Learning to Market 101: How I (Mostly) Figured Out What I Was Doing at Markets
By Porsha Hendrix, Owner of Porter Lee’s Reusables + President of Urban Art Network
Hi friends! I’m Porsha, owner of Porter Lee’s Reusables and President of Urban Art Network, the nonprofit behind First Thursdays in Portland. I’ve been vending in-person at markets for over five years now (!!!), and let me tell you: it’s been a wild, hilarious, sometimes chaotic, and incredibly rewarding ride.
Whether you’re dreaming about setting up your first booth or just want a peek behind the scenes of market life, I’m starting this little blog series to share everything I’ve learned along the way. Welcome to Learning to Market 101—aka, how I turned a folding table and a pile of reusable paper towels into a full-blown small biz that now travels with color-coded bins and backup tape in every bag. 😂
My first ever pop up at a middle school craft fair! May 2019 ⬇️ 
The Spark ✨
When I first started vending, My son Porter (yep—he’s the Porter in Porter Lee’s!) was only 6 months old, and I was just trying to create simple, sustainable swaps for my own home. Fast forward a bit, and I’m running a handmade reusables business, packing orders with love in Portland, Oregon, and spending weekends connecting face-to-face with the most amazing people at markets.
In-person vending has been so key to growing my business. It’s where I meet my customers, get real-time feedback, test new products, and build community. But trust... those early days? Oof. A little rough. Forgetting my Square reader, realizing my table was slanted halfway through the day, or finding out the hard way that wind proofing your booth is very important.
My Top 3 Wish I Knew This Sooner Tips:
1. Your Display is Everything
Seriously. People shop with their eyes first. Think of your booth like a pop-up shop, make it inviting, organized, and a little extra YOU. Bonus points for vertical height, clear signage, and anything that makes folks pause and go, “Ooooh, what’s this?”
2. Talk to People Like a Human, Not a Sales Pitch
You don’t need a slick spiel. Just share your story. People LOVE hearing why you do what you do. For me, it’s all about making eco-living less intimidating and more fun. (Also: having Porter help me demo reusable paper towels? A crowd favorite.)
3. Always Pack Snacks. And Tape. And…
Vending is an endurance sport. Bring snacks (I'm still working on this). Bring water. Bring backup EVERYTHING. You will thank yourself. And yes, I still have a market day checklist that includes items like “tablecloth” and “emergency chapstick.”
A Little Plug
As President of Urban Art Network, I also help organize First Thursdays in the Pearl—a monthly street gallery that highlights local makers and artists. If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toe into vending, this is a perfect place to start. It’s community-driven, high energy, and a great way to practice showing up and showing off your work. We’d love to have you!
That’s all for now, but stay tuned for the next post in this series: What’s In My Market Kit (and Why It Includes a Hammer) 💼🔨
Have questions about vending? Want to know more about First Thursday? Or just want to gush about your favorite market finds? Slide into my DMs on Instagram @porterlees—I’d love to hear from you!
With reusable love and market vibes,
Porsha
Porter Lee’s Reusables
Handmade with love in Portland, OR 💚 