Working the U-District Farmer’s Market
By Izzy Marvin
Like many locations in Seattle, the University District has a farmers market every Saturday. The University District farmers market is one of the largest farmers markets on the west coast so it receives a lot of foot traffic — which is great for advertising The Christian Science Monitor Weekly news magazine. It is also convenient location because right out front of Third Church in Seattle, where the Christian Science Literature Joint Distribution Committee has a field office. Last summer Izzy worked at the U-District farmers market and did so again on three Saturdays in July.
Izzy and Cindy came up with the idea to have a stand that included several stacks of free sample copies of the Monitor Weekly. Our stand this summer was a counter-height table with a simple sign stating that we are giving away free news magazines.
NOTE: We can have a table on the sidewalk without having to ask permission of the market managers or paying any fees to the market, because it is in the public right-of-way. We did talk to the market managers about our idea, and they are OK with it. Our stand is in the center of the market, very close to the Manager’s booth.
The market operates from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m, as did our Monitor stand. The busiest times of this market tends to be 9:00 until about 12:30. After 12:30 the traffic slowly dies down. Another trend that Izzy has noticed is in the earlier hours of the market there are more people that stroll through the market leisurely and stop at her table to ask questions about the Monitor.
Izzy really enjoys working at the farmers market because she is able to meet so many people and have interesting conversations. Holding a stand advertising the Monitor is great because it allows for more people to see the news magazine that may not have before. In addition to giving out free sample copies, Izzy also has given away free gift subscriptions to individuals interested in receiving one. Instead of the regular approaching individuals and asking if they would like a free copy or gift subscription, the magazine stand at the farmers market allows for anyone who is curious to come up and ask questions. Izzy has met a lot of people who are already familiar with the Monitor as well as people who are curious about it and want to learn more. Izzy has been able to reach all ages and backgrounds, including college students, business professionals, and homeless people.