How to Prepare for Your First Pop-Up Stall
Pop-up stalls are a popular way for small businesses to showcase their products or services. I put up my first stall at Jaipur Literature fest’s Bazar! Setting up a pop-up stall can be overwhelming, especially if it is your first time. Here are some tips to help you prepare.
Pick the Right Pop-Up
Choosing the right event is crucial for the success of your pop-up stall. It should be a place where your target customers are likely to be and it should be budget friendly. Take in consideration that some organisers charge a percentage of your sales too. At JLF, I was charged rent plus 20% of sales. If your return on investment is not considerably more than the stall rent, it might not be a good decision for your business. So it’s important to double check the rates, expected footfall, target market and the hype of the event/location you are displaying at.
Plan Your Display
Your stall should be visually appealing to attract customers. Plan your display in advance to make sure that it is eye-catching. Get you banners printed in advance and collect/buy organisers for your product display. Also make sure that your signage is clear and easy to read. Consider using lighting, props, and other elements to make your display stand out.
Bring the Right Inventory
Make sure that you bring enough inventory to your pop-up stall. Use your sales data and experience from previous events to estimate how much inventory you need. Personally, I had 10 product categories and at least 5 variations at that time, so for about 50 products I did not have to carry more than 25 pieces in each product, considering the event duration was 5 days.
You don't want to run out of products before the end of the event. At the same time, you don't want to bring too much inventory and end up with unsold items that you have to pack up and take back home.
Have a Payment System in Place
You don't want to lose customers because you can't accept their preferred payment method. Consider using UPI, a card machine and have change ready for cash payments. Make sure to print your UPI QR for more efficient payment.
Promote Your Stall, Create Hype!
Use social media, email marketing, and other channels to let people know about your event. Consider offering discounts or special promotions to encourage people to visit your stall. You can also partner with other businesses or influencers to help you promote your event. Good luck with your first pop-up stall!
