To market, to market

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Posted at 12:15PM, 25 March 2010 by Emily Boyce - Sub-editor, bbcgoodfood.com

When I heard about the Underground Farmers' Market happening this Sunday, it sounded like fun. Hosted by food blogger and underground restaurateur, Ms Marmite Lover, it's a chance for home cooks to have a go at selling their wares, without the costs and regulations of a conventional market. Instead of stallholders paying for their pitch, it's the market-goers who'll pay an entrance fee.

I decided to have a go, and persuaded my pinny-wearing pals Immy and Sophie to join me. We'd have fun baking - Sophie on cupcakes, me on biscuits, Immy on savouries - and make a little bit of pocket money in the process. Everything was jolly.

We could end up with tons left over, leaving us with no option but to gorge ourselves on cake

But as D-Day approaches, I'm more and more apprehensive. How many people will be willing to pay just to come in? With little idea of numbers, we're struggling to know how much food to make. We could end up with tons left over, losing money and leaving us with no option but to gorge ourselves on cake.

We want to make our food look pretty, but we're running the risk of spending a fortune on ribbons and boxes that we won't be able to recoup. After all, however pretty it is, it's still just a cupcake.

And the final headache - how to get it all from south London up to Kilburn, without a car, and on a Sunday, when public transport grinds to a halt?

Have you ever sold your food? Do you have any tips for a novice? And what do you think of the Underground Farmers' Market idea? I'll let you know how it goes...

Comments

Girl Flower

25 March 2010, 4:03PM
Girl Flower

I think its a great idea in essence. I would pay a small charge to go to one of these places but only if I knew it was good quality and a reasonable price once I was in there! You cant charge a fortune once customers have already paid once. As for transport. I don't have a car either and I don't envy you your journey carrying loads, having said that public transport is not bad on Sundays (I barely notice a difference from Sundays to Satudays). Most importantly Good Luck, make sure whatever you spend or charge is not atronomical and you will be fine, people are prepared to pay for quality after all!

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miniminx

25 March 2010, 5:00PM
miniminx

while i LIKE the idea of underground markets - i would love to sell a few bits! - i don't think they're a good idea. the regulations of a conventional market are there for a reason. what happens to consumers who eat salmonella lemon curd, improperly butchered or even infected meat, or die from a cupcake containing nuts that wasn't labelled? i understand that perhaps the risks are the same as for donated food (fetes etc) but i think that if you're directly profiting from the market then you have a responsibility to consumers that an underground market can't support. they're extreme examples, but underground markets contain no traceability and i think asking consumers to buy products on complete blind faith is asking too much. i also think that, if your products are that good, you should be going through the proper channels. bah, markets! ;)

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Cassandra Amy Rose

25 March 2010, 7:00PM
Cassandra Amy Rose

It sounds likes a nice idea, but i understand your apprehension having myself attemped to do something of the sort. You just dont know how many people will turn up. I think it would be best to keep it simple. Good luck!

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Nicola

26 March 2010, 8:26AM
Nicola

I think it's a great idea, and I don't agree with miniminx. Surely it is no different to a school fete, or a cake stall at a work place? Any profit involved is going to be minimal. I'm assuming that noone will be tempted to sell home butchered meat (if only for the reason that you can only butcher most meats in licensed premises)! And I'm sure anyone taking part will have a good knowledge of food safety. I think health and safety is going far too far these days - people can make educated choices about what they want to buy/eat and I think this is a fantastic idea. If I lived in London...I'd be there and I would trust the hygiene of the stall holders!

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Nicola

26 March 2010, 8:28AM
Nicola

Oh - and I think surely it is better to sell out than to end up with far too much (because selling out will make your stall look mega popular!).

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Emily

26 March 2010, 10:07AM
Emily

Thanks all for your advice! Yes I think best to keep it simple and not go mad baking through the night making way too much. As it's also a craft fair I'm almost tempted to knit some booties or something too, but I've left it a bit late for that really! As for transport, I think we're going to resort to a taxi as I can't face getting on and off tubes and replacement buses carrying loads of boxes. There goes any chance of a profit! It's all a learning experience I guess. Miniminx - I know what you mean, rules and regulations are there for a reason and if this was a regular event I think it would be more of an issue, but as it's a one-off I think it's a good chance for people to see if they enjoy it enough to go through the process of setting up properly.

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yoxallp

28 March 2010, 1:23PM
yoxallp

I don't agree with miniminx. I think we're too strung up on 'rules and regs' these days. Whatever happened to talking to stallholders and asking questions about ingredients etc.? I think you should really go for it. I'm sooooo jealous. There is nothing in my area anything like this. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

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tanya

30 March 2010, 4:56PM
tanya

I totally agree with miniminx. These rules and regulations are for our safety not for fun. School cake stall is not the same because at least we know each other and our own children eat these things among others . I think people don't want to pay taxes it's a main reason for all these "underground things" even if they put "a pretty cover" on their ideas.

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franti91

31 March 2010, 8:08PM
franti91

I can see the point being made about hygiene regs etc, as I had to fork out Â£52 to get my level 2 cert before xmas, but I can only wish you all the luck in the world and can't wait to hear how you got on!

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Mrs Chutney

2 April 2010, 12:25PM
Mrs Chutney

For those of you who want to try selling at a Market, look around to see if there is a Country Market nearby. It is a co-operative, costs 5p to become a shareholder & for that you get all the marketing, insurance back-up and environmental health info you need. It is a great way to learn what to sell, how to package etc before you decide if you want to go it alone.

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Laura

8 April 2010, 5:02PM
Laura

Mrs Chutney, thank you for that recommendation, I think I'm going to join :D (if they let me anyway hehe)

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Marrrrrlaine

18 April 2010, 3:11PM
Marrrrrlaine

I've started a small cupcake / cake business and had a couple of successful stalls and the key so far has definitely been to know what the buyers want - they don't want fancy packaging & just want to eat them! We sold out of cupcakes at the 2 'pamper evening' events we attended and found that bagged cookies have been a surprise popular extra with those especially guilty at leaving their kids at home with the husband !!! After reading this I too have visited my local Country Market and am now considering joining - the ladies (and gents) there were so welcoming and it's lovely to be part of a real and thriving community. Thanks to Mrs Chutney for that pointer!

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