Beating the Heat: Tips for Summer Outdoor Markets as a Crochet Seller

This post shares all about how to make the best out of summer outdoor markets as a crochet seller during the heat. Here you will find tips and tricks, as well as links to products that help keep you cool on hot days!

Summer outdoor markets are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your crocheted creations, but the heat can pose a challenge. Don’t let soaring temperatures curb your enthusiasm! With a bit of preparation and a positive mindset, you can stay cool and comfortable while selling your handmade items.

Summer Outdoor Markets

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My Summer Outdoor Market Experience

Last summer I attended one of my summer outdoor markets in the middle of July. The high temperature for that day was around 103 degrees Fahrenheit. I did my best to prepare for selling in the heat at that show, but unfortunately, the heat got to me. I ended the day in the front seat of my mother-in-law’s car almost passed out from heat exhaustion and had to have family members pack up my booth and drive me home. I was so embarrassed about my inability to handle the heat and follow-through with my show, so I wanted to make sure that my next summer market would not end the same way.

For this year’s market, I planned and planned and planned to make sure that I would be able to withstand the heat and make it through the day. I prepared my body for the heat by making sure to get outside almost every day in the summer leading up to the show. I also purchased a lot of cooling tools for my booth. These tactics, along with some others that I used, helped me make it through the day successfully. Since I anticipate that I’m not the only crochet seller that has ever struggled with a market on a hot day, I wanted to share my tips for dealing with the heat with you!

Tip #1: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

In addition to bringing water with you to your summer outdoor market, you may want to consider bringing a cooler filled with extra water and drinks packed with ice. Having ice cold water versus a standard water bottle that would have gotten warm helped me stay hydrated more throughout the day.

In addition to bringing lots of water, I also brought along some Liquid IV packets to add to my water. If you will be sweating a lot during the day, these can help to replenish electrolytes and re-hydrate you faster than just water alone.

Tip #2: Create a Shady Oasis


Invest in a quality canopy or tent to provide shade for yourself and your booth. Not only will this keep you cool, but it also protects your crochet items from direct sunlight, preventing colors from fading and yarn from weakening.

I have been using my EZ Up tent for several years now, and it is great for providing shade. Like the name would suggest, it is easy to put up and down for shows. I have even put the tent up and down by myself several times.

Depending on how the sun is hitting your booth, you could potentially add the removable walls to your tent for extra shade. I opted not to do this for my booth because I preferred to have the breeze go through the tent. In our specific location, the booths with the side walls on were much hotter despite the extra shade. I still took my side walls along though, just in case of rain or the need for extra shade.

Tip #3: Plan Your Booth Layout

Right along with making sure you are under a canopy, it is also important to make sure that your set-up in your booth allows you to stay out of direct sun and stay cool. Remember that sun can come down at an angle, so don’t position yourself right at the edge of your booth. Make sure you are seated far enough from the edge that you aren’t getting hit with direct sunlight.

Summer Outdoor Markets

You can see from the photo above, I made the mistake at last year’s market to be too close to the edge of my booth and ended up getting sunburned on the back of my legs. Despite using sunscreen, the sun beating down right on my legs really added a lot of heat and was most likely the cause of my heat exhaustion. This year, we set up our booth to make sure we had adequate room to be under the canopy and away from the sun shining in.

Summer Outdoor Markets

It’s also important to keep your inventory out of direct sunlight to prevent your items from fading. Arrange your items in a way that minimizes direct exposure to the sun. Use light-colored tablecloths to reflect heat and keep your display looking fresh. Consider bringing portable shelves or racks to elevate your items and maximize airflow.

You can check out my free tutorial for making Folding Craft Show Shelves to help you add height to your display without having to carry heavy display pieces!

Tip #4: Dress for Comfort

Choose lightweight, breathable clothing made from natural fibers like cotton or linen. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses will help shield you from the sun. Comfortable shoes are a must since you’ll be on your feet for long periods.

For this show, I brought a back-up outfit and shoes just in case. If you are sweating a lot at the show and your clothes are wet, you will likely want to be able to change into a new outfit part of the way through the day or for your car ride home.

I have also found that it is helpful having a comfortable pair of sandals for the day. The airflow around your feet really helps you stay cooler than socks and sneakers. I wore my sneakers for set up and switched to my favorite sandals during the show.

