Top 5 Time Drains for Market Managers

June 30, 2010 by Kathleen

1. Weather. Always a concern — is it too hot? Too windy? Is the rain going to keep customers away?

2. Maintaining Interest and Attendance. Does your market have the right vendor mix to keep people coming back, week after week? Do you have a bread vendor? A cofffee roaster? Enough hot food vendors? Varied produce? Meat? Eggs? Finding the delicate balance that ensures steady customer flow is equal parts art and science.

3. Keeping Vendors Happy. Is this easy for anyone? Managers have to make sure that their market doesn’t have too many vendors selling the same thing, all vendors want to be in the “best” spaces, and it’s a real challenge to fit all the pieces together.

4. Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers. This includes the market manager, in many cases. Market budgets are tight, and volunteers are a precious resource. Keeping them coming back requires non-menial tasks and an appreciative attitude.

5. Keeping Track of All Vendor Info. What products are your vendors selling? Who should you expect on any given market day? Are they up-to-date on all their licenses? What do they owe you?

We can help with that last piece, and we’re offering a significant discount for mid-season. Contact us to learn more!