Vendors' Market

One of the ways of earning money in Malawi is to sell goods you have made or that others have made. These goods include wood carvings, paintings, jewelry, sewn items and even furniture. The vendors of these goods are regularly found on specific street corners in the cities designated by the police for this purpose. The street vendors find that competition is fierce, with 15 or 20 vendors trying to sell to the same 3 or 4 people who walk by and stop to look. The price may be good for the shopper, if he or she is willing to negotiate, but then the question is the origin of the materials and who really gets the profit, if there is one, since most of the vendors are not the artists. For the timid shopper, this method can be intimidating, as well, since in the States, we are not used to negotiating for a price and here that is part of the culture, and sometimes a rather aggressive part of it. I have had vendors follow me down the street trying to renegotiate a price when I decided not to buy.

There are about 4 vendors who are ambitious and have sought a different method with me. They come to my house and inquire when I will have visitors and ask if they might show them their products. These are vendors who make their own crafts and who have proven, over time, to do quality work and to offer fair prices, with a minimum of negotiating. So, gradually, I have come to hold a vendors’ market of sorts in my yard when I have visitors and when it is feasible. The vendors benefit, because they have less competition and the visitors benefit because they get quality works in a safe environment. No one has to shop; it is just available if they want it. I have peace of mind about the vendors, who have come to be friends, and my visitors, who are colleagues and friends.

So at some point when groups are here, my yard becomes a market place. The vendors have favorite places around the yard to display their goods. They try to be the first ones here to get the patio, with its stone railing. That is Amos’ favorite location. Mr. Missi prefers the slopped yard for display of his paintings. Gilbert likes it under the bougainvillea, using the table from the patio to display his cards. The vendors know one another and have been known to call the one who did not come on a given day or in time for the group, to inquire about his whereabouts. Each has his own specialty and although there are some duplications of products (paintings and jewelry in particular), there seems to be enough business and good will to go around.

The last group of visitors was most creative in bargaining. It was the last day of their trip and some of them had run out of money, so they offered to barter with the vendors for goods – a watch for a painting and a pair of shoes for a carving. Gilbert and Amos laughed at first but in the end decided that a trade was as good as cash. Today Gilbert is sporting a wrist watch, complete with the date and Amos is walking tall in new sneakers (well, new to him).

My role in all of this is just to provide the opportunity. But I do enjoy watching the interaction. Some folks have a score of questions about the methods and materials used to create the items. Others want to know about the lives of the artists involved. Still others just want the best deal. Hopefully everyone comes away satisfied. That is what makes for a successful market, from my perspective.