JomGerai guides

Four short guides for part-time sellers

Find bazaars, markets and events across Malaysia that are looking for vendors.

Every bazaar works a little differently. These four guides cover what most sellers wish they had known before their first one. The list of events is free, and you can apply to any of them on WhatsApp.

01

Find your first bazaar

  • Start with the bazaars near you: a weekend market at a mall, a night market, a school or church fair, a council carnival, a wedding fair.
  • Most organisers ask for vendors on their own account and on Facebook. The post usually names the date, the place, the goods they want and the fee.
  • Read every post for four things: the date and the setup time, the place, what they are selling, and how to apply.
  • Answer the same day. The good slots go first.
  • Bring one small sample of what you sell, and your phone number.
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02

What a booth costs, and how to price your goods

  • A booth fee is what the organiser charges for the space, usually for one or two days. It is often a table fee plus a small charge, or a flat fee per booth.
  • Ask what the fee covers: table, chair, electricity, tent, parking, and whether it is per day or for the whole event.
  • Divide the fee by the hours you will be there. A bigger fee at a busy bazaar can still pay better than a small fee at a quiet one.
  • Price so the margin covers three things: what the goods cost you, your share of the booth fee, and your time.
  • A simple starting rule: double your cost, then add your share of the fee.
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03

What to bring to a bazaar

  • Stock for the first hour, packed so you can open it fast. More can come in the morning if the bazaar is near home.
  • A table cover, and a sign with your name and your prices.
  • A card reader and a phone with data. Bring small notes and coins too: some shoppers still pay in cash.
  • A chair, water, and a small bin for the packaging.
  • Business cards, or a QR code on your phone. Put your number on the table.
  • A note of the rules: setup time, when you must pack up, whether you can share a table.
  • Count the cash before you leave, and take home everything you did not sell.
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04

Starting a stall as a part-timer in Malaysia

  • You do not need a registered company to sell at most bazaars. Ask the organiser: many only want a copy of your IC and a phone number.
  • Some councils ask for a temporary licence or permit for a stall, and some organisers ask for a business registration number (SSM).
Check with the authority Rules, permits and fees differ from one place to another. Ask your local council and the organiser what they need from you, and when, before you sign up or pay anything.
  • Keep the money simple: a separate book or app for what you bring in and what you take out, so tax time is a summary and not a search.
  • If the bazaar falls on a working day, check your contract or ask your employer what is allowed.
  • If you sell food, ask your local council what they expect from a home-made food stall, before you spend money on stock.
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