24 items to sell at your local green market

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Green markets are an inexpensive and profitable way to sell your handmade items to the local market. Here is a list of items that many people sell at green markets. Please note that the term "homemade" means any thing handmade by an individual or small business, not mass manufactured, distributed or retailed. Many states do not allow the sale of consumables made in a private residence. Please check your local laws.

Here are a few things people are selling at green markets these days:

1. handmade soaps
2. vinaigrette & salad dressing
3. spices & oils
4. jams & preserves
5. cured meats
6. homemade candy
7. organic dog treats
8. gourmet cheese
9. specialty teas
10. cupcakes
11. specialty bread
12. organic cleaning products
13. re-purposed products
14. BBQ sauce
15. gourmet dips
16. frozen soups
17. specialty food kits
18. kids food kits
19. homemade wines/ciders
20. meat pies
21. hummus & bread packs
22. soy candles
23. essential oils
24. homemade syrups

Selling Your Products & Greenmarket & Farmer's Market Events

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As a food crafter, one of the biggest hurdles is finding a venue to sell your items. Online and craft fairs may not be suitable when trying to sell consumables and food related items.

Greenmarkets and Farmer's Markets are great venues for selling your handmade goods.

Here are a few facts about selling at these venues:

• Most are hosted by the city. This usually means you will have to pay a fee to the city, along with applicable licensing fees. Many only accept vendors that are licensed and insured.
• Be keen for green. Many are moving toward a more green or organic theme and will only accept vendors that sell these types of products.
• Seasonal. Most run from the months of October to May. If you choose to sell year round you will need to find another venue for the summer season.
• Commitment required. Unlike flea markets and craft fairs, many require their vendors to pay upfront for the entire season. Attendance is often mandatory and absence could lead to loosing your spot at these markets.
• Product selectivity. Depending on the market, there may be a restriction on what products you can and can't sell. This could be due to existing vendor conflicts, insurance issues, or simply market preference. Be sure to get a list of excluded items before registering.

Selling Your Crafts on Consignment: Stores, Shops and Galleries

One way to make some money off of your crafts is to place them in consignment shops. Think eBay in real life. Stores display your items in their store for a monthly or yearly fee and/or give you a percentage of the sales.

Selling your items in a consignment store can give you the accessibility to local customers without setting up your own physical location. You can leave your items at the consignment store as long as you need to and you do not have to deal directly with the customers. You only get paid by the consignment store and you have very little to do with the actual sale of your items.

Normally, a consignment store will set you up with your own nook in their store where you can add as many items as you can fit into your stall. This comes at a great advantage for those who don't want to pay per item to sell.

Finding the right consignment store takes a bit of browsing through your local directory as well as going by word of mouth. You will want to find a consignment store that is well known by the local community. This way you can ensure enough traffic to your stall. Like most real estate, the more popular a location the more you may have to pay to obtain a spot in the store, which should be kept in mind.

There are also a few things to consider before going forward with your consignment subscription. By placing items in a consignment store, your items will only be limited to local traffic. You will not be able to reach half as many potential customers as when you sell at craft fairs or online. You may be able to get more for your items due to the lack of competition, however, you will need to consider whether your items will sell well enough at these shops with only a limited amount of traffic.

You will also need to consider the cost of a consignment stall. Usually, consignment stores charge significantly more than a online listing. You may need to evaluate the value of the items to see whether they are worth the cost of the consignment fees. If you do not have enough items to put of for sale you may want to consider other venues to sell your products.

Consignment stores can be a great and passive way to sell your items without a store front. They do have costs that need to be considered, but, depending on what you intend to sell they can be a profitable option.