Market Adventures: Week Three

May 29
Week Three

Hooray for mild success! We sold over $30 today. Nowhere near what I would like it to be, but better than we have done before.

We owe much of it to Lissi. Her duct tape rings were the most popular item on the table, at least as far as actual purchasing goes.



The item that got the most views was the duct tape tie.

We have a couple of ideas why the tie didn't sell: there was only one, and, while cool, people didn't seem to realize it was wearable. We're going to fix this by having several next week, and having at least one of them that is actually tied for people to see and try on. We will not, however, lower the price, which is what a fellow vendor snottily suggested. *angry face*

Our setup overall looked better than last week. I'm constantly learning and changing things. I only wish we could afford real displays instead of cobbling them together with fabric and boxes.


I'm excited for next week, as usual, and hope that things will continue to get better. I'm sure they will, in fact, especially if I can get Lissi to stop looking for monologues and start making more duct tape items.

Market Adventures: Week Two

Here I am! And I have excuses for not posting this until Wednesday. They involve cats, driving, grumpiness on the part of myself and others, and a boyfriend who thinks I should hang out with him all the time or something.

Anyway. On with the show.

May 22
Week Two

The good news: despite terrible weather in the morning that I was sure would prevent any buyers, we set up and did manage to sell a bit.
The bad news: We made just enough to make our necessary stall payment, with no money for new supplies or even for change for next week.

However! Like last week, I am still optimistic; still sure that things are going to get better.

We changed our set up from the get-go, see?

It did do us proud. We got lots of people who were interested by different things. Some stopped to look at wish bracelets. Some noticed one or the other displays of my bracelets. Some noticed the bowls of discount bracelets. And some noticed the duct tape item.

Item, yeah, only one so far. But a good one. Lissi sat there with her tape and her clipboard and made a tiny rose, then attached it to a simple band. All duct tape. She made a tag, set the price as seven dollars, and put it in a bowl on the table.

It sold in five minutes.

Yeah, I'm glad I have her along. By this Saturday we're planning to have several items: more rings, a couple of ties, some flowers to carry and look pretty, and a couple of smaller flowers attached to headbands or barrettes. I'm excited. : D

And we have Lena's stuff now!

Aren't they pretty? I want one, and I don't even know what I'd do with it! When we have money for supplies, I'm totally going to get some of that string stuff for making bracelets.

All in all, it was an okay day. We did better than I expected, though we did have to suffer in the cold.

I was the one taking pictures, so I'm not in this one, but I was also wrapped in a blanket. Mine had Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald on it. : D

And there's one thing we brought home from Market that made me really happy.

This tiny little bundle of joy is a beautiful tabby/calico mix with lots of energy. Her name is Bamboo and we love her. Well, Yuki doesn't think much of this little intruder, but the rest of us love her. Hopefully Yuki will calm down in time.

Here's to high hopes for next week!

2nd Market To-Do List

Tomorrow is the second week of Market! Here's what I need to get done today:

Load everything into the car again, but better this time, so I don't think I've left things behind

Find the other tablecloth

Make business cards or something

Start about five bracelets, including two custom orders

Buy stickers

Make a cover page for the animal shelter photos so people don't ask us if we're selling dogs

Remember to eat

Get to bed on time


Looks like I have a couple things that will need to get done every Friday. Also, I need to remember to take pictures of things.

Market Adventures: Week One

May 15th
Week One

The good news: we made more than any week last year.
The bad news: that’s only about $27.

But I still feel optimistic. Want to know why? I hope you want to know why, because I’m going to tell you. I mean, you don’t have to read it all, but why wouldn’t you? We all know that I am a wonderful writer and hold you entranced. Yep. I’m going to go with that.

Item number one: our set up.
I’ve been reading up on good stuff to do for markets and shows, and though I do ponder all advice, I don’t always follow it. One thing I didn’t follow was that it was strongly suggested that the table with merchandise be completely in view of the passers-by. I rejected this because I didn’t want the table to be between me and potential customers. However, after most of the day and most of the Market-goers simply passing by, I moved the table to the suggested position. We didn’t get any more sales, but we did get a lot more people actually stopping to look at stuff instead of walking by with only a glance.

Item number two: our neighbors.
There were several problems with them. They were too darn nice, for one. Also, they both had the set up I at first opposed. Also, they both had interesting items (one was chainmail jewelry, the other hair accessories in an uber-popular style) while our most visible items were our simple wish bracelets. Sigh.

Item number three: timing.
The morning was chilly. It was the wrong kind of first day, i.e. the first day where everyone doesn’t even know about or forgets it rather than the first day where everyone lines up to see.

Item number four: displays.
Yeah, I need something better than fabric wrapped around cardboard boxes. One of our neighbors had this gorgeous set up with vintage picture frames with fabric inside so they could pin products to it, and lovely trays for rings, and all sorts of stuff. : P

Item number five: personality.
We… usually… said hi to people to who passed, and sometimes even asked them how they were doing. I need something better. Lissi, who is usually so outgoing, kept her head bent over her work and relied on me to call out first so she could look up and say something too.

Well, I figure that’s enough to work on for one week, especially since I do have more merchandise to make and I need to quit ignoring my Etsy shop. Sheesh!

But I’ll say it again: I’d rather do this than work for someone else.

Today's Adventures with Food

-Siri poured herself a full cup of juice, drank three mouthfuls, and dumped the rest of it in the sink.

-Why am I eating Pop Tarts for breakfast when my sister asks for them by saying, "Cookie, please"?

-Lunch? What's lunch?

-Oh, fine, maybe I'll eat something. And by "something" I mean "two helpings of potatoes when I should have eaten only one, followed by enough cookies to make me sick."

-Siri poured herself a cup of ranch for her veggies, then put the (full) cup in the sink and stole dad's.

-Small spoon + large spaghetti sauce jar = wow, I'm not going to dig that spoon out. Good job, Ty.

-Siri nearly dumped the entire can of spaghetti sauce onto the floor. Both Ben and Ty had to help her.

-When no one was watching, Siri opened the 'spoon' side of the parmesan cheese and dumped a good half cup onto her spaghetti. We put the large chunk back in, and then dad shook the excess cheese onto his and Boo's spaghetti.

-Ty dropped the second spaghetti spoon into the sauce.

-Apparently really really old chocolate milk turns white when frozen.

Siri

Yeah, so, Market update when I am not so flippin' tired. But here is what Siri said to me as we walked to church:

"Let's walk and talk. Do you remember when that family came to stay with us last year? And poof! They burst into flame. Hey look, Ginny's here. And do you know what I saw? I say lots of birds flying everywhere!"

Yep. That's why we keep her around.

Stay tuned for her interview on unicorns.

My To-Do List

It's the day before the first day of Market, and here's what I need to do today:

Keep siblings from killing each other.


Take out the seats in the car.

Load everything into the car.

Finish a whole bunch of bracelets.


Remember to eat.

Get pictures developed at BYU.

Wash all bracelets.


Build one last display.

Make and print off signs.


Sleep in my own bed.

Not stay up with Caitlyn.