How To Sell Your Art Locally + 3 Extra Money-Making Ideas

There are plenty of reasons to learn how to sell your art locally. But here are my two favorites:

It’s good for the economy – studies show that $9.3 billion would be directly returned to our economy if every US family spent just $10 a month at a local business
It’s good for the planet – shipping emits 1,000 Mt CO2 per year, which is 3% of global CO2 emissions

Now, the only question is how?

Over the next few minutes, I’ll share six easy-to-follow steps to get you match-fit for your local markets. And I’ll also give you three extra ideas to help you make money from your art, right there in your hometown.

Ready? Let’s sell some art.

How to sell art locally in six steps

As an artist, stepping into the world of business and sales can be a bit overwhelming. You love what you do and want to make a living out of creating what you create. But there’s just so much you don’t know.

Which brings us to step one…

Step 1 – Research your local art markets

When you started thinking about selling your art locally, you probably had a couple of local markets in mind. And while you may be tempted to dive in and apply for a pitch with one of them straight away, I’d urge you to wait.

I promise. A few weeks of research now can both make and save you thousands in the long run.

The goal here is to work out the best market for your art. To do that, you’ll need to start by making a long list of all the markets in your local area. Then choose a few to visit and ask yourself:

How many people are here?
Are people here to buy or just passing through?
Are the market stalls of other artists getting much interest?
Are any artists selling products that are similar to yours?
How many different types of products are artists selling?
Do the prices of other products match what you’d need to sell yours for?
Do markets run on multiple days and, if so, which days are best?
Which pitches are most likely to get you noticed, and which should you avoid?

By answering these questions, you’ll immediately be able to cut your list down to a handful of focus markets.

💡 Bonus tip: Network with other artists while you’re out exploring. You never know when a collaboration opportunity may pop up in the future (more on that later).

_{Photo by Flavio Cassine}

Step 2 – Refine your products and pricing

If I was a betting man, I’d say that one of the biggest takeaways from your research will be this: less is more.

The best art stalls have a clear niche:

Charms for bracelets
Lino print artworks
Crochet coin purses

There’s a very good reason for that, and it’s called “choice overload”. Here’s how The Decision Lab describes it:

“Choice overload, also known as overchoice, choice paralysis, or the paradox of choice, describes how people get overwhelmed when they are presented with many options.”

They say variety is the spice of life. But there’s a line. And that line can be the difference between success and failure for your local market stall. So really take some time to narrow down your product offering and define your niche.

Think about pricing here too. If the most expensive product you came across when browsing local markets was $40, then your $200 handblown vase probably won’t be flying off the shelf.

At the end of this step, you should have a clear list of products with prices that you know customers will be happy to pay.

Step 3 – Get a license or permit from your local authority

Once you’ve chosen your market (or markets) and defined your product offering, it’s time to take care of the legal bit.

In other words, you need to get yourself a permit. The exact process for this will differ depending on the city, state, or country you’re operating in. But Googling “market permit” or “street vendor permit” plus your town or city is probably a good place to start.

And just like the process, pricing will also vary pretty drastically. Some cities have an annual permit fee that covers all their markets. Others have specific fees for each individual market.

To give you a rough idea, here are some examples from major cities around the world:

San Francisco – $454/year for a city-wide permit
London – £7 to £50/day depending on the market
Melbourne – $1,106 to $1,606/year depending on the size of the market

But if you’re looking for a permit in a smaller city or town, your fees will likely be far lower.

_{Photo by Tuva Mathilde Løland}

Step 4 – Apply for a market pitch

Now it’s time to secure that pitch!

Most markets have a page on their website where you can apply to become a vendor. But if you get stuck, just give them a call or send them an email. You’ll probably find these details on the footer at the bottom of their website.

And remember – you did all that research for a reason. So be considerate of where your pitch will be in the market to give yourself the best chance of success.

Step 5 – Promote your market dates on social media

As soon as you’ve got a date for your first market, it’s time to shout about it on social.📢

This isn’t a time for shyness or dipping your toes in the water. So put your promo hat on and get to work on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and anywhere else you have a bit of a following.

Even if it’s just your friends and family, I’m sure they’d love to get out and support you!

💡 Bonus tip: Take note of hashtags that other artists use in your local area, then add these to your posts for extra reach and engagement.

_{Photo by Roberto Sorin}

Step 6 – Set up your pitch and sell, sell, sell!

Now for the fun part: selling your creations. 🤑

But before you go rushing in head first, you’ll need to take a moment to plan out your pitch.

Start by chatting to the organizers of your chosen market to find out what, if anything, is included. Is the market indoors or outdoors? If outdoors, are shelters provided? Will there be tables on site or do you need to bring your own?

To help make sure you don’t get caught out, here’s a quick checklist of things you may need:

Gazebo – for sheltering you, your products, and your customers
Tables – for laying out your products
Signage – for telling people who you are
Stands – for displaying products vertically (e.g. prints, jewelry, tote bags)
Lamps – for showing your products in their best light
Labels – for displaying your prices and discounts
Gift bags – for sending your creations away safely
Business cards – for helping people find you online
And, most importantly, your art!

💡 Bonus tip: Bring new products that aren’t yet available on your website to give people another reason to show up.

Three other local money-makers for artists

Markets are a great way to learn how to sell your art locally. You get to know your customers first hand, learning what pulls them in and what they buy. But they aren’t the only way.

Here are three other avenues you can explore to make money from your art.

1. Offer art experiences through Airbnb

Don’t just sell what you create. Sell what you do with a little help from Airbnb.

Glassblowing. Lino printing. Straight-up painting. Whatever your talent, I guarantee that there will be thousands of people out there who would love to try it out.

To give you an idea of how you can package up your skills into a sellable experience, here are a few examples from Airbnb:

💡 Bonus tip: This is an especially good option if your town or city gets lots of tourism, as people will use Airbnb to find things to do in the area.

_{Photo by Sanath Kumar}

2. Teach courses to aspiring artists in your local area

If you’re going to start offering experiences, why not go a step further by teaching courses?

This is usually a bigger payday, as students will sign up for a block of sessions over several weeks or months. And coaching people to learn and, eventually, master your passion is sure to be pretty rewarding too!

If it works for your skill or craft, you may even be able to set up an on-demand course online – one of my favorite passive income ideas for artists. 💰

3. Collaborate with other local artists and shops

Another great way to get your products out there is by leveraging the success of existing artists and art sellers.

This goes right back to what I said at the start.

Take the time to network when you’re out at markets and browsing art shops. And if you come across someone with a similar audience to yours, suggest a collaboration or ask if they’ll stock your products.

You never know where it may take you.

Final thoughts

There you have it. I hope this article has left you a little less anxious and a little more excited about the idea of selling your art locally.

And since you’ve made it this far, here’s my guide on advertising and selling products online – including seven free or cheap ways to get your creations out there.

Happy selling!

_{Featured image by Alex Carpenter}

How to sell your art locally + 3 extra money-making ideas