We love going to a market not only to soak up its unique atmosphere but because of the interesting things that we might find that we didn’t even know we wanted. The better the market stall business is at selling and displaying its stock, the higher that stall’s sales will be. Period.
As a general rule, the best-selling products on a market stall are Food and Drink items, followed by everything else. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs our Physiological needs (food, drink, sleep) need to be met before we consider anything else. Other popular selling items are those which are considered functional (like a can opener) or convenient, like bulk items (e.g. dog food, that can be taken home easily).
The most popular items on any market will depend on where that market is located in relation to other suppliers of any given product. If there isn’t a stationery store in the area, then a stall selling envelopes, paper and cards will do well. There isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all ‘best’ type of stall and your success will depend on your available audiences’ needs. To find the product that will sell well in your particular area will need your specific market research and use your own local knowledge. Finding the gap in the market will help you create your particular niche.
Food
Markets that sell food are popular and well attended. We are fortunate to live in a land where there is no shortage of food so it is not only for the essentials or staples that we are shopping for. We also want to experience a bit of indulgence and luxury if we can afford it. What better way to treat yourself than to buy a box of artisan chocolates or a £40 bottle of single malt whisky for no other reason than the vendor was charming and you ‘deserve it’?
Bread
A bread stall is always in demand and you will get repeat customers if your bread is worth it. Not many bakers want to sell their wares on a market, particularly if they have a shop too, but those that do generally have a weekly following. If you can find an available pitch on a market it will be worth snapping up sharpish.
The only thing with bread is that the consumer price for your average loaf is low, so you will need to regularly sell a lot of it to make it profitable. If you can break into the ‘artisan’ bread niche your profits should be higher because customers will willingly pay a premium for superior-tasting bread. Unusual loaves tend to mean flour costs could be higher than the average baker who will use regular white flour.
Fruit & Veg
It almost seems mandatory for the traditional UK fruit & veg stall operator to have a loud, booming voice and to hawk their wares for the duration of the market! If you trade on a market with such a person, consider yourself lucky, because people will come from far and wide to soak up the atmosphere that they create and buy their wares. If you can find a pitch that has a vacancy for a fruit & veg stall – take it! It will mean extremely early mornings driving your van to your wholesaler, buying produce and then distributing to your market or markets and then repeating the process the next day. But earnings are high and if you buy well and you have enough outlets, your wastage should be at a minimum.
Dairy
Cheese is a regular pitch at a farmers’ market and they do well. The more variety, the better the turnover. As there are so many different cheeses around, there are often quite a few cheese and dairy stalls to pick from. Better for the consumer, less so for the seller. A Market Operator will usually only allow one fudge or honey seller per 30 or so stalls, for example. However, with cheese, this rule doesn’t apply because of the huge variety of artisan cheese types. Sometimes on a market of 30 stalls, you will find 4 different cheese stalls. This impacts the individual seller as the customer may decide on a different cheese stall at every market they come to, meaning that one stall will have 25% fewer takings than they could achieve from the footfall. Not a first choice for potential profit, unless you can persuade the market organiser to just allow ONE dairy stall at the market.
Raw Meat and Fish
I have seen extremely popular fish stalls, especially when they trade on a Friday, but not such popular raw meat stalls. It seems ironic that farmers’ markets, which were created to support local farmers, don’t really have any farmers attending them anymore. Perhaps the profits just aren’t there as supermarkets can sell their factory-farmed meats so cheaply that it is very hard to compete.
As a minimum, here are a few things you might need to purchase when you decide to start your new Market Stall Business:
For a 6ft Folding Trestle Table take a look here: 6ft Table
We love these oilcloths as they are easy to wipe clean at the end of the day: Oilcloth Tablecloth
Take a look at this gazebo, good for weekly markets and best for price: Heavy-duty 3mx3m Gazebo
A Banner, Chalk Board Signs, A-board, Blackboard, or announcement boards.
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Just saying 🙂
Alcohol
Alcohol is the new ‘black’! Super high profits and youthful marketing behind many of the emerging brands, to the point of cult followings mean these are not only Popular stalls but also Profitable. Whether you set yourself up as a micro-brewer or a distiller, get the branding right and you could be a new Influencer in this highly trendy niche. See: https://www.siblingdistillery.com/
Here are more drinks business ideas
Hot Food
Another popular and profitable niche is hot food. Whether you serve your wares from a stall, a trailer or an à la mode food truck, your food will be in demand, particularly if you offer the traditional favourites of Burgers, Fish ‘n Chips (UK), Pizza, Tacos (US), Indian, Chips, Cheese Toasties, Falafel, Mexican and Japanese. If you also offer out your services for private events all the better towards your bottom line! Also known as ‘street food’ this niche is highly on-trend and in demand in 2021 and certainly profitable.
