Indie Author's Guide: Going to a Local Market
- Mindy Killgrove
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
When Indie Authors prepare themselves to attend a local maker’s market or farmer’s market, the first item they need to pack is their local business license. They should also pre-purchase a sturdy tent, set of four tent weights, some dazzling yet simple lights, and a compact and portable fan.
Do you swing by the local farmer’s market in your town every Saturday morning? Do you check out the stalls and think, “Wow, I wish I could sell my books here”? If you do, trust me—you’re in good company.
There are plenty of indie authors, me included, who love wandering around local maker’s fairs and farmer’s markets and dream of selling their own beloved books there. So, what’s the first step in making that dream into a reality?
You’ve got to read the rules and regulations for the market and abide by them completely. Where this gets a little tricky is that most authors don’t actually “make” anything. Sure, sure, we write and create stories, but we don’t turn out our own products by hand. Still, we must abide by the rules set before us and that means if you want to participate, you’ll probably have to swing by your local business office or the county business office and get a proper license first.
Once you’ve got everything covered on the legal end, it’s time to start gathering your supplies.
Let’s assume you’ve already got your books, your bookstands or shelving units, and a few bookish swag pieces. From there, you’re going to need quite a few items that you wouldn’t normally think of purchasing just to sell your books.
Tent: Most local fairs require all sellers to have a 10x10 tent. Some events have specific color preferences, but the majority just require sellers to have something covering themselves and their goods. Because nobody wants to invest in a book that’s gotten wet during an unexpected rain shower, it’s a good idea to buy a tent that is sturdy, has flaps (for extra coverage), and is easy to erect. Especially if you think you might be operating your booth solo, you’ll want to buy a tent that you can put up on your own.
I bought the EZ-UP tent years ago and have been well-pleased with its performance and durability. There are plenty of cheaper options on the market but spending the money up front to get a quality product is always the safest choice. When I’m outside in the blazing sun and I need to get my tent to pop up quickly, I don’t have to struggle or fuss with this one. It does exactly what it’s meant to do, and I have never once worried that it might not be sturdy enough to handle the wind or rain.
Tent Weights: Don’t forget the weights! Every outdoor market I’ve ever participated in requires vendors to bring their own weights. The safest thing to do is purchase the ones that match your tent. So, if you go with my recommendation to get the EZ-UP Tent, then you might as well opt for the set of four weights that goes right along with it. I’ve seen other vendors struggle with their weights or worry when sand starts leaking out of the ends, but because I bought this brand, I’ve never had a problem. (Excuse me, while I knock on wood.)
Lights: If you’re heading to an early morning farmer’s market, you might not need to illuminate your products, but if you wish to participate in a night-time event, having a good quality set of string lights will be necessary. My husband found these string lights for me almost a year ago and we both have nothing but positive things to say about them. They are not so bright that they blind my night-time customers, but instead provide a nice, warm glow. We also like plugging our lights into a battery pack so that we don’t have to pay extra to use electrical outlets at the venue. Some events offer this “pay extra for electricity option”, but others just don’t have any electricity at all, so it’s best to come prepared with your own battery pack.
Fans: If you’re like me, and you live in a place that’s hot 350 days a year, you’ll probably want to invest in a couple of outdoor fans. Because I don’t want my books or their pages to blow all over the place, nor do I wish to alienate my customers by having a bunch of fans that are noisy as can be, I opt to bring these fans with me to my daytime events. These fans are supposed to be for “camping”, but they work just as well for our local fair purposes.
There are so many more goodies you’re going to need if you decide to embark on this endeavor. Here’s a quick list of additional items.
Price List
Water Bottle
Custom Retractable Banner
Download the printable PDF so you can check these items off your own list before packing up and heading to the local market.
Well, my friend, I hope you find these hints helpful. If there’s one more piece of advice I can give you, I’d like to remind you to keep your head up and take chances.
Most people who come to farmer’s markets or local maker’s fairs aren’t thinking about buying books. Some of them will be pleasantly surprised and eager to discuss your work with you, but others will walk by without appearing to give your products a second glance. Don’t feel defeated. Keep smiling and eventually, hopefully, you’ll find just right the set of customers.
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