Market Culture

I had my second ever stall today, at Gorman House markets in Civic. It was a smashing success, selling nearly double what I sold on site last time. It makes sense, of course, considering that I was directly accessing my immediate target market. I totally enjoyed the day. Gorman House has such an eclectic vibe, chillaxed and easy. I will SO be back. 

Today I had an interesting discussion with some of the stallies too. Recently in Canberra there has been a massive spike in market venues. The farmers and food markets are getting a great rep, the trash and treasures on Sunday mornings go off in the second hand department, Old Bus Depot is opening on Saturdays, as well as the usual Sundays, and Gorman House on Saturdays is still as popular as ever. However, the new comers Handmade Canberra and Ginger Lane are the ones that are the big news. 

These two markets boast the interesting title of "artist handmade creations". This, on any other day, would have me panting. However, looking at those price tags makes me want to scream. I'm sorry if this offends, but there is a certain acceptance in the market setting that the prices you offer are AFFORDABLE and REASONABLE. I can acknowledge the fact that my jewellery is underpriced. However, I think you'll find that the customer is more inclined to open themselves to the prices I offer, and return, than what I probably should charge. I don't WANT to price myself out of a sale. I WANT to sell my pieces, and feel both satisfied with the sale, and that THEY are satisfied with it. I don't want my customers to resent the purchase later on. Handmade and the business, money obsessed vibe it gives off are giving artists a bad name. 

The problem, (I think) isn't that the artists are doing it- its the markets themselves. Handmade, in order to qualify for their market, insists you apply, citing your logo, packaging, product, etc so that they can decide if you're even suitable for their events in the first place. They charge a base payment of about $150.00 just for their smallest, poorly situated stall, the price of the largest, central stalls closer to mid-200's. Compare this to Gorman House, at $30 for the day. And to think, if you're at Handmade you need to make AT LEAST the price of the stall back before you can even make a profit, and you can see why the prices have skyrocketed. And this is supposed to be the hub of all things artist made in Canberra? Puh-lease. 

What I'd like to see is something like the Rose Street markets in Melbourne crop up. A fresh face, committed to just providing a cheap venue to truly celebrate artistry in Canberra. Let's cull all the bullshit money obsession. Let's see new art, not the tired oft-seen stalls at Old Bus Depot. Let's have a funky coffee stall at one end, a live band at the other, and REAL, FRESH, AFFORDABLE art in the centre of it all. And, most of all, let's keep stall costs down. When the stallies are happy, the art is fun and money doesn't even enter into it. 

Kudos to Gorman House for keeping the dream alive - even if the second hand junk is still dominating. ; ) 

Danni