It has been awhile since I posted here. Season has begun in
Southwest Florida and I am raring to go.
This last Saturday, I began by setting up my display tent at
the Promenade in Bonita Springs where I will set up every Saturday Morning until April!
The day began at 3 am. Preparation the day before, included loading
the car and managing to squeeze in 5 large boxes of Children’s Books. Preparing
the day before allows me to sleep in.
Friday included an 8pm phone call from our real-estate agent;
the house was going to be shown at 1pm on Saturday! Ah preparing for an event
always leaves bits and pieces lying around. (Displays not being used, signs
cardboard little things.
Thank heavens the car was loaded, I finished cleaning the
house to show before leaving at 5 am. Arriving at my assigned location at 5:30
began setting up my display in the dark. By 7 am I was ready. My new earring
display board is working out very well. I want to do more to display necklaces
and sets!
Now
the morning always begins watching the shoppers racing each other to be the
first inline for the fresh fish stall. One of these days I will manage to get
some fish this week he was sold out by 10am! The flowers and vegetables are
always wonderful! My first sale of the day was a
mini book. I love selling these are they make great card replacements. What a
beautiful morning with many smiling people. I did catch a few without smiles,
but they were smiling as passed my booth. One couple, I told them I love to see
the romance, they came back they were holding hands to keep form falling over.
What a great laugh. Another couple, I just said “Hi Smiley” and they began to
smile. A beautiful morning is complete with a smile.
I had several little girls trying on necklaces, I had told
them before, they began I sold Adult jewelry, but they could try on one
necklace each to see what they thought. They left with instructions to show me
something they made next time they come.
You may ask why I do not sell to children, it is simple,
young children tend to put jewelry into their mouth. I just do not feel
comfortable with them potentially swallowing a piece of jewelry.
I also
showed them the mini books I had with me! Two of the children really wanted the they are saving their allowance to come back next week.
A slow day
as season begins, a few looking for gift ideas, I handed cards out and several
told me they would be back.
At noon, I began to dismantle! 4 tables boxes of jewelry
bookshelves, and the grab bag box all where gathered together and place into
the car in 45 minutes along with the canopy and sides, the fastest I have ever
managed to break down. Off to the next event, which began at 3pm in Fort Myers.
Eating a small snack in the car the temperature had risen,
by 1:30 I began to set up. The canopy first, it is warm I left the sides off,
and the set up began, many of the vendors expected the event to be indoors.
They did not even have umbrellas. Here, I unloaded the boxes of books for donation, I had
left in the car. Off to the side they waited until I could get them moved into
the school. By 3pm, I was exhausted but set up they way I wanted. I need to
paint the back of my display boards!
In the car, I keep two golf umbrellas, these I shared vendors.
I wish I had had more.
The bounce house was busy; the school activities in progress
and the shoppers did not show. I had planned on donating 10% of my sales after
I sold $50.00. I did not meet my minimum. I sold 1 pair of earrings.
The event ended at 6pm and I began the break down, finally
catching someone who could take the books indoors. Finishing at 7pm, I ran home
unloaded the car and collapsed.
NEXT TIME ONLY ONE EVENT IN A DAY!
"By Trudy Connor"
