Growing Your Market
A thriving market grows deliberately. Here is how to build yours up over time.
A market grows through a virtuous circle: more shoppers attract more vendors, which attract more shoppers. Keep vendors thriving so they stay and refer, and invest in the shopper experience rather than just adding stalls. Grow at a pace you can run well, because quality that slips drives both away.
Growth is a virtuous circle
A good market attracts more shoppers, which attracts more vendors, which attracts more shoppers. Growing a market is largely about starting and sustaining that virtuous circle of vendors and customers reinforcing each other. Related: What is the best way to lay out a farmers market so shoppers reach every stall?
Keep reading: Running a Farmers Market Without the Clipboard, Fair Stall Allocation, Keeping Vendors Happy. See how StallBookr helps you stall booking and sales logging for farmers markets.
Keep vendors thriving
Vendors are the foundation, so a growing market keeps its vendors selling well. When vendors succeed, they stay, recommend the market, and draw the variety that pulls in more shoppers. Related: Which product categories should a small farmers market cap to protect its vendors?
Build the shopper experience
Shoppers return to a market that is a good experience: full, varied, well run, and welcoming. Investing in that experience, rather than just adding stalls, is what turns a market into a destination. Related: Filling Empty Stalls
Grow at a sustainable pace
Growth that outpaces your ability to run the market well backfires, as quality slips and vendors and shoppers drift away. Growing steadily, keeping the market well run at each size, is what makes the growth last. Related: Keeping Vendors Happy
- Market growth is a virtuous circle
- Keep vendors thriving so they stay and refer
- Invest in the shopper experience
- Grow at a pace you can run well
Julien Jimenez
Julien Jimenez is an independent software builder based in Paris. He designs, ships, and operates focused SaaS products for small businesses and independent professionals. Read the full author page.
Frequently asked questions
Why focus on vendor success when trying to grow?
Vendors are the foundation. When they sell well, they stay, recommend the market, and bring the variety that pulls in more shoppers, which keeps the growth circle turning.
What is the risk of growing a market too fast?
Growth that outpaces your ability to run the market well backfires. Quality slips, and vendors and shoppers drift away. Growing steadily, well run at each size, is what makes the growth last.
Run your market without the clipboard
Stall booking and sales logging for farmers markets. StallBookr is built to help you put this into practice.
Open bookingsMore from the StallBookr blog
Running a Farmers Market Without the Clipboard
Fair Stall Allocation
Keeping Vendors Happy
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