Enter: my co-worker and her purse party. Not just any purse party, a Thirty-One party. Let me explain what this is, for those of you (most of you) who don't know. Thirty-One sells purses, totes, organizational products and accessories in all sorts of cute patterns. I couldn't decide what I wanted out of the catalog so I signed up to be a consultant and figured I'd just buy myself the stuff at a discount! One month later, I'm hook, line and sinker. Call me a sucker.
Anywho, so I decided that I couldn't just leave well enough alone and carry on my merry little way hawking purses, I needed to go big or go home so I signed up for a craft show. Not any craft show but an all weekend long show, in a busy VA city. When I wasn't shopping and planning for my booth set-up, I was designing the shit out of marketing documents on Publisher. I purchased cash-and-carry items to offer, had a Christmas tree set up with small items for stocking stuffers, a drawing for a gift card, a banner made with my logo/info, gift bags put together to present as ideas for products, and the list goes on. Be amazed, be very amazed.
Show went well, got very little sleep all weekend, sold about half my cash-and-carry, placed a good order (and gave myself the free hostess benefits...wheee) and learned a lot about what people want and what draws them in or turns them off. I ended up breaking even (which was my only goal, I had no other expectations) but I met a bunch of great women and hopefully, great return customers.
The show itself was pretty wicked. When I was a little girl, my mom used to drag me to craft shows often. It was there that I think I developed my love of window shopping and all things shiny. It was not uncommon to hear "Nicole!", "Nicole!" about every 10 minutes, as I would wander off. I loved touching things (even the breakable stuff) and spending WAY too much time studying the offerings. Well, craft shows have come a long way, my friends. They are no longer fake floral arrangements, knock-off Zubaz, ugly jewelry or knit and crocheted....well, everything. There was Tastefully Simple, Scentsy, wine charms made out of various items, specialty foods, contemporary jewelry, cute winter accessories, fancy housewares....I'm not convincing you, am I? Well I convinced myself and got those old, rusted crafting wheels turning. I SO badly want to quit my job and work the crafter's circuit for the rest of my life....along with owning a B&B and operating a horse rescue. Dreams.
Well anway, it was great and I highly recommend checking out your local craft shows to buy from talented vendors and small business owners. Let's keep it local, people! Screw the chain stores for gifts, how did we become a society that orders their gifts ahead of time so the surprise is totally spoiled? Or even worse, a gift card society that gets one gift card and gives another gift card, in the same transaction. Why bother buying the gift card? Just trade a $20 bill and call it a day! Bo-ring. Do we not know our friends and families well enough anymore to find something great to fit into their lives?
Ahhh, I digress. So Thirty-One has given me purpose again. I'm thinking outside the box more, putting myself out there, meeting new people and really enjoying myself. I think I would've been great in advertising and marketing, wish I'd known that sooner....oh well, in another life.
Have you hugged a crafter today? :)
Booyah! Look at all the black and pink glory!