Join the Pips N Meeples Vendors Marketing & Hosting Community

      P&M asked, "How do we promote our community on the north end of Nucleus Avenue?" The answer lies in an established business concept: an Open-Air Market Venue! My wife and I have enjoyed attending vendor community events throughout Montana, where we sold board games and puzzles for several years. These experiences allowed us to meet new people and engage with diverse communities. This background has given us valuable insights into the needs of vendors and the importance of profitability for both vendors and the event host. 

      We are committed to marketing the vendors we partner with and hosting a venue where everyone can succeed. Vendors need to participate in events with minimal expenses and risks. The entry fee can make or break a profitable sales day, alongside costs for travel to the site, setup and teardown, sales tax, licenses, food, and sundries. Our solution is to create security in numbers. We identified a location that can accommodate 84 10x10 vendor spots, space for food trucks, customer parking, and potential for future expansion. Additionally, we plan to reimburse license fees and some tax liabilities over time as we strengthen our relationships by offsetting and reducing hosting fees over several shows.

      We have experienced the ups and downs of a vending day firsthand. We understand the disappointment of an event that doesn’t yield good returns and have witnessed other vendors leaving early due to poor sales. Another key part of our strategy is to include a diverse range of vendors across various genres. This variety will foster customer interest, stimulate word-of-mouth promotion, and increase foot traffic, leading to higher sales for everyone. 

      As hosts, we recognize that there are many factors beyond our control. However, we can manage venue fees and advertising effectively. These aspects must be balanced with rental costs, maintenance, my need to earn income, and the expenses associated with paid help, taxes, and more. 

      We aim to allocate 10% of our net revenue to enhance vendor success (which, in turn, boosts our success). We will do this through promotion and advertising. This investment will generate community interest. Social media will play a crucial role, as we plan to interview vendors and their customers to enhance community awareness and encourage participation in the Open-Air Market experience.