A brutally honest but loving guide to finding your best-fit events without chasing unicorns or falling for curated vendor bait

You’ve probably said it or thought it:
“If I could just get into the right market, everything would click.”

And then you apply to five, get into one that costs more than your car insurance, and spend two weeks making inventory like a gremlin only to walk away with $312, a sunburn, and a semi-interested email signup named Barb.

Let’s get real. There is no perfect market.
There are just markets that work better for you, your price point, your vibe, and your goals.

If you’ve been chasing a golden event that will magically fix your sales, confidence, and business growth, it’s time to stop searching for Narnia and start tracking real results.

Why We Believe in the Perfect Market Myth

First off, it’s not your fault. The myth exists because:

• Social media makes other vendors’ success look effortless

• Market organizers hype events like they’re Coachella

• We’re all secretly hoping for an easy win

• Someone once said “It changed my life!” and you took it personally

But here’s the thing: markets are a moving target.
A great event for one vendor can be a total bust for another.

Your job isn’t to find the best market. It’s to find the right-fit market — and that starts with knowing your audience and tracking your results like a low-key data detective with a folding table.

Spoiler: One Event Won’t Fix Everything

Even if you land that “top-tier” curated maker market that’s juried by unicorns and art directors, it still won’t:

• Instantly align your pricing

• Clarify your brand story

• Make your booth display magically sell for you

• Fill in gaps in your product line

Big events often magnify what’s already working — and expose what’s not.
If your booth is confusing or your prices don’t reflect your value, even a packed event won’t deliver the miracle you’re hoping for.

Example: Olive & Grove, a handmade body care brand, got into a high-end curated market known for $20k weekends. But their display didn’t communicate luxury, their price point confused buyers, and they didn’t offer bundle deals. Total sales? $843. The lesson? The market was full of their ideal customers — but their brand wasn’t ready for them yet.

How to Measure If a Market is Actually Worth It

Let’s skip the feels for a second and look at real numbers.

Ask these questions after every event:

• What was my total sales?

• How many transactions did I have?

• What was my average order value?

• Did I meet repeat customers or potential stockists?

• How much did I spend in fees, time, and inventory prep?

• Would I be excited to do it again — or am I dreading it?

Then take it a step further and rate it out of 5 stars for things like:

• Foot traffic

• Type of shoppers

• Event organization

• Vibe + alignment with your brand

• Booth neighbor energy (very important)

Tangible Tip: Create a reusable Market Recap Sheet and fill it out after every event. You’ll start to see patterns and eliminate the “guessing game” of “Was this market good or did I just sell well because of the rain and impulse buying?”

What to Focus On Instead of the Perfect Event

1. Build a booth that sells no matter where you are
Your display, signage, pricing, and flow should do the heavy lifting. Stop thinking the location is everything. You could be at a community fair or a high-end market — if your booth is inviting and clear, it works.

2. Know your people and where they hang out
Who buys from you and gets excited about your brand? Start tracking which events consistently pull your ideal customer. Stick to those — even if they’re small.

3. Test, tweak, repeat
Markets are experiments. Try new product bundles, rotate your setup, shift your price signage. One change might double your sales even if foot traffic stays the same.

4. Look beyond sales
Yes, money matters. But also track:

• Email signups

• Collab or wholesale leads

• Social media follows or shares

• Brand awareness in a new location

Sometimes ROI isn’t instant. Sometimes you’re planting seeds. Just don’t do that every weekend unless you’re made of energy bars and existential optimism.

What to Do If You’re Feeling Burned by Bad Markets

Take a breath. Every vendor has had a “dud” — or five. That doesn’t mean your products suck or your business is doomed. It just means you’re learning what doesn’t work, which is valuable data in disguise.

Instead of saying: “This market sucked.” Try:

• “This wasn’t aligned with my price point.”

• “I need better signage or product education.”

• “I learned that my customer doesn’t live at $5 entry flea markets.”

There’s wisdom in every table setup and awkward vendor conversation. Don’t waste it.

Final Thoughts (From Someone Who’s Been Roasted by a Bad Booth Spot)

Stop chasing the golden ticket market like it’s hiding in the back of someone’s curated Instagram reel.

No event will save your business. But the right combo of clarity, consistency, and curation? That’s your real magic.

So here’s your permission slip to:

• Skip the overhyped market

• Say no to the ones that leave you broke and tired

• Focus on the 2–3 events a season that work for your people

• And build a booth that performs — no matter the zip code

The perfect market? Doesn’t exist.
But your best-fit market strategy? Totally within reach.

Now go print your recap sheet, pack your tablecloth, and remember: Narnia was fictional. Your next smart booth move doesn’t have to be.

Want help making your display work in any market? Check out our modular displays and real-vendor-tested tools that make you feel like a pro — even when the crowd is eating kettle corn and ignoring your signage.