Tip #5: Use Cooling Accessories

Most booths do not provide access to electric, so you want to make sure to bring some battery-operated or rechargeable fans along to keep the air circulating in your booth. I have purchased and used four different fans, and all of them worked great! Here are the ones I would recommend:

  • Small Tent Fan with Hanging Hook: This is a small fan with a rechargeable battery. It comes with multiple settings and a light. You can either set it on a table and position it to face you, or you can use the clip on the bottom to hang it up. This is a great choice if you need a small fan.
  • 9-Inch Camping Fan with Light: This fan is a great camping fan. It comes with several settings, a huge light, and it actually works as a charging portal. I love how long the rechargeable battery life lasted on this fan and that it has settings to make it oscillate (turn back and forth). This fan also has a hook on the bottom that you can use to hang it up. It is much larger than the previous fan.
  • Odoland Portable LED Camping Lantern with Ceiling Fan: If you are worried about running out of battery life, this fan is another great option. This camping fan has light and hanging features like the others, but it runs off of two D batteries. To make sure your fan will last the whole show, just bring some extra batteries with you and you can set it to the highest setting without worrying about battery life!
  • Primevolve Portable Oscillating Standing Fan: This fan was the last one I purchased, and I’m so glad I did. Not only can this fan be used on a table, but it is extendable and can be sat on the ground. It is relatively high-powered and keeps a good charge. Plus, it oscillates like the others. My parents actually ended up using this fan at their booth right next to their seats and it kept them cool all day. Added bonus – it’s available in pink!

Cooling towels or neck wraps, which you can dampen and wear around your neck, are also great for providing quick relief from the heat. I purchased a set of four that were helpful for cooling us down after walking around.

I also got a neck fan for this show that was wonderful for using after walking around in the heat. It helps to cool your neck and head down quickly and holds a long charge. My mom and mother-in-law used it most of the day at a high setting and it still had a lot of life left in the battery.

Tip #6: Promote Summer-Friendly Products

Depending on your audience, there are a lot of summer-friendly products you can sell at summer outdoor markets. I focus mainly on selling stuffed toys and items for kids, so here are some of the summer market items that sold well for me!

Freeze Pop Holders

I knew it was going to be a hot day, so I decided to make some freeze pop holders in bright colors for kiddos to use! In addition to the holders, I bought a large package of freeze pops that I froze at home and brought in a cooler. I included a freeze pop for free with each purchase of a freeze pop holder.

Summer Outdoor Markets

These were my best-seller of the day! Parents loved that the holders were washable and reusable for all summer long, and kids loved that they got to pick their favorite design and keep their hands from getting cold and sticky! Plus, having an ice-cold treat on a super hot day was the ultimate deal-maker!

I will be releasing the FREE easy crochet pattern for these Freeze Pop Sleeves next week, so be sure to subscribe to get notified when it releases!

Bumble Bees

Bees were another best-seller for me at this market! I made my stuffed bees using the free pattern from The Knotty Boss that is available on her Instagram. I made all my bees in blanket yarn using both a bright yellow and a mustard color for the bodies. Within this one-day market, I sold all but three of the 15 bees I brought!

Chickens

Most of my shows, including this one, have taken place on farms or in rural areas, so chickens have consistently been one of my best-sellers! At this show, I sold quite a few of the Mabel Chickens and sets of Mini Mabels in a nest. No matter what time of year, it seems these chickens are quite the show-stopper and should be in your display! You can read all about the Best-Selling Mabel Chicken pattern by Oak & Marlow in my recent blog post!

Other Products for Summer Outdoor Markets

If stuffed toys are not really right for your target audience, here are some other summer crochet patterns that may be more suitable for you at your summer outdoor markets:

Tip #7: Stay Positive and Engaged

A positive attitude is infectious! Engage with your customers cheerfully, offer them a refreshing drink or a shaded spot to rest while they browse. Your enthusiasm and friendliness can make a lasting impression, even on the hottest days.

Since I knew I had a lot of extra freeze pops, I shared some with customers throughout the day that looked like they could use a cold refreshment. This seemed to really make their day without hardly an additional effort from me. I even had one customer come back and buy more after giving her kids some freeze pops.

If you have any extra fans, it may also be a good idea to put some in places that will allow your customers to feel some air flow. One of the other vendors at my market had a ceiling fan that seemed to bring a lot of patrons to her booth just because they wanted to get out of the heat. You want to remember that you aren’t the only one trying to beat the heat – your customers are too!

By staying cool and comfortable, you’ll not only enjoy your time at summer outdoor markets but also create a welcoming atmosphere that attracts customers to your booth. Happy selling and stay cool out there!

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