Fairbanks Potters Guild Market Worker Guide

This year promises to be a VERY busy year with an increase of tourists expected in Fairbanks.  The Farmers Market should be a "happening" place.  The Market sales are the main income producing activity for the Guild. We have made sure that each shift is currently covered by at least one experienced worker but it works out much better with two people on a shift so we encourage all Guild members to sign up for at least one shift during the summer months.  Working at the Market, whether you sell your pieces there or not, is a golden opportunity to expand your knowledge about your art and craft. Many of us tend to think to little of our work.  It amazed me when I took some pots to the Market for the first time and people actually bought them!!!

Items should be tagged with the retail price and initials of the potter (so we can keep track of who gets the doe.)  To make sure that stickers don't get ripped off by packing, put them inside the pot.  It is also a good idea to keep your own inventory so you can track sales. 

We make every effort to ensure that your work is safe while at the Market but please understand that it is the nature of the business that items do occasionally go missing or get broken.  The Guild cannot be held liable for damaged or missing pieces.  Pieces that are not picked up on the last day of Guild Market sales will become Guild property.

Be sure to dress for the weather and plan on eating at the Market. The building is unheated and our booth is outside. There are hot drinks and food available for purchase from other Market vendors.

Opening Up
You need to arrive 1 hour prior to Market opening so we can be ready to go. 
Wednesday:  1 shift, 10am - 5pm (Market is open 11am - 4pm.)
Saturday:     1st shift, 8am - 12:30pm (Market opens at 9am)
                    2nd shift, Noon - 5pm (Market closes at 4pm)

 First set up the awning if needed.  It is kept behind the market building. Set up the shelves and get the two roll around carts with our tubs of ware from inside the building as soon as possible so others don't have to work around them. We have one tub labeled "OFFICE"  all the materials you need will be in it.  Make a desk by stacking up a couple of tubs. 

 

During the Day
Wear the fanny pack for money, pens and a calculator.  Count and record the startup cash and record on the green sales sheet (A sample is at the back of the pad.)  Fill in worker names, dates, etc.  Record all sales as per the sample. At the end of each shift count the proceeds (minus the startup cash) and verify that the sales record matches.

 

At the End of the Day
The first priority is to make the payment to the Farmers Market Association. One person on the closing shift should always address this first.  Someone from the Market will give you an envelope prior to closing time with a slip for you to fill out. Complete the required information on the slip and return it to the Market office with the required payment taken from our proceeds for the day.

Pack up everything in the tubs using care not to pack the tubs too tightly. The tubs are stacked on top of each other and the pots in the bottom tub can be broken by tubs sitting on top.

Then disassemble our stall and put the awning away behind the building.

The Farmers Market expects us to help clean the area at the end of each day.  This includes our area, the areas inside the building and the parking lot area.  Typically this involves sweeping and picking up trash.