Selling at Markets: A Guide for Young Entrepreneurs

What to bring to your first market

• Your products — make 30 percent more than you think you'll sell
• A small folding table (or use what the market provides)
• A bright tablecloth or fabric you like
• A sign with your business name big enough to read from far away
• Prices visible on every product or on a list
• A cash box with $20 in singles and ones
• Water and snacks
• Sunscreen and a hat
• A notebook to write down what you sell
• A grown-up nearby (not in front)

The first hour will feel slow

It always does. Don't panic. Set up your booth. Practice saying hi to a friend. Make sure your prices are clear. Customers will come.

What to say to every customer

Step one: smile and say hi. Step two: 'Welcome! I made all of this myself.' Step three: when they ask a question, answer it honestly and ask one back.

What to do when nobody buys for a while

Rearrange your display. Stand up. Smile. Wave at someone. Take a deep breath. Then try again. The vendors who keep going always sell more than the vendors who give up early.

After the market

Count your money. Write down what you sold. Tell a grown-up one thing that surprised you. Then split your money three ways: save, give, spend.