Check the "Firsts" off the List
The store is officially open and the first craft fair is under my belt! That feels like quite an accomplishment; you probably heard my sigh of relief!
The craft fair was at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. I had anticipated a welcoming table, someone directing the action and showing me the "ropes," but what I found was the exact opposite. My grand-daughter, Ella, was my set-up partner. Not knowing what we were doing, we watched others to see where they were going into the building. I decided we should get our information before we unloaded. Following a vendor, we entered the large, empty venue. There was no welcoming table, no directions, JUST small yellow papers taped to the floor with a name on. Ella and I sheepishly walked the rows until we found the yellow paper that said "McCarron". Having located our place, we watched a few vendors who were busy unpacking, took our cue from them, and went out to unload the car. My little orange Subaru Crosstrek that was stacked to the roof, was certainly a contrast to the big trucks with trailers that so many of the other vendors were unloading.
We had a little cart on which we stacked our shelves as high as we could balance... or at least we could keep balanced on the cart. Watching others unload was like watching a well-choreographed dance. We, on the other hand, looked like beginning jugglers, trying to keep things from hitting the floor. We finally got the first load to the door, only to find out that the way that we had stacked the shelves horizontally on the cart would not fit through the door. We had to back out of the line of "dancers," take everything off of the cart and re-stack, finally able to enter the room. Lesson learned.
Once we got everything into the place, Ella and I began to look like we knew what we were doing. We were able to assemble the shelves, create the layout design that we had brought with us, and put all of the products on the shelves. Practicing at home with a store set-up in my living room for weeks, certainly had a pay off! Watching others leave their booths for the night, I apprehensively followed along. I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel nervous about leaving all of my hard work unattended.
When I got home from setting up for the craft fair, I put the final touches on the webstore and after weeks of work, hit the PUBLISH button. It all was now open for people to both view and to shop from. At the craft fair, customers and visitors to the booth would get my business card that would direct them to the site. I prayed that all aspects of the programming for the store were not only operational, but working WITH each other.
My goal for the craft fair was to learn about the structures of the craft fairs, see how other vendors tackled the tasks, start to familiarize customers of handmade items with Next Chapter Quilting, and to sell enough items to recoup the cost of the booth. I am happy to say that every goal for the day was met and surpassed.
Both family and friends stayed with me throughout the day and assisted with customers. I couldn't have done the day without them! Lots of other people I know stopped by for moral support; everything is easier with friendly faces. Finally, the shoppers that came by were very pleasant and patient as I fumbled through the procedures with the new credit card machine. Someone from a board of a different, juried craft fair talked with me and encouraged me to apply, stating that she liked the quality of my product. She probably will never know the boost that compliment gave me.
With a couple of "firsts" checked off of the list, it is now time to identify next steps and build upon the foundation that is started. I've got this!