Resource
Market pack list
Hatchback pack list for pop-up days.
Who uses this market pack list
This list is for South African maker teams who trade at mall corridors, FET college events, or local market set-ups. It’s aimed at suppliers and traders who run vinyl, DTF, or laser gear from a hatchback, think mini-fleets heading to weekends at Menlyn, Cresta, or Gateway. Usually, these are teams of two to four: one operator, one seller, maybe a runner and a backup. Operations managers from small factories in Germiston or woodwork teachers running FET stalls also use this checklist on Fridays before market weekends.
How to use each step and field
Every field on the list matches a practical supply or responsibility. Go through each field the night before you load the hatchback. Tick off what’s packed, flag anything that’s on loan, and confirm expiry dates on heat tape or printer heads the week before rolling out.
Carry a single clipboard with the full pack list, and make sure your team speaks through the order, don’t let two people double-pack vinyl or miss the heat-resistant gloves. For Durban or PE coastal pop-ups, pack dry silica packs for humidity. Highveld teams heading out of Germiston should wipe gear for dust before loading.
Worked example: Cresta Saturday market
Imagine you’re booked for a Saturday pop-up in Cresta’s main mall trade bay. Your team is two: one running the heat press, one on sales. On Friday, you print the ByThis pack list. You tick off: 15-metre roll of white vinyl, two extension leads (one with surge), clamps, A3 cutting mat, small 800 W heat press, and basket of T-shirt blanks. You check your USB stock, throw in six silica packs because that Bay gets muggy. Card reader and float go last. You pack the boot, tables fit if you fold back the rear seats, but banners, if they’re long, may need soft wrapping to wedge over the press. On arrival, run power check before plugging anything, especially during a power-cut slot.
Common mistakes to avoid
It’s easy to pack too heavy, small hatches can only fit one 800 W heat press, not the big swing-arm. Many forget spare blades for the weeder or craft knife, which means one slip and you’re stuck or forced to buy pricey mall spares. Traders sometimes miss the little admin pad, so, no written orders when the card reader dies in network dead-spots. If your run includes coastal stops, forgetting silica means you risk clogged heads. Don’t double up on power banks but rather check each one’s charge, or you’ll haul dead weight. Always bring a backup plug adapter, as mall sockets can surprise with age.
Get a practical pick reply
One email with your city and the work on the week. We send a short list that matches how SA shops actually run.