What do I actually do?

Written By Jennifer Perkel

Running a market isn’t just showing up and putting out a few tables.
It’s months of planning, nonstop communication, daily marketing, compliance checks, logistics, community building, and supporting dozens of small businesses at once.

A professional market manager wears 30 different hats before sunrise — and your support helps keep these local markets alive, thriving, and growing.

Here’s a look at everything that goes into it… 👇 - this is only part 1)
(And yes… I do ALL of this for every single market.)

BEFORE THE MARKET — PLANNING & PREP
• Research and secure market locations
• Coordinate with townships, venues, DPW, police, and administrators
• Obtain permits, approvals, insurance, and compliance documents
• Build the entire market layout + booth map
• Recruit, screen, and onboard vendors, makers, farmers, food trucks
• Handle all incoming vendor questions, comments, and requests
• Collect, check, and verify all Board of Health documents, cottage food permits, insurance, and fire safety requirements
• Draft and secure vendor agreements, guidelines, setup instructions
• Create market calendars, schedules, and category balance systems
• Plan full advertising campaigns
• Design ALL graphics, posters, banners, flyers, ads, and social media visuals
• Write and schedule daily social media posts across every platform
• Build SEO-optimized captions + hashtags
• Run paid ads on Facebook, Instagram, Google, Nextdoor
• Send newsletters, emails, reminders, updates
• Communicate with township partners and local sponsors
• Plan special additions: music, Santa, demonstrations, kids’ activities
• Recruit volunteers or staff
• Prepare location, signage, parking, banners
• Create customer-engagement activities: raffles, scavenger hunts, giveaways
• Handle weather contingency plans
• Track categories to avoid duplicates and support vendor success
• Finalize vendor placement for best traffic flow
• Confirm vendor payments and registrations
• Update website pages for every market
• Respond to every DM, email, message, and comment
• Promote vendors on social media through posts, reels, and features

DURING THE MARKET — OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
• Arrive early to inspect the site and set up logistics
• Guide vendors to their exact booth location
• Troubleshoot last-minute issues (power, parking, weather, equipment)
• Enforce safe, timely setup
• Serve as communication center for all vendors
• Assist customers with questions and directions
• Ensure all vendors follow health & safety rules
• Coordinate music, attractions, entertainment
• Post live social media updates
• Communicate with township staff throughout the event when needed
• Track foot traffic and market performance
• Handle emergencies, spills, accidents, or customer concerns
• Oversee signage, safety, and customer pathways
• Make real-time layout adjustments
• Maintain a welcoming, friendly customer environment
• Support vendor sales questions and needs
• Manage breakdown and enforce correct closing time
• Leave the venue clean, compliant, and organized

AFTER THE MARKET — FOLLOW-UP & REVIEW

  • Send thank-yous and follow-up communication to vendors

  • Post recap photos, reels, and highlights

  • Respond to vendor feedback and prepare next-week updates

  • Create ads + graphics for the next market

  • Reconcile payments, attendance records, and bookkeeping

  • Analyze foot traffic and vendor feedback

  • Report updates to the township or venue

  • Update website and future registration pages

  • Begin planning the next market immediately

  • Follow up on missing paperwork, insurance renewals, or BOH updates

  • Answer customer messages and repost tags

  • Clean, pack, and store equipment

  • Refine strategy based on performance

  • Continue vendor support all week long

Why This Matters

When you support a farmers market, you’re not just shopping —
You’re supporting an entire ecosystem of small businesses, local artisans, farmers, food makers, creators, and the one person coordinating it all behind the scenes so your community has something special.

Want a strong local economy?
Want thriving small businesses?
Want these markets to keep happening?

Support your local market manager. Show up. Shop small. Share posts. Spread the word.
It really does make a difference. ❤️

Jennifer Perkel

Hear Here Events is a New Jersey-based event management and market organization company specializing in farmers markets, pop-up markets, craft fairs, and community events throughout Monmouth, Middlesex, and Ocean Counties.

Founded in 2021 by Jennifer Perkel, Hear Here Events brings together local farmers, food producers, makers, small businesses, artisans, and community organizations to create vibrant, welcoming events that connect people with the businesses and products in their own communities.

From vendor curation and event logistics to marketing, promotion, permitting, and on-site management, Hear Here Events handles the details behind the scenes so communities can enjoy memorable, well-organized events.

With a strong focus on supporting local businesses and creating meaningful community connections, Hear Here Events has grown into one of New Jersey’s active independent market and event organizers, producing a large calendar of events each year across the Jersey Shore and surrounding communities.

https://www.hearhereevents.com
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