie Pedro-Graves
Social media can be a game-changer for your business—but only if you use it strategically. It's not just about posting pretty pictures or hopping on the latest trend.
Success comes down to three key elements: visual appeal, smart platform choices, and consistency. Here's a breakdown of the important elements to consider when developing your social media marketing strategy.
Visual Appeal
Does Your Content Look Intentional?
First impressions matter. Your social media content should immediately grab attention, and this begins with its visual appeal. Take time to craft posts that reflect your brand’s personality and values. Is your content designed intentionally, with clear visuals and messaging that align with your business goals?
A clean, cohesive layout is crucial. If your feed is cluttered or inconsistent, it can confuse your audience and undermine your brand. Use a consistent color palette, typography, and overall aesthetic. Tools like Canva can help create professional-looking content even if you don’t have design skills.
Ask yourself:
- Does my content look polished and intentional?
- Am I using a consistent color palette, fonts, and aesthetic?
- Does my content make sense for my audience and business goals?
Which Platforms Are You Using?
When it comes to choosing a social media platform, you don’t need to be on every social media platform - you just need to be on the right ones. Choose the platforms that best align with your target audience and business objectives.
Instagram/Reels: This platform is great for highly visual businesses, especially in industries like fashion, food, travel, and fitness. Reels, in particular, have proven to be a powerful way to grow your business, offering reach beyond your immediate followers.
TikTok: While there’s always the possibility of TikTok being banned in certain regions, it remains an incredibly potent tool for gaining exposure. TikTok allows businesses to grow quickly with engaging short-form video content, and its algorithm makes it easy for content to go viral.
Facebook: A classic platform for businesses of all types, Facebook works best when integrated with Instagram. Link your Instagram to Facebook so that when you post on Instagram, it automatically posts to your Facebook page as well. This makes managing multiple platforms easier and more efficient.
Twitter (X): A great platform for real-time updates and connecting with your audience through conversation. Ideal for businesses looking to share news, promotions, and interact with followers on a more personal level.
Blue Sky: A newer social media network, focusing on decentralized social engagement. While not as mainstream yet, it could be a good space to explore if you're targeting specific, niche communities.
LinkedIn: If you’re in the B2B sector or have a more professional audience, LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with business professionals, share industry insights, and establish authority in your field.
The Importance of Consistency
Once you've chosen your platform(s), consistency is key. Being seen regularly helps build trust with your audience and keeps your business top of mind. Here’s how to stay consistent:
Post Regularly: Aim to post multiple times a week to keep your brand visible. This could be as simple as showcasing new products, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, or reposting user-generated content. Consistency in posting ensures that you remain relevant to your followers.
Stories: Use stories to stay in front of your audience on a daily basis. Unlike regular posts, stories can be less polished and more personal, giving your followers a peek behind the curtain of your brand. Posting multiple times a day through stories keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.
Reels/Videos: Videos are an increasingly important part of social media marketing. Set aside a day to batch-create multiple videos that you can schedule for the upcoming week. This helps save time and ensures you’re constantly engaging with your audience. Reels and TikToks are especially effective for increasing visibility and getting new eyes on your business.
Engage, Don’t Just Post
Your audience isn’t just watching—they want to interact. Social media is a two-way conversation. If you’re only posting and not engaging, you’re missing half the strategy.
Respond to Comments & DMs → A simple reply builds trust and community.
Ask Questions → Encourage engagement by asking followers for their thoughts, experiences, or opinions.
Use Polls & Stickers → Instagram Stories' polls, quizzes, and question stickers are quick, fun ways to get your audience involved.
Engagement boosts visibility!
Platforms prioritize content that sparks interaction, so the more engagement you create, the more people will see your posts.
The Bottom Line: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Social media marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on creating high-quality, intentional content, choose the platforms that make sense for your business, engage with your audience, and track what’s working.
One platform.
One clear strategy.
One step at a time.
Ready to take your social media game to the next level?
Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your business grow!