Stall Allocations
Every market starts as a blank field with a set of constraints. Some pitches sit in shade, some catch the morning sun, some are close to a walkway and some are tucked behind a stack of pallets. Stall Allocations is the service that turns those constraints into a fair map before a single vehicle arrives. We agree the pitch sizes with the organiser, mark walkways wide enough for trolleys and wheelchairs, and decide which tables face the main route. Traders who sell heavy goods are placed near a loading point, while sellers of delicate items are placed away from the busiest corner where elbows and shopping bags collide.
The map is shared in advance in a simple format that any trader can read, and it is adjusted when the organiser sends late applications. We keep a reserve of two or three pitches so that a new vendor can still be placed on the morning itself without upsetting the plan.
Morning Load-In Coordination
Load-in is the hour where a calm field can turn into a traffic jam. Our coordinator stands at the gate with a printed arrival schedule and moves each vehicle to its pitch in a staggered sequence. Instead of every van arriving at the same time, sellers are given a window of fifteen to twenty minutes, with larger loads scheduled first and one-table traders scheduled later. The coordinator directs traffic, keeps the emergency lane clear and checks each table against the allocation map so that nobody sets up in the wrong place.
When a vehicle is delayed, the schedule absorbs it rather than collapsing. We hold the next few arrivals for a short wait and then proceed, which keeps the field moving even on a difficult morning. The coordinator also handles the small requests that always appear, such as a missing trolley or a table that will not sit level on a slope.
Vendor Table Hire
Not every trader owns a table, and not every organiser wants to store dozens of folding units between events. Vendor Table Hire gives both sides an inspected, labelled option. We supply folding tables, low trestles and covered display units in a small range of sizes, and we deliver them to the field before load-in begins. Each unit is checked for wobbling legs, damaged surfaces and missing pins, then tagged with a pitch number.
At the end of the day the tables are collected, cleaned and recorded against the hire list. Traders pay only for the size they used, and organisers receive a single note of what was hired. This service removes a recurring headache and makes a first market day far easier for traders who are testing the water.
Seasonal Market Days
A market is not a single event but a rhythm across the year. Seasonal Market Days is the planning service where we sit with organisers and agree which weekends to run, which to rest and what each season should look like. We review the site for shade, drainage and wind, compare the calendar with public holidays and school terms, and propose a schedule that gives traders enough notice to prepare stock.
For each market day we draft a short plan covering weather contingencies, site permissions, staffing and communication. If a date has to be cancelled, traders hear from us early with a clear reason and an alternative. Over a season these plans build a reliable pattern, so visitors know when to return and sellers know when to book.
Goods Sourcing Desk
Traders often know what they want to sell but not where to find it in the right volume or condition. Our Goods Sourcing Desk helps sellers locate stock, packaging and display pieces that suit a swap meet rather than a retail shelf. We work with local suppliers, surplus dealers and clearance channels to find small lots of clothing, housewares, books, craft materials and seasonal goods.
The desk is deliberately practical. We ask about budget, storage space and the likely customer before suggesting a source, and we inspect samples where possible. We also advise on pricing displays and simple labelling, so that a pile of mixed goods becomes something a visitor can browse with interest.
Trader Support Line
Trading brings questions that cannot wait for an email. Our Trader Support Line is a direct channel answered by someone who knows the field on that day. A seller can call with a pitch problem, a dispute with a neighbour, a missing piece of equipment or a question about the rain plan and receive an answer within minutes.
The line is staffed during market hours and again for a short window after closing. Every call is logged with the pitch number and the action taken, so patterns become visible over time. If a location repeatedly causes trouble, we bring it back into the allocation review and fix the cause rather than the symptom.
How the process runs
- First review. We visit the field or study its plan, note the constraints and agree the scope of work with the organiser.
- Allocation map. Pitches, walkways and loading points are drawn and shared with traders before booking closes.
- Arrival schedule. Each trader receives a load-in window and a short note on where to park and where to report.
- Field day. Equipment is delivered, load-in is coordinated and the support line stays open through trading.
- Close and return. Tables are collected, records are updated and a short note is sent to the organiser.