Leviblue
Local Chapter Leader
We sent in our registration fee last month for a festival that our town holds each year.
The festival was held Saturday and anyone that kept up with the weather will know that NC did not have favorable weather Friday or the first part of Saturday.
So, I have the truck packed up Friday night in the rain and cold. Got a good nights sleep and wake up at 4:00am to take the dog out. This is where it all goes in a totally different direction and sets the tone for the day.
While outside, the mist is falling and then the bottom drops out and rains like I need an ark. When it's time to leave and set up, it's about 35 degree and raining. But we go to make the best of it.
Arrive at the festival and find our spot. We set up in the rain and cold. Did I mention the rain and cold? We were to be set up completely by 9:00am. At 9:45 the rain stops and we are soaked, but we did have a canopy and a side curtain wall with the temp still around 36 degrees.
The wind starts to blow hard, but the canopy stayed in place thanks to 40lbs of sand in the buckets.
Now this is where I should have stayed at home. Our next door booth neighbor's canopy takes off and lands on ours, and they aren't in any hurry to get it moved. So being the friendly southern redneck I am, I get it moved for them. At this time I'm still soaked and very cold. Deer hunting has nothing on me at this point in time. I look down the row and what do I see? No not hand warmers for sale, but PENS! OMG. So I go down to see what I'm up against. Now mind ya' I don't consider myself great at this stuff, but I think I can hold my own. This guy is selling cigar and slim lines for $20 each or $40 for the desk set. The fit and finish wasn't to my standards, but when I have mine starting at $35 there was no way I could sell at this festival. He even had natural edge bowls about 6" across for $12.
So it was the "perfect storm". Rain, cold, canopies flying and pen sets for the price of one of mine. Needless to say I didn't sell a thing but went in the hole with buying hot chocolate and coffee. I will not be going back as this was not the festival for us. I do hope the other guy sold a lot as he was out of work. Hopefully I have a new recruit to join the local chapter.
So with all this story, how do you find the right venue for your product?
The festival was held Saturday and anyone that kept up with the weather will know that NC did not have favorable weather Friday or the first part of Saturday.
So, I have the truck packed up Friday night in the rain and cold. Got a good nights sleep and wake up at 4:00am to take the dog out. This is where it all goes in a totally different direction and sets the tone for the day.
While outside, the mist is falling and then the bottom drops out and rains like I need an ark. When it's time to leave and set up, it's about 35 degree and raining. But we go to make the best of it.
Arrive at the festival and find our spot. We set up in the rain and cold. Did I mention the rain and cold? We were to be set up completely by 9:00am. At 9:45 the rain stops and we are soaked, but we did have a canopy and a side curtain wall with the temp still around 36 degrees.
The wind starts to blow hard, but the canopy stayed in place thanks to 40lbs of sand in the buckets.
Now this is where I should have stayed at home. Our next door booth neighbor's canopy takes off and lands on ours, and they aren't in any hurry to get it moved. So being the friendly southern redneck I am, I get it moved for them. At this time I'm still soaked and very cold. Deer hunting has nothing on me at this point in time. I look down the row and what do I see? No not hand warmers for sale, but PENS! OMG. So I go down to see what I'm up against. Now mind ya' I don't consider myself great at this stuff, but I think I can hold my own. This guy is selling cigar and slim lines for $20 each or $40 for the desk set. The fit and finish wasn't to my standards, but when I have mine starting at $35 there was no way I could sell at this festival. He even had natural edge bowls about 6" across for $12.
So it was the "perfect storm". Rain, cold, canopies flying and pen sets for the price of one of mine. Needless to say I didn't sell a thing but went in the hole with buying hot chocolate and coffee. I will not be going back as this was not the festival for us. I do hope the other guy sold a lot as he was out of work. Hopefully I have a new recruit to join the local chapter.
So with all this story, how do you find the right venue for your product?