Local Markets: What to know about local markets worldwide
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Today I will be sharing with you some all important 'to knows' about general information surrounding most local markets. These tips apply to almost any market around the world, whether it be local in your hometown or one you encounter while traveling this great planet. Each one of these tips will be useful to know before you go, while you're there, and of course before you start making your purchases.
Local Markets: To know before you go
Research, research, research! Do some, you guessed it, research about the local markets before your big trip comes. This will not only get you excited about the trip, it will give you some ideas of what the local markets have to offer- it never hurts to start making your shopping list early! How you may ask? Well it's as simple and free as a quick google search using key words like, 'local markets in Marrakech' or 'artisans market in the city of Buenos Aires.' However you choose to say it, google will have a wealth of information for you at your fingertips!
You may be saying, 'that's great and all but I want something tangible to read.' Well, no problem there! Purchase a guide book for the city you will be going to. Why the city and not the country? Well, if you are traveling all over that country a country guide is great, but often times the specific city guide will have so much more valuable and detailed information about the actual city you will be in. It will give you those off the beaten path places to check out for shopping, food and more! I often will get a guide for the country as well as a pocket guide for the city.
What's my favorite? Lonely Planet, hands down! They have an assortment of books, ebooks, maps and even phrase books. I definitely would recommend purchasing a guide book (country and city pocket guide), map and phrase book before you go. Often times the city pocket guides will have maps in them. 😉
Local Markets: To know when you get there
While I love to google to my hearts content and fall asleep reading my Lonely Planet city guide, I still seek out and find reliable sources when I am in the city. Who are my reliable sources? Well the locals of course! I ask the locals where the best markets are. Why? Well they are locals! I not only ask the people in charge at the place I am staying, but I will seek counsel from the waiter at the local food joint I eat breakfast at every morning as well. Then I compare notes.
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Often times, locals have no ties to any of the tourist traps. They will also give you other valuable information such as when the best time is to go to the market or to try shopping along a certain local street instead to find the best deals. Most of the time their tips are far better than any experts you get at your hotel or in a guide book.
Asking locals also creates conversation. So you are not just being served breakfast from a stranger every morning, but you are getting to know a person and their culture- which makes traveling more valuable. Plus it connects you to people and makes you more at ease with your surroundings. I always try to find one place I go to for coffee, tea or meals that is the same each day. It makes traveling alone not so lonely when you see a familiar face smiling back at you. And a bonus...they may even remember your name and what you like to order which will make the settling in process more comfortable and friendly.
Local Markets: To know before you buy
With many local markets in cities all over the world, there are written and unwritten rules to adhere to. Some may quite literally save your life, while others are part of the culture and customs of that particular city or country. It is good to know these before you make your first purchase. You don't want to offend anyone or end up dead! I know that sounds quite over the top. However, in my post What is a Souk? I give you a real life examples. Trust me the 'save your life' thing, is for real! But don't worry, local markets are totally safe and amazing; you just need to know a few tips before you go.
To see how I did on my purchases using these 'to know's,' click here to shop fashion from around the world, handmade by artisans from local markets.
Now on to the tips...
Tip 1: Know your currency conversion before you step foot in the market
That being said, it can still be a little overwhelming when you are dealing with money that is quite literally foreign to you. Before I go, I download a currency conversion app so I can quickly convert the prices being thrown at me. If you don't have access to this, a good rule of thumb is to round the numbers up or down.
Example: Say you are in Marrakech and the shop owner tells you what you are buying is $100 Dirhams that is at that moment $10.09 USD (United States Dollars). So now you know for every $100 Moroccan Dirham you will pay around $10.00 USD. This way you can quickly do the math in your head. If the numbers get too large to do the math or if you are terrible at doing math in your head (guilty), keep your phone calculator handy or bring a little pocket one along to do some quick calculations.
Bonus Tip: I use this app to do my currency conversions while traveling...XE Currency App.
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Tip 2: Always do a walkthrough first
You may ask what does this have to do with pricing. Well, everything really. A walk through allows you to see what the market has to offer and if the same item is being offered 3 stalls down. During the walk through you want to engage and interact.
- Pick up the item (first, ask if it is ok of course)
- Ask how much it is?
- Politely put it down and say thank you.
After you have looked at your fill of the same item, go back to the shop where you liked the price or quality of the item most and start to do your negotiating.
Tip 3: Know your market
This means figure out if it is customary to haggle (negotiate) your price or wait for them to offer you a better deal. The way you figure this out is research, observe, and ask the locals. You see how this is all builds upon each other? I have been in both situations and it is deeply dependent upon the culture and the customs.
Examples: In Ubud's Artisan Market- it is customary to have them tell you the price. If you think it is a good price then say ok, if you want a lower price, you pause and think, they will either ask you to tell them a price or they will tell you a lower price. It is a more relaxing atmosphere. In the Souks of Marrakech, you counter right away and there is a kind of bantering back and forth about how that's too much or that's way too little. It's more of a playful match with words.
Bonus Tip: Global markets usually will not have set prices on the items which tells you the price is up for negotiation. However, when there is a written price on an item, don't bother negotiating. It is a set price. Plus, it can sometimes be seen as insensitive to do so.
Tip 4: The more you buy, the less you pay (per item)
Often times if you buy more from the same shop, the price per item starts to go down. So be sure to ask if you buy two or three of those awesome earrings, if you can get them all at a lower price. This is great way to buy gifts. If you love it and you know two of your friends or family members back home will love it too, then you save yourself a little money in the process. Remember, it never hurts to ask. The only thing they can say to you is no.
If you don't have time to travel or maybe you love learning about fashion in other cultures but don't love flying. I have some amazing fashion wares from Argentina, Bali, Japan and Morocco! Click here to go on a shopping spree around the world right from the comfort of your own home!
Happy shopping and safe travels!
I hope these 'to knows' and tips help the next time you plan to go on your world shopping spree. Do you have any 'to knows' or tips about local markets? Please share in the comments!
To go on a shopping spree around the world right from the comfort of your own home, check out these fashion finds from Japan and Bali:
If you would like to learn more about the culture and people I found in local markets all around the world checkout some of the artisans of Mariposa Skies:
- Jeanne Parrenne of Sesame&Orion based in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Yuki Hasegawa of Ciclo based in Inuyama Aichi, Japan
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