Traders’ Questions: Equipment Recommendations from the IOMST Community
One of the best parts of being in a trading community is how willing everyone is to share tips, advice and hard-earned experience. We often get questions from members about equipment, suppliers, and practical solutions for market life and instead of guessing, we ask the people who know best: you 🙌!
Here are two recent questions we put out to our community, along with the brilliant recommendations you came back with.
Good Quality Paper Bags
One member was struggling to source paper bags in a particular size, so we asked for your go-to suppliers. The response was brilliant, with plenty of reliable options shared.
Top Paper Bag Suppliers Recommended by Traders:
Barry Packaging – by far the most mentioned supplier, praised for fast delivery, good quality, and fantastic service.
Nisbets – quick delivery and a wide variety available.
Musgrave – popular choice for everyday bags.
Shop4rolls – another reliable option for everyday bags.
Down2Earth Materials – eco-friendly packaging options.
Robert McCabe Packaging – also named.
The clear favourite here was Barry Packaging, which received repeated glowing recommendations.
Outdoor Battery-Powered Lights for Market Stalls
The second question came from a trader looking for portable, battery-powered lighting solutions for outdoor markets. As the evenings draw in, this is a challenge many stallholders face, and once again, the community delivered some great suggestions.
Ideas and products shared included:
USB String Lights + Milwaukee Battery – using USB strings powered by a Milwaukee rechargeable battery (also handy for drills and tools). See example here.
Bluetti Portable Power Station – not yet market-tested but looks promising for powering lights and more.
LED Floodlights with Dewalt Batteries – running off standard Dewalt tool batteries, these lights give up to six hours of strong light. Example link.
Rechargeable Gazebo Lights from Tents of Ireland – highly recommended by one trader, who used them for a full festival weekend on a single charge. They come with three light modes, long battery life, and a handy carry case. See them here.
Other LED lighting options on Amazon were also suggested by members.
Ledeak Camping Lanterns – compact, battery-powered LED lights with hanging hooks. Ideal for tents and stalls. [See example in image]
Luceco Rechargeable Lights – good for market stalls; last around 3 hours per charge. Best to use 2–4 lights for even coverage. Available at Amazon, Woodies, and Screwfix.
Keep the Questions Coming
These are just two examples of the kind of practical advice that comes straight from our members. Small changes, like the right bags or reliable lights, can make a huge difference to how smoothly trading goes.
We’d love to keep building on this. If you’ve got a question about equipment, suppliers, or anything else that helps make trading easier, send it our way. We’ll put it to the community and share the answers in future updates to this blog.
Your tips and recommendations could be exactly what another trader needs.
If you’re interested in more advice on equipment, you might also enjoy:
For more Information, Guides Help, Support or Advice. Get in touch with IOMST and become a member today!
Grainne & Greg
Just a little reminder:
This blog is here to spark ideas and help you think about your business in new ways. What works for one person might not suit another. Take what’s helpful, adapt it to your own style, and if you ever need more tailored advice, just get in touch. That’s what we’re here for, supporting you and your business every step of the way.