1) Samples in times of covid. I’ve been making a ton of samples the last month to just give away a bunch.
I used to do this to, but I've downsized as it really doesn't bring repeat customers. I do package my endcuts as samples and sell them either at the peddlers market for $1 each (this pretty much just covers packaging and label, as I've already accounted their cost into the full bar size). I do keep some handy to add to bags when customers buy, they can try a different fragrance than what they bought, and I add one to every online order that ships. I just don't go out of my way to make and handout samples. When I did do it, I packaged in a simple 2"x3" ziploc bag and used an address label with the soap name and my website.
2) Selling other things like lotion bars and balms.
If this is something your target market is interested in, then I would do them. However if you want your focus to be soap, and selling to customers who want soap, then I wouldn't worry about it. Also be aware of what sells in your area. In my area, balms and lotion bars have very little interest so they aren't worth my time. They're also not what my customers are interested in.
Keep it simple. When I first started doing shows my hubby (then boyfriend) made me a nice shelf that is easy to assemble/dissassemble and I used it for about 3 markets, then decided I needed to be fancy pants, spent a lot of money and time changing up my display for 4 years while that shelf collected dust... Remembered it in 2019, used it for one market and so many people commented on how nice it looked, that I realized how dumb I was being and had my hubby make me a second shelf. [I haven't yet gotten the nerve to ask him to make me a third shelf as he still gives me a bit of grief over my years of being "noncommittal" - and yes he's talking about shelving and not how long it took me to marry him...] When I get home I'll look for pics of my display, and pull the shelf out for some closeup pics of how it goes together. It needs to get dusted anyways for a market in 2 weeks... It's a fairly simple design and I think you and your hubby are handy, yes?
Table cloths - make sure they go all the way to the floor. Under table space is great for keeping inventory, but you don't want the customers to see it when they walk by. Make sure your tables are sturdy and don't wobble at the slightest glance. If your tables don't have adjustable height, use bed risers to raise the tables up. Especially if you have product sitting on the table and not on a shelf. The less a customer has to bend over or look down to see something, the more likely they are to notice and buy it.
While I do have business cards, I try not to hand them out at markets. At my checkout area I have a sign hanging that says "Need a biz card, take a pic" and then list out my contact info, social media, and even a quick list of additional products that I offer (Custom orders for special skin needs or group gifting, Wedding favors, gift baskets, things like that). Keep the words minimal and to the point. Business cards are great, but too often I find they end up in the trash once the customer gets home. If you can get customers to take a picture, you are in their phone and people are more likely to keep a picture and remember you later. I see a lot more people after the market who tell me they took the picture.
Don't get too crazy with the signs. Most people don't read them anyways. I have slimmed down my signage to: the biz card sign, price signs for products (I keep all my soaps the same price so that I only need one sign, and do that for all my product lineups), and my credit card sign w/ min purchase. Although I have been debating adding a small sign to each shelf to highlight "these soaps are coconut milk" or "these soaps are aloe", I haven't done it yet because it gives me a reason to interact with customers. Don't put up so many signs that people think you are a sign vendor! LOL
Leave yourself and the customers some space on the table - some customers may have a cup of coffee or something like that to set down while they are looking at your things. Especially important while you are checking them out. You do not need to cover every square inch of your table - in fact, you should build in blank spaces into your display so that the customer does not feel visually overwhelmed. Keep decorative items to a minimum for this reason as well. Let your products be the decoration!
4) Schlepping to and fro.
I had bought some low profile totes with locking lids/handles - I think they're called under the bed storage totes? I got them at WalMart, they run about $12-13 each - and I used to just pack all the soap I could into each tote. They got darn heavy especially when I was setting up by myself. This was also how I stored soaps at home. I changed my at home storage a few years ago when I discovered how much bleeding the scents were doing into one another and concern for allowing the soap to breathe. I ordered baseball card boxes (I think I got mine from BCW) that were the width of my totes, so now when I pack for a show, I just grab the box off the shelf and pack it into the tote. Each box is labeled on two sides so that I can see the soap name without opening the tote (saves time when restocking during market), and also when the tote is opened (saves time when packing up for a show). I don't get as much soap in a tote, but at least I can carry two totes by myself now... Oh, and I also pack my totes the same way I'm going to setup for a show. So every thing that goes on "Display 1 Shelf 1" is in the same tote, "Display 1 Shelf 2", etc. and the totes are also labeled that way (again, this helps too when restocking at markets). This is really handy if you have someone helping you setup or tear down, a quick explanation that "this is display 1, this is shelf 1, 2, 3" and they can just do it. Also really handy if you are running late to get setup at a show. [ahem, ask me how I know] There is no such thing as too organized as far as I'm concerned, especially if you have any anxiety about dealing with people...
If you can't park close to where you need to setup, and don't have to worry about stairs, a utility cart is a lifesaver! I picked one up at the home improvement store for $70 on sale, it was the best money I ever spent for market expenses.
Cash box. Debit cards are becoming more common at markets, so have a card reader. The last market I did I had $300 in debit sales. If you feel you need to set a minimum purchase amount for debit purchases, make sure you have a sign.
A variety of bag sizes for customer purchases. I've been caught several times with only small bags and have had to send people home with several bags. Make sure your bags are durable for your product. If they break from the weight of two or three soaps, probably not a good choice.
Depending on how large your setup is, maybe having shopping baskets for customers. Right now my setup is 3 tables, so customers tend to pick up things and then set them down on another table and forget where they set them down. I found that a couple dollar store baskets made it really easy for customers to shop across all three tables. If you only have one table, probably not necessary, but something to think about as you grow.
ummm.... I have a lot more stuff I wish I had known 6 years ago... but this is a good start! Good luck!