Produce

Here at Duck Pond Market we have very high standards for our products! We are known for it and it’s an important part of our unique offering. So, our first question is… are your products:

1. unique

2. locally made

3. ethically made

4. sustainably made

If the products you make don’t satisfy our criteria, we’re sorry: our market isn’t for you! If you really want to join us, please have a think about how you might change your products to match our ethos.

Research

Is it your first time selling? Don’t worry—we’re here to help, and our makers are all super friendly and helpful too. The best way for you to start is to come along to a couple of our markets, talk to our traders, see what they’re selling, and how they’re selling it. At Duck Pond, we have high standards for everything: products, presentation and people skills.. we are always on hand to provide any advice requested and share what works and what doesn’t. We don’t expect you to spend lots of money to start your stall - homemade is cheap and often more charming!

Perhaps you are already experienced? That’s great too! The same applies to you: you might find our standards a little higher…

Prepare

Take out public liability insurance—these two offer reasonable prices - we are affiliated with neither.

You can’t come to market without insurance: if you’re not properly insured, we’re not properly insured - our insurers insist on it as do our landlords. It’s a non negotiable. If you don’t want to get PLI then perhaps apply to a church or school fete who usually don’t ask for it.

Equip

For outside stalls, you need a pop-up gazebo and tables with substantial weights (minimum 12kg) on each corner - your entire set up. Gazebos blow around like umbrellas, but can cause a lot more damage: we don’t like to disappoint, but our priority is to keep our markets safe for everyone—if you’re unsafe, you can’t trade.

For most inside stalls you will still need to bring a 6ft table and anything else you may need.

If you travel by public transport or by foot we will endeavour to provide you with a table and chair at most venues but you will need to request it.

Present

Presentation is very important: tablecloths must be used and we do like to see different levels, even if it’s just shoe boxes under a clean ironed bedsheet! We are looking for beautiful merchandising!

Interact

Personality is as important as beautiful stock and display—we are a family! Customer service is a big part of why people shop small: smiles must be used if possible! We’re looking for sellers with a friendly disposition. If that’s not natural to you, perhaps you need some help, like a good friend with you, to start you off? Our market is exceptionally friendly: customers have a great time, and so do our makers. It’s important to us that DP is supportive and collaborative, not competitive.

Review

We’ve just thrown a lot at you, so please take some time to think about it and whether you’re a good fit. We don’t like to disappoint, but we have a lot of applications, and not everyone is right for us. This doesn’t mean you won’t be right for some other great market, so please don’t be disheartened if you get a no.

APPLY

If you are a good fit, we’d love you to apply to join the Duck Pond family. TO BOOK, proceed to the location page of your choice on this website and scroll down the page. There is a trial booking form waiting for you. It’s quite involved, going over some of the points above and will request photos of your stock and stall. We will get back to you quite quickly with our decision.

Please only book ONE trial date as we need to see how we work together and meet you and your products in person before booking in more.

Yes the trial pitch is chargeable as per a regular pitch.

We do have inside pitches at Ruislip, Harrow, Highgate, Chiswick and Hammersmith. All markets have outdoor pitches.

Try Again

If we refuse you at this time, don’t be too disappointed: you can always try again. Sometimes we close our books to certain very popular genres of stall. In this case you could try again in a few months.

Start from the top and see what you need to remedy. We are happy to offer constructive feedback! Come back to us in a few months if your heart is set on joining us!

Sometimes we just know that you wouldn’t sell at Duck Pond and we really hate to waste peoples time just to get a pitch fee #ethical :-)

If you are looking to book premium times of year, you’ll have more luck if you apply for a trial between January and October, as we rarely accept trial stalls at Christmas peak time.

Good Luck!