This summer I bought a 10x10 pop up and started doing events 'again'. Different products. I fell in love with the Simply Fun games for the family and really enjoy sharing them with others. Seeing so many children glued to phone screens really takes away so much! Schools are not focused on the right subjects they should be teaching young children and families are lost.
So I'm out at events, usually on Saturdays, maybe a few Friday nights. No Sundays. I'm ole School. On Sundays, I'm here to watch kids for my kids as they work.
How the events all started for me.....
I separated and divorced shortly after my fourth child was born. It was a bad situation and hard to get free. I had to bounce from job to job to stay safe and holiday shopping wasn't easy.
So my kids started doing crafts for gifts. This led to us turning into a crafting factory and eventually I opened my own gift shop of hand crafted items. My second husband being native added the native arts to the program and thus the adventure began.
Summers were spent with my kids and I traveling from trade show, craft fairs, pow wows and all kinds of 'pop up' events. Every weekend was traveling around our state. Week days were spent making things, filling orders and signing up with more events.
HARD WORK !
My kids have grown into amazing workers. Bosses hate to lose them and many take them back in a heart beat should they need to return to a job. They understand business from the bottom up.... {And Safeway wonders why my youngest daughter can set up a winning display everytime!}
You see, it was during one 3 day event, that things were slow. Many vendors were grumbling and complaining. By the 3rd day, some were starting to pack up early. The kids and I were not exactly thrilled with sales and a bit stressed over the long drive to the next event with limited funds.
Instead of packing up early. We started talking about the things we enjoyed over the weekend. What was cool, what we saw for entertainment, the amazing food we got to taste. Looking at the things we bought.
While others were grumbling and packing as the last of the customers were walking through, the people started walking over by us and the folks around us that joined in the 'happy' conversation....
Browsing, shopping. We vendors were all getting sales. {For some it was A lot less to pack up! }
It was 4:45 when the lady walked up that bought our biggest dream catcher, some beaded earrings, and a few other littler things....
ONE SALE OVER $300.00 10 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING.
My kids understand, when you say your open 9 - 5,
you need to be open 9 - 5 !
Your business reputation, is something your constantly building.
Build strong!
If you live local, I'd love to meet you, come on out this summer and explore your community!
