Actions: Stalls

When you want to get lots of people to take action for your campaign or raise awareness about an event, issue or your group, a stall can be the perfect tool. A little preparation can make all the difference and will make your stall as effective as possible.

Sheffield University P&P use a really clear banner and creative props to get signatures for their ‘oily handprint’ petition

Preparation

• Think about the aim of your stall, your key message and remember your action planning tools
• Sort out your location - you need to be aware of the legal implications of certain locations: Do you need a licence from the Council or permission from the University/Union? Will it cause an obstruction and lead to hassle from the police?
• Set up in as busy a spot as possible - somewhere where people will notice it from a distance, but the flow of passers-by isn’t too fast or furious.
• Create an atmosphere where stopping to chat is OK - a little haven amongst the high street/Union foyer madness, but not so obscure that nobody finds you.
• Think about using colour and music to reinforce this atmosphere - but don’t get so laid back that you lose the urgency of taking action!
• Publicise the stall through posters, the press and all other means at your disposal.
• Find people to man the stall - keep slots to an hour or two so everyone has enough energy to ‘go get ‘em’!
• Practice your opening spiel as a group. Go to the campaign communication section for some tips on volunteering on a stall.

Setting up your stall

• Make your message visible - have a banner strung above the stall or on the front of it. Investing in some 2-3 metre rods or canes will really help the visibility of your stalls. Make the banner clear and obvious, so that people can see it from a distance.
• Pasting tables cost less than a tenner and are great for stalls. You could get a spare one and open it up as a signboard. Stick posters to either side and place it near the stall.
• Prepare for high winds! Weigh down your table and bring lots of paperweights. In extreme weather you might need to hold leaflets down under lengths of elastic, drawing-pinned to the table!
• Raise the surface of your table - a sloping board, some leaflet racks & holders (ask around in your student stationery shop for cast-offs), or even some cardboard boxes under a coloured cloth - all these make the stall look more interesting.
• Make sure you have: blue tack; scissors; drawing pins; marker pens for last minute signs a notepad/signup sheet and pens.
• See if you can organise some free things to give away, such as Fairtrade tea, coffee or chocolate. You could give it away on the day, or get people to put their names and addresses into a prize-draw box (a great way of increasing numbers on your mailing list, but don’t forget to tell them they’ll be added!).
• Why just have an information stall when you can make it more exciting by running a game or a quiz?
• Get people doing something, like signing an action card or some other creative action.