Stepping into your first craft market as a soap maker is equal parts exciting and nerve‑wracking. You’ve spent hours perfecting your recipes, dialing in your scents, and curing those beautiful bars. Now it’s time to get them in front of real customers. The good news? With a little prep (and a few insider tricks), your first market can be smooth, profitable, and even fun.
Here’s everything you need to know before you load up the car.
Bring More Inventory Than You Think You Need
Soap sells fast at markets especially when it’s handmade, beautifully displayed, and smells amazing from 10 feet away. A good starting point is 8–12 bars per scent, plus extras of your best sellers. If you offer bundles or soap saver sets, bring plenty. Customers love a deal, and bundles move product quickly.
Pro tip: Keep backup stock under the table so your booth always looks full and inviting.
Create a Display That Stops People in Their Tracks
Your booth is your storefront for the day. Make it warm, clean, and easy to shop.
- Use height crates, risers, baskets, and tiered displays.
- Keep scents grouped so customers can browse without feeling overwhelmed.
- Add a small mirror or greenery to soften the space.
- Use wooden soap dishes or trays to elevate individual bars and show how they’ll look in a customer’s home.
A well‑designed display doesn’t just look good, it increases sales by helping customers imagine your products in their daily routine.
Price Clearly and Confidently
Nothing slows down a sale like a customer having to ask, “How much is this?” Use simple, readable signage. Whether you price per bar or offer bundle deals, make it obvious.
Examples:
- “$8 each • 3 for $20”
- “Soap + Wooden Dish Set — $15”
Clear pricing builds trust and keeps your booth flowing.
Offer Soap Saver Sets to Boost Your Average Sale
If you want to increase your revenue without raising prices, bundles are your best friend. Pairing a bar of soap with a wooden soap dish or soap saver is an easy upsell that customers genuinely appreciate.
People love buying a “complete gift,” even if it’s for themselves.
Prepare Your Packaging & Bags Ahead of Time
Have your bags, tissue paper, stickers, and business cards ready to go. Pre‑pack a few “grab‑and‑go” gift sets for shoppers who want something quick and cute.
Bonus: Add a small card with soap care instructions, it reduces complaints and increases repeat buyers.
Bring the Essentials You Don’t Want to Forget
Here’s your quick checklist:
- Cash box + change.
- Square/PayPal reader.
- Tablecloths.
- Hand wipes.
- Water + snacks.
- Extra pens.
- A small toolkit (scissors, tape, zip ties).
- A chair you probably won’t sit in but will be glad you brought one.
Engage With Customers (Even If You’re Introverted)
You don’t need a sales pitch, just be friendly and present.
Try:
- “Let me know if you want to smell anything!”
- “This one is our best seller people love it for the shower.”
- Just a simple "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" also works.
People buy from people. A warm smile goes a long way.
Collect Emails or Social Follows
Markets are amazing for exposure, but the real magic happens when customers follow you home online, that is.
Have:
- A QR code to your Instagram or Etsy.
- A simple email signup sheet.
- A small incentive (“Follow us for new scents + market dates!”).
- Business cards to give out.
Reflect After the First Craft Market
When you get home, jot down:
- What sold out.
- What barely moved.
- What customers asked for.
- What you wish you’d brought.
This is how you get better every single time.
Final Thoughts
Your first craft market is a milestone and with the right prep, it can be the start of something big. Show up with confidence, a beautiful display, and products you’re proud of. Customers can feel the heart behind handmade soap, and that’s what keeps them coming back.
Written by PPC Handmade - a small business in Michigan that started off making soap products and is now making wholesale soap dishes for other soap makers.
