Needless to say, a lot of things have happened since the window was blown out in my bus door. The glass was replaced but not before the electric door opener quit in protest to the load not feeling quite right.
The remainder of the outdoor markets kept me hopping and the transition to the indoor market at the LMC (Lacombe Memorial Centre) went okay for the first few weeks then all heck broke loose again.
The remainder of the outdoor markets kept me hopping and the transition to the indoor market at the LMC (Lacombe Memorial Centre) went okay for the first few weeks then all heck broke loose again.
One too many bumpy roads caused three of my ten rolling displays to be damaged beyond repair. I was actually surprised they lasted as long as they did considering I had been using them for a number of years at Creative Stitches / Creativ Festival in both Edmonton and Calgary.
Not only that, but my reason for doing the Farmer's Markets has always been to drive business to my online store. Don't get me wrong, I love interacting with my customers face to face but my online store is 24/7 shopping; my in person presence is a few hours a week in different locations. I was finding that most customers preferred to wait until they saw me the following week (or longer) than take advantage of ordering for pickup - either at my place or at the market.
I took that as a sign that I should probably change things up. My online store will continue to exist - for now - but it will be morphing into something new or it may be migrating to a social media platform. I'm not quite sure yet. What I do know is that my Market presence will now be a lot smaller (a vendor's table or two) and the table will be covered in finished goods (!) I know! something I said I would never do! You will still be able to order everything that is available through the online store right there at the table and pick it up, prepaid, at the following market or at my place if you need it sooner.
Because this will be my first 'finished goods' market table, there won't be the large variety of products that you will find on other tables, but you will know that they will be made from the high quality raw goods that you have come to expect from my store. And, of course, all patterns will be my own personal patterns, some of them new enough that they may not even be published yet!
I look forward to seeing all of you at the market and tell your friends to come celebrate Valentine's Day a little early with us!
