​As a market event organiser, and a stallholder with a few years' experience under my belt, I often get asked for advice by people considering giving markets a go themselves. 
I have watched small businesses come and go over the years, and had several first-timers at my own events.
​
I like to use the life cycle of a butterfly as a good example of how things can work out for a nascent business - as long as the caterpillar stallholder stocks up on plenty of knowledge, planning, and products before taking its shot at butterflydom, they have a reasonable shot at success.

To help identify levels of experience, we classify our makers according to the following criteria:

Level 0 - Caterpillar – not approved to sell at Wrought but has potential
Level A – Chrysalis or other new sellers – approved to sell on half-sized stalls
Level B – Butterfly - Standard approved sellers
Level C – Sellers approved for showcase spots – experienced makers who have the capability to stock and fill a showcase stall space professionally and attractively, and who can demonstrate a skill or give workshops onsite.

​​Butterfly courses explore the content of the short Caterpillar course in more detail, with particular focus on display and interaction. The following topics will be released throughout 2018 in online format:

• Pricing and signage - the thumbnail test
• Photography for the web – simple tips from a non-photographer
• The market kit – a checklist
• Price point and price range – an overview*
• Dress for success – how to have your stall ace the interview
• Dress to impress – personal presentation and how it should fit with your stall
• Fresh – how to keep your stall display feeling freshly-picked
• Layers – creative repurposing – making a stall display out of other things
• Layers – good bones – how to give your stall infrastructure
• Layers – building and transporting your stall displays
• Layers - access, security, and visual interest
• Flavour – developing your brand
• Flavour – create a fan base
• Hook – reel them in – turning customers into friends
• Selling at Wrought – how does a Wrought maker interact with customers?

* Copper Catkin Consulting courses will give an overview and guidelines on setting product pricing and price ranges. Individual price-setting requires detailed analysis, and is better done one-on-one with a specialist – this service is not offered by Copper Catkin Consulting.

Length:
4.5 hours (includes half hour meal break)
Prerequisites

• enough stock for a full table
• all 5 short courses
• 5MMM
• At least one Wrought market (if Chrysalis seller)

Recommended:

• All available butterfly courses

Bring:

• Stock and any displays, price tags, signage, etc that you plan to use, as if going to an actual market
• Floor-length tablecloth (tables provided)

This workshop focuses on teaching you to improve your own display for stallholders with any level of market stall experience. The aim is to take your current ideas and take them to the next level. We will apply the 5 Copper Catkin Consulting display principles and then brainstorm ideas for improvement, concluding with a goal-setting exercise. 
Outcome:
Stallholders will have a strong concept for their display, and a plan (with goals and deadlines) for making any changes required. Stallholders will be held accountable for meeting their targets by themselves, and the rest of the group.

​Prerequisites

• all 5 short courses
• 5MMM
• Caterpillar sales course (if new seller)
• At least one Wrought market (if Chrysalis seller)

Recommended:

• All available butterfly courses

Bring:

• Comfortable shoes

This workshop is recommended for sellers with any level of market experience, or difficulty making successful market sales. Even with retail experience, selling at markets can be difficult.
As with the caterpillar course, we will focus on role-playing in pairs to get comfortable with different customer types, then we will brainstorm our ideal customer for our products. We will review cash handling and the mechanics of a sale, with more detail about inventory management, payment methods, and customer delighters.
We will also practice dealing with difficult customers, disengaging from talkers, and how to cope when friends visit our stall.
Outcome:
Stallholders will leave with a clear idea of how to interact with a range of customer types, and a better sense of their own ideal customer, and how to attract them and turn them into loyal followers. They will also have confidence in their ability to manage the sales process, and gain some tips and tricks to delight the customer.

Wrought was launched to bring a new flavour to makers’ markets in the Wellington region, and a big part of that is to encourage new artists and creatives to join to market scene – but it can be daunting!

Rather than simply refuse to have stallholders on board until they have done the hard yards and proven their quality, at Wrought, we have decided to embrace our emerging artists and new makers with the ​Wrought Chrysalis package.

Firstly, eligible stallholders are able to book spaces a Wrought events at the Chrysalis price - $10 off the price of a half table (not available for larger spaces, limited numbers available).
As well as the discounted table, Chrysalis stallholders will also receive group pre- and post-market coaching and debrief, and goal-setting.

The package offering is valid for up to 3 markets. 

The Chrysalis Package must be booked all together in a single transaction.

​In order to be eligible for the Chrysalis package, a stallholder must complete the 5-day free online "Very Crafty Caterpillar" course; the 5-day mini market makeover course; pass the online quiz; and at least one of the two paid in-person Caterpillar courses (including meeting goals set at the course).

