Market Shows are about the People you Meet
This month I was a vendor at two vintage markets for the first time in two years. (Somehow I forgot how much work they are). Knowing the shows were coming up I started picking out, storing, hoarding, planning, setting up my space in my mind and making a list of all the things I needed for the show (cash, charge toggle, store sign, tape, scissors, well, the list is long) and promoting that I was going to be a vendor.
Then you get to your space (truck, trailer, truck again, and a car-full of smalls), the unloading and setting up takes quite a bit of time. And during all of this you wonder why you signed up for this ?!?!. Because you know what doesn’t sell you will be loading again.
But THEN…you start talking with your neighbors, helping them with a heavy piece, asking them for help, looking at each other’s treasures (buying each others treasures!) and just chatting and getting to know each other. This is my FAVORITE part of the show. I’ve made so many great friends selling at shows.
The first show in September was The Found Cottage Mercantile. I’m always by Deb (Tickled Pink, Rita (Flat River Cottage), Lisa (The Junkmama) and then this year Kim (The Primitive Paintbrush). We had such a great time. Lots of laughing, picking on each other for selling well or not being able to sell some item you were sure would sell. And in the slow times just sitting around and talking. It’s such a people-loving experience.
My second show in September was Like Mother Like Daughter Vintage Market. This show I followed Debn (Tickled Pink), and we put our tents next to each other, helped each other unload, walked around the market for inspiration (well, ok to really buy other cool vintage from vendors!), we shared a hotel room and helped wipe off all the rain from our vintage.. (ugh on rain at shows). At this show we were across from Michael and Amy (A.and.MDesigns). Oh.My.Goodness. We laughed so hard. In the midst of mud, rain and chilly air we laughed. If not for this show I would never have met them.
Without shows I would never had met any of these amazing people. So, if you are thinking about being part of a show, and thinking about how much work it will be….do the show! You will make some really great friends :)