Sweet Treats
Cakes, sweets, fudge, marshmallows, brownies etc. are all foods that are considered treats and reward foods and consequently are always popular. As the base ingredients are relatively inexpensive (sugar, flour, fats) the potential for profits is large. Add to this a long shelf life and you have a good business idea. See our article on how to: Set Up a Cake Business
Preserves
The jam maker’s profits have been adversely affected by supermarkets. One is able to buy cheap jam brands for less than £1 in some cases, so buying a jar on a market stall for £3.50 may seem like a lot. Consider the cost of empty jars is around 50p each, then the margin for profit is reduced. The jam itself may be exquisite and you may be able to offer flavour combinations that supermarkets couldn’t stock, but you will have to work hard for your buck and rely on volume sales.
Selling pickles is a niche that is not seen very much in UK but get your planning right and buy your pickling vegetables in bulk and in season and you could be onto a winner. Again, build your brand around your ideal customer and you will win the niche.
Sauces and particularly chilli sauces are popular and profitable too, and with a great social media presence, you have the potential to smash it! See the amazing: Tubby Toms
Sausage Rolls, Pies, Scotch Eggs and Quiche
If you are a good baker of the above foods and can display your stall to look like it should be at the food counter of Harrods, then your stall will be a success. All these items are extremely popular as lunch-time takeaway foods and the profit is good.
See our How-To Guide: Market Stall Business Idea: Sausage Rolls
For specific food-related ideas: Lucrative Food Stall Ideas That You Can Start Today
Non-Food
All non food items that you see at a market stall sell well because canny traders would not waste their time selling something that would not make them a reasonable profit. The difference between food and non-food is that food items are usually sold for a few pounds where non-food items sell from a few pounds to tens of pounds. So for each £20 sale your potential for profit should be higher than someone who sells a sausage roll for £2.50.
Clothing and Shoes
From dresses, hats, gloves, coats, jumpers, dresses, shoes, slippers, knickers, bras and socks. All have a place on a market and if you can follow the golden rule, of buying cheap and selling high and selling enough of it, then you will make a profit. If you sell a dress for £30 that you bought for £10 then one sale might cover your pitch fee. All further sales are profit in your pocket.
Mobile Phone Stall
Customers always hope to find a mobile phone stall on a market. Not only do they sell mobile phone accessories, but it is also one of those stalls that will also change your watch battery and sell you a portable fan when it is hot. They sell essential items that don’t really have a category but which are always useful, like a fly swatter or bungee cords. I traded next to one of these stalls at Moreton-in-Marsh and I was astounded at how much business this stall can do. The stallholder was constantly busy taking money all day. A little bit here and a little bit there. The stall probably took well over £1,000 every time. The downside was that it took over 2 hours to set up and take down at every appearance.
Flowers, Plants and Shrubs
This kind of stall not only looks attractive and helps the market look great, but also does extremely well. If I had my time again, I would probably opt to have a plant stall. You buy your plants from Holland and Dutch trucks deliver to you the next day. A perfect system! Profits are good too, especially if you have an affluent pitch and when you can sell 6 miniature bay trees in one transaction.
Culinary Herbs are an excellent stall to have, whether you grow your own or buy them in. Always popular and good profits to be had too. If you can get yourself on a farmers’ market where all the foodies attend you will sell well and you won’t need to worry about a shelf life on your product.
Pet Foods
There has been a growth of pet food suppliers finding their way to local markets. These are beating the supermarket brands because they advocate healthy pet food ingredients. They are popular because you can buy in bulk an get the supplies into your vehicle relatively simply. As well as dog and cat foods, bird foods are also highly popular and lucrative stalls.
Jewellery
One stall that always has a group of people browsing is a jewellery stall. If you make your own stock or if you buy it in there is good profit to be had. Costume jewellery or lower cost silver is ideal because of security issues. Always a popular stall especially if your goods are unique enough to warrant a higher ticket price.
Homeware
From crockery to can openers to cooking utensils to saucepans, there is always something that someone wants. The downside to a stall like this is the set-up, but profits will be big, especially if you import your stock.
Baskets, Rugs, Home Decorations
The good part of having an international stall selling eclectic goods is that you can travel during the low season on a buying trip to far away lands. Or you can just go to the Spring Fair in Birmingham to select your goods. The bonus of buying goods abroad is that wholesalers are used to shipping your stock back home to you so you won’t have to go over your luggage allowance when flying back.
In Conclusion
There are so many options for what to sell at a market stall. Just know that all the types of business that you see currently are ALL lucrative. Each business will have their benefits and drawbacks and the better your branding and social media for your business, the better your following will be. If customers know where to find you, you stand a better chance of selling your wares than if they just stumble upon you, which is the traditional way that market traders operated. Whatever you sell, add on branding and social media and you will sell far, far more.
Happy Trading!
Further Reading:
- Your First Market Stall Business: Idea No 1 – Cake Stall
- Lucrative Food Stall Ideas That You Can Start Today
- How to Find Your First Markets: Tips to Getting a Pitch
- What Legislation Applies to a Market Stall: Why it is Important
- What Kind Of Person Is Cut Out For Market Stall Selling?
- Food Truck vs Market Stall