Advantages of an Emerging Market Booth

Think of a market stall and many people will think of the traditional steel frame slotted together with a large rectangular candy-striped sheet that doesn’t fit quite right. This type of stall epitomizes a rather old-fashioned view of markets: shoddy produce sold cheaply in a stall made up of a jumble of rusty bars and faded, dirty covers.

The markets, however, have undergone a revolution in their image, merchants and products offered. As big-box, “shop everything under one roof,” slaughtered the competitiveness of the lower end of the retail spectrum, the markets began a serious decline. Combine this with an image of imitation products and something had to be done for the markets to have any chance of survival.

Market operators began to look for a different way to trade. With a rise in continental markets, the UK was exposed to the smart uniformity of the emerging market stall. Traders from the nearby mainland brought a wide variety of food, drink and handicrafts that drew large crowds of inquisitive shoppers looking for something different. Buyers were also attracted by the much more professional approach to presentation taken by mainland merchants. Its pop-up market stalls were quickly erected with smart tight covers, its merchants equally smart and professional.

Thus was born the idea to change the way the UK had approached markets for decades. Change didn’t happen overnight, and even now there are groups of stubborn marketers who are underperforming and failing to understand the full impact presentation has on shoppers’ buying decisions. However, a change has occurred. There are now a large number of markets and traders who have thrown out their old style market stalls and replaced them with the emerging market stall.

The main advantages of the emerging market stall are:

• Very quick to assemble and disassemble: it allows the merchant to spend much more time on his “flash” or display of products.
• Very easy to store as most come in a wheeled carry bag that is no more than 62″ long.
• Waterproof covers in a wide range of colors, which are attached to the frame.
• Smart sides with transparent PVC so that the stalls feel light and airy.
• Wide range of accessories available such as anchoring systems, weights and hanging displays.
• Market operators can create a uniformity of size and style that was virtually impossible with traditional style stalls.
• Health and safety often views traditional stalls as having a higher risk of injury to vendors and customers due to falling bars and ill-fitting metal held together with ties and ropes in the worst case.

There is no question that the making and buying of emerging market stalls has had a major impact on the viability and continued success of many markets. With emerging farmers markets and the use of pop-up market stalls and the call to buy local and home-grown produce, the market has become a 21st century business model.