How to find markets and craft fairs to sell your products at

The most common question from people who start selling at markets is simple: where are the markets? The answer is less simple. The information is spread across council websites, makers' associations, organisers' Instagram accounts, Facebook groups and word of mouth between traders. This guide helps you search methodically and choose well.

Where to look

Councils and local authorities. Christmas markets, festival fairs and many craft markets are run or licensed by the local council. Search its website for "craft market", "fair" or "street trading licence", and check the business or culture section.

Makers' associations. Many regions have associations that run their own fairs or share the ones nearby. They often have requirements (handmade products, sometimes membership), but their markets attract people looking for exactly that.

Private organisers. Companies and collectives run regular markets in market halls, cultural centres or squares. They usually follow the same pattern: announce on Instagram, open an application form and select traders.

Other traders. The most reliable source. People who already sell at markets know which ones work, which are quiet and which charge too much. Ask the stall next to you.

Finders and guides. On Mercader you have local guides by city and month, with announced dates, the previous edition and what to confirm, and a market and fair finder that finds the ones near you for the month you choose, with their source.

How to tell whether a market suits you

Before paying for a pitch, try to answer:

• Who goes? A busy market is no use if it isn't your audience. Look at what other stalls sold at previous editions.
• What does it cost in total? The pitch fee is only part of it: add travel, parking, food and set-up time.
• How much would you need to sell to cover it? If at your prices you need to sell thirty pieces just to break even, think twice. We show you how to work it out in is this craft fair worth it?.
• Does it repeat? A market that has run for years usually has loyal visitors. A new one can be an opportunity or an empty day.

What to ask the organiser

When you get in touch, have these questions ready:

1. Dates, opening hours and set-up and take-down times.
2. Pitch price and what's included: table, gazebo, power, insurance.
3. Whether the pitch is covered or outdoors.
4. What paperwork they need: business registration, public liability insurance, any trade-specific permits.
5. How they select traders and when they reply.
6. How many stalls there will be and whether others sell something similar to you.

Write the answers down. Next year you'll know when to open your calendar.

Plan your season

Big markets open applications well in advance. A practical way to get organised:

• Make a list of the markets you're interested in with the date of their last edition.
• Note when applications opened last year and set a reminder a few weeks before.
• After each market, write down how much you sold and how much you kept. That way you'll know which ones to repeat.

If you're applying for a December market, the details are in how to apply for a Christmas market stall.

Tell your customers where you'll be

Finding markets is half the job. The other half is making sure your customers know where to find you. Post your upcoming dates on social media and on your storefront. On Mercader, every market you add appears on your storefront with date and place, so your followers know where to come back.

If you want to try the market finder and your storefront, you can create your account with a 14-day trial.