How to build a weather-smart, accessible stall layout

Start with the customer’s path. Picture someone seeing your sign, turning in off the road, and walking towards your table without having to think about it. Give them:
• a clear spot to park inside the fence line
• an obvious, safe place to stand – away from traffic and dust

A small “Please park here” sign near the gate works well. Keep the front of your stall open and welcoming, with your main product within easy reach so people can browse without squeezing past each other.

Get the height and weight right
Think sturdy first, pretty second. A solid trestle at about hip height (around 85–90 cm) suits most people. If you can, add a lower crate or bench at 60–70 cm so kids and shorter folks can see too.

If the ground’s uneven, pack a couple of wedges or bits of timber to level the table. Tuck boxes and tubs well under the trestle so there’s nothing to trip on. Put heavy things – jars, pumpkins, big bags of spuds – low and close to the table legs so the whole setup feels balanced and steady.

Wind: the quiet boss
At a roadside stall, wind is always in charge. If it can flap or roll, it probably will.
• Weight table legs and the honesty box with sandbags or water containers
• Clamp your tablecloth on all four sides
• Avoid long loose fabric that turns into a sail

If you’re using an umbrella or marquee, anchor it like you mean it: proper guy ropes, pegs and weights, not just a wish and a bit of baling twine. A simple windbreak – a hedge, fence, hay bales or the side of a shed – makes a big difference to comfort and safety.

Rain without puddles
Plan for showers without creating a swamp. A marquee is great, but even a tarp or sheet sloped over a rope can keep drizzle off your goods. Angle any cover so the water runs away from the table, not onto it or down people’s backs.

Put a rubber mat or old bit of carpet where customers stand so they’re not in the mud. Keep your cash tin, QR sign (for Pay By QR or similar), and paper price tags in clear sleeves or laminated so they stay readable when it’s damp.

Shade for food and people
In summer, shade is your best worker. Put perishables towards the back under shade, not out on the hot edge. For really delicate things – chocolate slices, leafy herbs, soft cheeses – use an esky and a small sign such as:

“Please ask – we’ll grab it from the cooler.”

Eggs, baking and chocolate all last longer and look better when they’re out of direct sun. Keep a cooler or esky within reach and rotate stock like a café: first in, first out, so older items sell first.

Make it easy for all bodies
An accessible stall feels better for everyone. Aim for:
• at least a 1-metre clear path to the table
• space to turn a pram or walker
• the flattest ground you can manage in the standing area

A short strip of ply or a rubber mat can bridge a rut or soft patch. Use big, high-contrast price cards – dark writing on light card – so people don’t have to lean in and squint.

If you can, set up one crate or shelf at seated height for wheelchair users. It doesn’t have to be fancy – just a small section that says, “You’re welcome here,” without any words.

Let the table tell a simple story
Set up your table so it feels easy to understand at a glance. Put one or two “grab me” items right at the front – today’s bunches, fresh eggs, or a seasonal special. Group things that go together: tomatoes with basil, lemons with honey, jam near the scones.

Make the paying spot obvious. Keep your honesty box or QR stand at one end with a short note such as:

“Pay here – thank you.”

If you’re using QR payments like Pay By QR, fix the sign to something solid and pop a simple line underneath: “Open your camera, scan, tap to pay.” The less thinking a customer has to do, the more relaxed they’ll feel.

Keep your “back-of-house” calm
Even at a tiny stall, a tidy back area makes life easier. A lidded tub or crate for spare stock keeps dust, flies and rain off. A little caddy or box for:
• wipes and hand sanitiser
• paper bags
• chalk marker and spare price cards
• spare pegs and clamps

Reflective tape on table legs, signposts or the gate helps on cloudy afternoons or if you’re still open towards evening.

Do a quick shake test
Before you open, give everything a five-minute check:
• Nudge the table – does anything wobble?
• Tug the tablecloth – will it fly?
• Rattle the signs – are they fixed firmly?
• Stand where a customer will stand – can you see prices easily? Is there shade on the food?

Picture a truck roaring past at 100 km/h. Would anything blow away or topple? Fix those weak spots now and you’ll thank yourself later.

Keep a tiny kit in the car
A small “stall kit” in the ute or boot will save you more than once. For example:
• 2–4 clamps
• a few pegs
• a roll of gaffer tape
• chalk marker and spare cards
• hand wipes and sanitiser
• a couple of sandbag straps
• a fold-up mat or bit of rubber

With that, plus your usual cash tin or Pay By QR code and a friendly smile, your little roadside shopfront will feel calm in all kinds of weather – and customers will feel welcome the moment they pull in.

Set it up once this week, do your shake test, and you’ll be ready for the next good selling day.