​​The 3 Chrysalis markets do not need to be consecutive, but must be booked within 6 months of completion of the Caterpillar workshops. Discounts are non-transferable. As with all Wrought spaces, stalls may not be shared with other makers without approval. If sharing a table with another approved maker, the discount will only apply to the Chrysalis half of the table, and makers will be approved and invoiced separately.

​Chrysalis stallholders who choose to move up to a standard stall before their 3 market Chrysalis "ticket" has been used up forfeit future discounts.
For example, if, after 2 markets at the Chrysalis price, a stallholder wishes to upgrade stall size to a full standard table, they will need to pay the difference of $40. They will still receive the coaching if desired for that event.
​
Upon completion of 3 Chrysalis markets, makers may wish to attend a Butterfly course. 

 As a market event organiser, and a stallholder with a few years' experience under my belt, I often get asked for advice by people considering giving markets a go themselves. 
I have watched small businesses come and go over the years, and had several first-timers at my own events.
I like to use the life cycle of a butterfly as a good example of how things can work out for a nascent business - as long as the caterpillar stallholder stocks up on plenty of knowledge, planning, and products before taking its shot at butterflydom, they have a reasonable shot at success.

To help identify levels of experience, we classify our makers according to the following criteria:

Level 0 - Caterpillar – not approved to sell at Wrought but has potential
Level A – Chrysalis or other new sellers – approved to sell on half-sized stalls
Level B – Butterfly - Standard approved sellers
Level C – Sellers approved for showcase spots – experienced makers who have the capability to stock and fill a showcase stall space professionally and attractively, and who can demonstrate a skill or give workshops onsite.

​Some of the questions I hear a lot as an organiser are:

• Will I have enough stock?
• How do I choose my price point?
• Can I be sure that I will cover my costs?
• How do I set up my stall?
• How should I interact with my customers?

​We can help you with all of these questions and more through the Copper Catkin Consulting Caterpillar Courses. 

​These courses are bite-sized online classes, delivered in a 5-day email series, that culminate in a quiz and two physical workshops where you can try out your stall design and fine-tune your sales skills before your very first market.

​BONUS

Stallholders whose displays meet requirements will also receive their Wrought Chrysalis ticket, which gives access to the 3-market Chrysalis package.  Stallholders who complete their goals and then meet requirements will also be eligible for the Chrysalis ticket upon completion. Please note that putative stallholders who do not complete the course (including meeting their goals), or who do not pass the assessments, will not be eligible for the Chrysalis package, and may not be approved as Wrought sellers.

Our new Goody Voucher concept went brilliantly in August, so we're happy to announce that they will be available again in September! All you have to do in come in the door, do the lollipop luck dip, and see if you have won a voucher! Then, hunt down your stallholder and claim your gift, treat, or discount! #simple

Freebies, discounts, treats with purchase, and more! Follow us on Facebook and find out! Watch this post...

Come in the door between 10.30-11, and between 12.30-1, while vouchers last!
See you at Petone Winter Markets, 16th of September, 10.30am to 3pm!

Meg Prebble from Dora Papers is one of our wonderful stallholders at Petone Winter Markets - but that's not all she does! She teaches, makes, and has exhibitions, and her work is instantly recognisable. Let's get to know her a bit more today.

Find Dora Papers on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DoraPapers/
Find Alfred Memelink on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Alfred.Memelink.Artist/​
Find "The Paper Art of Meg Prebble" event on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/474401359583103
Or come and see Meg at Petone Winter Market - September​:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1790237141305899/

​​When you walk around a busy craft market, you don't often get the chance to take everything in. There are so many amazing things to see that it can be a sort of sensory overload. This feeling is why I always recommend that people take one walk all the way around first, then come back for a second, more detailed look. If you only go around once, there's so much you can miss!

​We're going to break up our visit into manageable chunks. This post will cover the last 13 stalls in  the hall (in yellow).

​When you walk around a busy craft market, you don't often get the chance to take everything in. There are so many amazing things to see that it can be a sort of sensory overload. This feeling is why I always recommend that people take one walk all the way around first, then come back for a second, more detailed look. If you only go around once, there's so much you can miss!

We're going to break up our visit into manageable chunks. This post will cover the first 13 stalls around the outside walls of the hall (in yellow).

When you walk around a busy craft market, you don't often get the chance to take everything in. There are so many amazing things to see that it can be a sort of sensory overload. This feeling is why I always recommend that people take one walk all the way around first, then come back for a second, more detailed look. If you only go around once, there's so much you can miss!

We're going to break up our visit into manageable chunks. This post will cover the entranceway and the lobby.

We had some really great entries to last months' colouring competition - and young Holly was our winner! 

We're excited that our Premium Stallholders, Neko Ngeru, have finally secured some great premises right on Jackson Street, in the heart of Petone.