Making the Most of Markets

With new markets popping up here, there and everywhere, it's important to stand out. You know how it's important to smile, have plenty of stock (no running out before 12!) and arrive to set up on time, but what makes some stalls more special than others? Here are a couple of tricks and tips I've picked up along the way...

1. Have Your Wholesale Pack To Hand

Last Saturday, I walked around a popular local market and I came across a fantastic looking gluten free stall selling an incredible array of baked treats. They looked great, were priced well and I couldn't wait to talk shop. My opening line is pretty straight to the point. 'Do you have a card for trade enquiries?' 

Before I'd even got to the 't' in 'trade', I was sharply interrupted. 'We don't do cards.' she scowled, before turning away to rustle at something under the table. I mean, geez. All I wanted was to distribute her products for her.

Competition is fierce in the food product industry and be it trade show, market stall or bus stop, you never know who you might get chatting to. Always have your wholesale pack ready to go, complete with photos of your product range and crucial info such as delivery rates, pack sizes and contact details - you can never be too small or too new to get one ready and just planning it helps you focus on how you want to grow.

2. Pick The Right Staff And Then Teach Them

I can't begin to tell you how many confused, apathetic and dopey stall workers I've met. No matter how wonderful the product is, the whole experience becomes muddied by this one bad exchange and leaves me reluctant to return, while someone who's passionate and bubbly makes me want to tell the world about them. Working at a market stall might seem like easy and unskilled work, but getting it right could make all the difference and getting it wrong could run your business to the ground. In a market environment, people expect higher levels of passion, enthusiasm and warmth from stallholders than they would from their local supermarket - your stall needs to reflect that.

Start by writing down the answers to questions customers often ask and the things that make them go 'ooh!'. What's in your stuff? How is it made? What's different? What's the most popular flavour? And then ask your staff - even if at this point they're just your sister, your wife or your best mate lending a hand - to role play with you while you behave like the most difficult customer you've ever had. It might seem like light-hearted fun at first, but you will be able to quickly spot things that you deem to be unprofessional. Are they quick with packing? Is the float organised, or a mass of jumbled coins? Are they gracious and warm, or disinterested and cold? You'd be surprised to see how someone else might not do what you take for granted.

And never, ever let them eat on the job. Ask a fellow stallholder to watch your stock while they sneak off for a quick sandwich. Nobody wants to buy anything from someone with their mouth full of cheese and pickle.

3. Shoeboxes

As well as providing handy storage for when you're packing away, small boxes are great for propping things up under your tablecloth so that your stall looks enticing and full, without the need for stacks and stacks of product. Rymans do a great selection of plastic boxes that flat pack for transporting as well as 'russian doll' style boxes that pack one into the other, so you don't need a fleet of vans to set up shop. If you're on a shoestring budget, drop in on your local corner shop, who always have a stack of (often pristine) boxes that would otherwise go straight into the recycling. Varying heights is a great way to catch the eye as well as upsell your range, clearly communicating which products are more premium than others. Don't forget to make sure your tablecloth is big enough to cover it all!

4. Never Forget You're On Display

Make sure that you have an idea of what your stall is going to look like at the beginning of the day, in the middle of the day (when you'll be at your busiest) and at the end of the day when (hopefully!) you'll have less than half your stock left. Everyone dreams about the beginning, when everything looks perfect, but it's important to think about the other times too. During the middle of the day, your focus should be on convenience and efficiency. For example, your packing materials e.g. brown paper, bags, cards should be laid out in order and the entire payment, packing and handover process should last no longer than a minute. It hurts too much to watch people walk away because you're taking too long! Towards the end of the day, make sure you know how to arrange your stall quickly so that it is as appealing as it was earlier, just smaller. There's nothing worse than a jumbled, untidy, patchy stall after the lunch rush. A bit like the last bruised banana on a supermarket shelf, nobody wants to pick up what feels like nobody else really wanted.

5. Know Your Goals

This is probably the most important point but one that often falls by the wayside. Why are you at the market? To sell stuff? Duh? Come on... To grow your business, you need to think harder than that! Markets are often the starting point for many food businesses. Make sure that you know what you want to get out of it, which might not always be to turn a profit on that day. Perhaps you want to try out a new range, so your focus will be on leaving out samples of those and asking what people think. Or perhaps you want to experiment with your pricing, so your focus will be on observing people's reactions when they read your prices. Of course, the immediate goal will almost always be to push sales, but bear the bigger picture in mind. Where do you want to be and how is this market stall going to take you there?

By Tara, Kitchen Table Projects Founder

Kitchen Table Projects Visit Do You Love Food 2014 at Loseley Park, Guildford

We may not have been at Glastonbury last weekend, but Kitchen Table Projects certainly embraced the festival spirit this weekend by pulling on our wellies, braving the torrential weather, and heading to the the Do You Love Food Festival at Loseley Park, Surrey.

