I was wondering if anyone knows if there are any good Spring or Easter markets in Switzerland.

I started a webshop last November and showed my products at three different Christmas markets around Zurich. It was lots of fun and a great way of getting word out about my online shop.

I know there is a popular Easter market in Bremgarten, but there are no stands available. For another large market in Uster, I was refused. I found a few other small ones by googling, but am not sure how frequented they are and if "stangers" are welcomed at markets in small communities.

If anyone knows of any Spring or Easter market in their community or elsewhere I would appreciate the help.

There are Flohmarkts in and around Zurich which sound ideal to your needs. They exist elsewhere too, and are more like bric a brac sales in the open air.

I appreciate the advice. However, aren't flea markets a place to sell second-hand things? I was under the assumption they are similar to Brockenhaus's (?)

At the Christmas markets there are people who own shops or have webshops that have stands as a way to promote their shops/ products. I was just wondering if there are also Spring markets where I can sell goods.

As a matter of interest, what happens with taxes, etc? the only times I've sold stuff at a Flohmarkt it was for a registered charity, so it was not a problem.

I pay MWst. on the products that I order to sell on my webshop. If you own a shop/ webshop, you only have to have your own MWst number if you sell over 100 000 Sfr. per year (so I was told by my accountant).
I assume most small shop owners don't clear that much! I suppose if you sold over this amount per year, you wouldn't bother with markets.

Did you make a search for "fruehlingsmarkt" , "ostermarkt" on myswitzerland.com?


Do you need any specific license for a market stall or a webshop in CH?

We'll be relocating to CH this summer and I'd love to take my micro (even smaller than that) business with me.
Here (U.A.E.), I'm covered by the license of the Market at which I'm having a regular stall, but if I wanted to sell at another Market I would need my own business license.

Thanks.

I take it it's your baby stuff you want to sell at markets? If so I would suggest the Expat Expos. Lots of families come along and kiddies stuff always sells well.

I would imagine you would also get a lot of new on-line customers too. Also, contact the English churches around the country, they often have sales, some though don't welcome commercial stands. Most of the other markets I know are food only but if I think of any suitable for you I'll get back to you.

Thanks Grumpy Grapefruit, with all my googling I never came across the Expat Expo. Looks interesting! I think I might try the one in Zug if I can get a spot. Have you done all of them?

As for a license for a stand, that's not a requirement here as far as I know. It's often a section of the police that organises the markets. All you need do is apply with a description of the goods you are selling. If you get accepted, you pay a fee and that's it. I think though that each market prefers to give out stands to locals first and to people who make their living selling at markets. Hand-made stuff is also preferred.

I also came across a website www.marktverband.ch that has a lot of info (in german) about markets. However, you have to pay for a subscription to their journal. If I understood correctly, I think they also have a book about markets- I don't know if it includes all markets or just weekly ones or what- it's pretty expensive though, but perhaps interesting to someone who wants to do markets on a regular basis.

I do all the expat expos, Zug & Luzern are the quietest (for me anyway) with Zurich and Geneva the busiest. If any are fully booked, email to get on the cancellation list.

Have you joined any of the womens clubs such as the International Womens Club of Zurich? I did a workshop and tasting for them recently and it went down very well, also contact the International Schools, I go to some of them sometimes for parent teachers evenings etc and usually do quite well.

Thanks for the market people link, I didn't know about them.

I haven't joined any clubs. I must say, I think I would have a hard time selling stuff outside of a market environment. With cheese, I think it's more of a social thing so I can see how you would do well at parent functions and clubs and whatnot.
I think I will look into church bazaars.
Thanks for the ideas!

Chf 100k is turnover and if you're not doing this, then you're selling you stuff with hell of a profit margin !

I don't really understand what it is you are trying to say. I'm no expert, but from what I understood it's not net profit that you have to have over 100 000 to be required to have a mwst number for your business, but turnover- meaning how much you are selling. (Maybe I'm getting my terminology mixed up?!?)
Anyways, for my business, it's so small, I'll never get anywhere near 100 000 per year, and I'll be lucky if I have any profit at all!!

Thanks. I'll have a look at that.

As for the local/living selling at markets, etc. part - ... at least I will be running in the "Hand-made on my kitchen table" category...

You need to be very optinistic to make any business work and with a view point like this, i'm sorry to say i don't think you'll get anywhere at all.

Your understanding of turnover is correct, it's the total proceeds from your sales.

What makes you think she wants to have a big money spinning business? Some people want to do things like this to give them something to do and make a bit of extra cash. I think what chrisinzurich is saying is that she knows she will never make 100k and probably never expected to. It's not all about money

That sounds pretty pessimistic, but your comments are understandable since you don't know my business or my goals. I am not looking to earn a living with my webshop. To do so, I would need to be more aggressive, as well as improve my business knowledge! If I make a little bit of money I will be happy enough. I don't expect to see much profit for the first year (or more), but I do hope to atleast cover my costs eventually!

I am really convinced that I have great stuff to sell and I don't want to be a pushy or an annoying salesperson. I also believe that when people realize I am selling products for way lower than the stores do, that my business will pick up and in turn my profits. So I am happy to have very low fixed costs (no rent or employees) and the occasional market stand to show my stuff. The social aspect is also important, for the time being, more so than any earnings! This is the reason I am asking for info about market stands

Nicky, she said in her post "i'll be lucky if i have any profit at all"; my point was, if you go into a business with a negative attitude like this, it's going to go nowhere apart from costing money. It's hard work setting up a business and costs money, whatever you do.

As for making 100k this is not the criteria for Mvst payments, it's the turnover. To make 100k with a 10% profit margin, you would need to sell for Chf 1 mio...

It's not about making 100 000. From what I understood by talking to an accountant, it's about selling goods for that much. Once you start selling this much per year, you need to apply for a MWst. number for your business.

That's exactly right. You can also apply for a number before you get to the magic Chf 100k turnover, however you need to be able to demonstrate that within about one year from getting the number you should have this size turnover.

There is no need to apply before reaching Chf 100k turnover.
With a Mwst number you change your clients VAT which is then paid to the state (you are basicaly a tax collector on their behalf...and before you ask it's unpaid). In turn, anything you have purchased for your business which carries Swiss Mwst is deducted and returned to you.

The down side, makes accounting quite complicated if you're not very good at this (i'm lousy) you would need to consider finding an accountant, depending on your business will determine the cost. It is far easier for the accountant to enter 10 sales of Chf10k each than a say 2000 sales of Chf 50 each.

I would have suggested also Bremgarten Easter Market but have seen that you ventured into that.

The site you mentioned www.marktverband.ch publishes calls for sellers at local markets in Switzerland.
http://www.marktverband.ch/de/marktp...anchor=2110031

This market association refers to the Nordostschweiz:
http://www.vnosm.ch/
In their calendar linked on the webpage, you can find a Christmas markets planned in November in Zurich and the boarding cantons.