What do I actually do?
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. ❤️
