Pop-Up Stall: A Guide for Handmade Artisans in Malaysia

E-commerce has changed the way we shop, but many people still enjoy the old-fashioned way of shopping in person. This is why pop-up stalls are gaining traction in Malaysia, especially among newbie artisans and small business owners.

In this article, we will explore how to make money from pop-up stalls, while sharing essential insights to ensure your business success.

pop-up-stalls guide

Why Pop-Up Stalls?

Bustling with life, weekend pop-up markets such as Pingmin Market, Hooray Bazaar, and others, have become a trend among artisans and crafters. These weekend pop-up events gather like-minded people in one place.
They not only offer a platform to sell your handmade products, but also provide the opportunity to interact with customers face-to-face and generate leads. This is a great way for you to learn about customers’ needs and market trend. Moreover, you can test out new products or designs at pop-up market before launching them online. What’s even better, you may even find potential collaboration partners there to expand your business.

How to Choose the Right Event

Not all pop-up events are created equal. Choosing the right pop-up event that bring in the right customers is crucial for your business success. Here are some points to consider when selecting the right pop-up market.

Know Your Organizer

Do your due diligence by checking online reviews about the organizers and events. Make sure they are reputable and have a good track record of running successful events. You should also visit to the actual events before signing up as a vendor to know more about the events.

Ask Questions

Inquire about footfall (how many visitors), target audience (who are the visitors), vendor mix, size of stalls (e.g. size of tables, how many chairs provided), rental costs, payment method and so on. These information are important to determine if this is the right event and to help you plan and estimate pricing and volume to ensure profitability.

Location

Location and accessibility is key to attract customers. Opt for events that is close to public transport, with ample parking spaces.

Timing

Timing is essential. Customers are more willing to spend during gifting seasons such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and so on. You will see your sales double or triple during this period of time. On the other hand, be aware of local events, road closures, or competing events that might affect traffic to the pop-up market. Also, brace for slower sales on rainy days.

Getting ready for show time

Make the most out of your pop-up stalls by preparing well.

Revenue Estimation

You might not be able to foretell how many sales you will make from pop-up event. Nonetheless, estimating revenue is still an important step to ensure you’re right on track to making money. Use the statistics from the organizer, such as footfall, to estimate how many sales you can capture. Many newbie crafters make the mistake of making too few products for sale and end up losing the opportunity to sell more.

Example:

Footfall : 1000 visitors
Conversion Rate : 5%-10%
Average sales per transaction: RM30
Total estimated revenue : RM 1500 – RM 3000 (Footfall x conversion rate x average sales per transaction.)

Engaging Display

Envision the flow of sales at your pop-up stalls, how you want to engage with customers and share about your products, where to place payment QR code etc. Visualize how you want to display your merchandise, what props or display setting you need to showcase your products. Eye-catching and inviting display will attract more customers and thus boost your sales.

Branding Packaging

Packaging is part of branding strategy. If you’re selling during festival seasons, most of the time, customer will expect gift wrapping or gift box with their purchase. Attractive packaging might be the top factor for customers to buy.

Effective Marketing

Spread the word about your participation in pop-up event through social media. You can consider offering special discounts to your followers if they visit your pop-up stalls to attract more traffic.

Long story short…

Pop-up stalls offer an excellent opportunity for newbie artisans to dive into the world of entrepreneurship. With relatively low setup costs, you can proudly display your creations and engage with customers in person. To ensure the profitability of your pop-up stall, it’s crucial to be prudent in selecting the right event and meticulously prepare for the show. Remember, no matter how much profit you bring in, the experience itself is always incredibly rewarding.