Despite the rain, the festival was bustling with whole range of different producers, including the team from BakedIn, who we go to have a chat with (which will be up on the blog tomorrow- keep your eyes peeled!)  As always it was great to see such a huge variety of independent artisans, and to see them embrace the miserable British weather with such determination and cheerfulness!

There was also a huge range of street food on offer (which left us significantly more full than when we arrived)- we sampled some amazing duck wraps, gourmet sausage rolls and delicious cakes (on top of all the samples offered by the artisan stalls...woops!)

One of the best parts of the festival had to be the cookery demonstrations. Michelin star chefs, TV stars, Bakers and Wine experts showed off a variety of tasty dishes and products over a number of different themed stages. We loved seeing Great British Bake Off contestant Cathryn Dresser do her thing making some delicious cakes on the bakery stage, but our favorite demonstration of the day had to Stefan Gates. Although the show was probably aimed more at children (but aren't we all kids at heart?) we loved his exploration of the science of food- it really is true that you learn something new every day!

Even with the torrential rain we had a really great afternoon. And anyway, A British summer without unexpected downpours is like Wimbledon without Strawberries- It just doesn't happen!

Forget the Football- The Brazilian Food Festa Right Here in London

Its official- England, along with the rest of the world has entered in to a state of football frenzy. This June thousands of people will be flocking to the Southern continent to cheer their country to victory, but you don’t have to venture halfway around the world or even be a football fan to enjoy the festa. In fact, as Kitchen Table Projects have been discovering, there’s plenty of ways to experience a taste for Traditional Brazilian and Latin American culture right on our doorstep here in London.

It is no secret that Londoners love South American food- not just eating it, but cooking it too. Whether it be the battle for the best Burrito in London (for us, its got to be Daddy Donkey near Farringdon- Lunchtime in the office regularly leaves us dreaming of the Carnitas Daddy D) or the newest exciting Brazilian street food stand- If you’ve got a hankering for some salsa and some spice, London pretty much has the answer.

After a more traditional taste? There is a whole bunch of really great independent deli’s, markets and Latin American grocers across London that source and sell traditional, specialist Artisan products. Our favourites have to include Empório São Paulo (Parson’s Green) and La Bodeguita (Elephant and Castle). Here you might pick up some traditional Brazilian Requeijão, a ricotta-like cheese with a creamy taste that’s great in salads, or Linguiça, a cured sausage similar to Chorizo. Or jump on the Victoria Line and head north to the Seven Sisters indoor market, where you can find an abundance of traditional Latin items produced by local native foodies and crafters. Be warned, this is not your average fruit and veg market; the Latin Salsa music blasting and the smells of spices and amazing food cooking will leave you wondering whether you really did make it to Brazil.

A taste of Latin London with be incomplete without a visit to one of the many independent Latin American restaurants across the capital. You can expect to be served anything from a huge variety of dishes; from Feijoada, a stew made from black beans and cured meats that has widely been considered to be Brazil’s national dish, to flavour fusions that mix Traditional British food with a Latino twist, London pretty much has everything.  We love the menu at Prima Dona in Brixon, which is based on traditional Brazilian street food (plus its right next to the Kitchen Table Projects office so its a perfect lunchtime treat!) We also think that it really great how John Rattagan, the chef at the Buen Ayre (Hackney) draws on his experiences living in Buenos Aires and uses the techniques in his cooking that he learnt whilst living there, such as the art of the asado (the Latin equivalent of a BBQ). Camden has its own quirky offerings; both Coco Bamboo and Made in Brasil offer great menus as well as a tasty take on the Brazilian favourite Caipirinha Cocktail. But if you seriously know your cocktails then Cocobananas, a Brazilian Beach shack in the South of London, is the place for you to head- plus they’ll be showcasing the football live from huge screens if you’re keen to stay updated on all the action.

There’s also some great one off events happening around the city as well. Another great place to enjoy the party is at Boteco Brasil in Soho. This gigantic party  will immerse you in Brazilian culture by not only showcasing the football, but will also host cookery and cocktail classes, Brazilian martial arts and samba demonstrations, as well as live music. Or if you’re really serious about getting into the Brazilian spirit and learning about their culture, then why not book yourself into one of Jenius Social’s special World Cup cookery classes and learn to cook, as well as eating, great authentic Latin American cuisine.

So whether you’re a football fan who is keen to embrace the spirit of the event, or just someone looking for a slice of Latin culinary culture, make sure to support these great independent artisans, makers and producers to experience food which not only tastes amazing, but tells a great local story, too.