Going to the Christmas markets

December 2018.

By now, you should have seen the first Christmas markets pop up in town already: big and small, at premium locations or the local hall. Have you ever wondered what is behind these cosy, glittering Christmas stands? This article is about the costs and conditions of attending a Christmas market, from the premium locations to the local stands. All the quoted prices exclude VAT.

Premium locations

Premium locations are concentrated in the city centre, along the high street Strøget: Kongens Nytorv, Højbro Plads and Tivoli. Except for the Christmas market at Tivoli, the two markets at Kongens Nytorv and Højbro Plads have free entry for visitors.

You need a deep pocket to attend these markets. The duration of the market is often long, from the middle of November to Christmas day. Here are the prices and conditions for attending the Christmas market at Kongens Nytorv:

• Number of days: 37
• The price for renting one wooden stand 3 m x 2.3 m: 40.000 kr. For a double stand (6 m x 2.3 m), it is 80.000 kr. Bigger stands are available.
• Services: Ready setup with decorations and electricity, security guards, Christmas decoration and cleaning in the common areas, dismounting and cleaning up at the end of the market.
• Free entry

Right now, you can visit the market at Kongens Nytorv and taste German sausages, Danish gløgg, Spanish churros or Belgian waffles. After taking a round on the market, you might realise that the sellers are mostly professional traders travelling from other EU countries to Denmark for the Christmas season.

Middle markets

Middle markets are often located in wealthy neighbourhoods and known locations. The duration of the market is shorter, e.g. for a weekend. If you live in the rich northern Copenhagen, you might have heard of the Christmas market at Bernstorff Castle. Nørrebro also has a Christmas market for design and art items, and the price per day for attending the market is comparable to the premium market’s price in the city. It is Flid market at Nørrebrohallen.

To attend the Flid market, you have to prepare for:

• Cost of attendance for one day: 1.000 kr. for table size 180 cm x 90 cm, for double table size 360 cm x 90 cm it is 1.600 kr./day
• The prices are lower for 2 days of attendance at 1.600 kr. and 2.400 kr. Respectively.
• Flid market is placed in a hall, so I guess it is locked during the night and the sellers can let the goods stay overnight.
• Entry ticket of 30 kr.

Flid is a market for design and art items; therefore you have to go through a sort of screening before getting accepted to the market. You will be asked to describe your artworks and products, attach photos of your works and reference to your page/site on social media, etc. Flid stated that it only accepts applicants, whose production and material making have been carried out under certain ethical guidelines.

Many years ago, I attended a Christmas market at the horse race track Galopbanen in the rich neighbourhood of Klampenborg. Moving up from the local market segment, I was hopeful that the rich clientele would be the right customers for my French-imported organic products - my first adventure as a business owner. The market turned out to be a disaster. The customers are wealthy, but they are not interested in buying organic products, even those of higher quality than conventional ones. So, before going to a market, you should research who your potential customers are. Nothing is better than a visit to the market and watching what is selling well and what is not.

Local markets

Local markets are Hygge markets because many people come here, sellers and buyers, for the ‘cosy’ factor. First of all, it has free entry for visitors. The local communities, charity organisations or a group of small business owners organise many local Christmas markets. Depending on the size and scope of the market, the price can be varied accordingly from free to a few hundred kroner per day. The duration of the market is often short, just a day or over a weekend.

Here are the prices and conditions for going to the local Christmas market at Lindegaarden in Lyngby:

• Price for a space 3 m x 3m with 2 tables 140/120 cm x 70 cm and 2 chairs: 600 kr. for 2 days (no VAT)
• Some Christmas decorations. The seller can let the goods stay overnight.
• Kitchen facilities with café machine and fridge
• Free entry

People coming to this type of market are mostly locals, especially families with young children. They are coming for the cosy atmosphere, which often involves food and drinks. You can always get warm mulled wine ‘gløgg’ and pancake balls ‘æbleskiver’ at these markets. Once, I was racing through the premium Christmas market at Højbro Plads, desperate for a cup of gløgg and couldn’t find one. Bigger is not always better.

Low-cost local Christmas markets are also a good place to test your products. You will find interesting information that you would never think of, for instance, if a product is selling unexpectedly much better than the others, or if what you thought was a big hit turns out to be a disappointment. It is also a place to advertise your business and hand out business cards and brochures. Most important of all, it is where you get your customers. On one of my first Christmas market days in Østerbro, among the curious visitors to our stand was Pascal, the French owner of a local wine shop. He didn’t say who he was, and we chatted about my products. Ultimately, he made the first purchase and became my loyal business customer for years.

It’s magic at Christmas time.