[Paul Stenning]

Part of the reason for early entry is to stop people buying a stall with no intention of stocking it, just so they can get into the hall early. It has happened, and the pricing of a stall compared to early entry is intended so that early entry is preferable (plus the rules prohibit people buying stalls they don't intend to stock).

As it is already the stallholders are able to look around and buy before the early entry, though most are kept busy setting up their own stalls.