I actually wasn't going to post anything about this event because it was pretty uneventful!

Except for the time during set up when I forgot my pegs for my shelves to put into my bookshelf for my display...
That was stressful.

My heart literally fell into my stomach.
 Luckily, my husband was there helping me so he was able to find them at a store nearby!
But other than that, I came, I went. I actually didn't do as well as I thought I would, so that was disappointing. And I can't nail down a reason either. At each event I feel there's always something different, so it's hard for me to pick out what's my top seller and what's not.
 But this ol' Clementine print is my top seller online!
And look! It's in a customer's hand!
The girls who put this event on had a photographer come to take pictures of the place and how could I not share these! I love them!

They capture all the feels for how a craft show goes. I mean, check out those twinkle lights. They always make events so magical.
 It was a beautiful venue with tons of killer vendors. They sure hit the mark and did a great job.

I was really excited that I got into the fall show because I was ready to get back into it again. After the talk I had with Hipster Quinn, I was really excited to try new products and have the Bazaar be my test run.

It actually turned out to not be that great of a test run because the feedback I did receive was super scattered. My Instagram followers seemed to really dig my stuff. I had a lot of random people love my Harry Potter tote bags and thought my stickers and new cards were adorable. But I didn't sell a single one at the Bazaar! How bazaar??? (Sorry, I couldn't resist...) But I've kinda learned that before - how each event is different and different items sell the best. I've never had one item be a clear winner. It's always different.

So I was pretty bummed I didn't do as well as I thought I would because I worked hard to introduce so many new products, but I believe in them and I won't let this one event stop me. Right after the Bazaar, I found out I got into the Cotton Lane Market event which will be November 11th at 6-10pm and the 12th at 10am-9pm at The Lodge at Traverse Mountain. Yay!

I have some new products I'll be doing because it'll be a Christmas show and I hope I'm able to sell my other new stuff too. So here we go again!
I got to proudly wear the shirt my husband made for me for my birthday!
I really wanted to get rid of my old designs so I had a clearance box. I was hoping to do better, but I'd say it was almost half-ish. 

You're probably thinking this is a picture of my booth during the set up process.

Nope.

This is what it looked like when I was done setting everything up.

The wind was incredibly crazy. I didn't want to risk having my stuff getting blown away, which is why I kept them in boxes. And even the security of the boxes wasn't enough! There were a few times when I had to run out to save my prints! And someone else's table display got knocked down and a tent almost blew away!! Yeah, it was crazy fun.

I will admit that I left early because of the weather and people just weren't interested in buying anything. The festival crew only promoted their stuff, all of the free activities, not any of the artisans. (So, yeah, that was nice of them.) So families were only coming for the free Quidditch, puppies and ropes course, which, I don't blame them! They looked super fun! But it left all of us vendors out in the dust.

Although it stinks that I lost a bunch of money, at least I learned something: I can never ever do outside events. The weather is just too risky. My signage and products in general are just too fragile (I sell paper for pete's sake!). My first event I did, it was really hot. The prints inside my vellum bags were making condensation from the ink! So, my products were almost ruined. Then at this event, because of the extreme wind, I couldn't set up my displays. And I worked hard to make as much use of this space I had. Big plans. Sales. But I won't get into that. It just stunk.

So that's what I learned. I'll keep to indoor events, where the temperature and weather don't matter! What matters is if the event team does their job to advertise and promote the event, which is also something I learned from this event. They did not do their job in helping get the word out. I need to stay leery of event teams such as this. It's incredibly rude to take vendor's money and not do anything in their power to help!

Anyways, just getting the steam off my chest.

If you came, thank you for coming! If you came to see me and I was already gone, I'm incredibly sorry! It was just not worth it for me to sit there for 4 hours with no buyers. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't doing it for the money. Instead, my husband came to bail me out, take my tent down, got pizza, and we spent the evening watching The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. So a much happier ending than getting frozed to death with all of my product being blown away.
I was really proud of the chalkboard sign I made. The wording took a good half hour to master and keep straight.
My stuff all huddled together so it wouldn't blow away.

The boutique did not go well - at all.

I had 1 sale and it was from a friend, and had maybe 3 other people come and actually walk up to my table to look. I'm so glad I brought a book. Otherwise I would've been bored outta my mind!

I do have to say it was a good experience, but nothing I could've learned from a better boutique fair:
1. I should've filled up my square more with other tables so I could spread out the prints better. I did have this idea, but I didn't want to buy a table, let alone more tables just in case. Which of course now I'm glad I didn't do because I made no money...
2. A canopy to shade people from the heat also maybe would've brought people in, but I'm still not so sure if that would've worked. I'm also glad I didn't because of said money I didn't make... My neighbors were nice and lent me a beach umbrella. I'm so grateful they did or else I would've melted! and fried! I put on sunscreen, but I still got sunburned!
3. I should've had a drawing to win a free print. DUH! I totally forgot to do this! I saw only one other person do this which made me remember, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it made for her anyways, at least at this particular venue.

This place was literally in the ghetto.

I'm not kidding.

At first I was kinda worried it might be, but I don't know the Salt Lake area that much, so I thought it might've passed it and would be ok. I mean, who would think having a boutique where people don't make any money is a good idea?? Well, these people did. Definitely a different side of Utah. Anyways, this was their first time throwing an event together, and while I do think they did a good job with advertising, I really believe it was just the location and overall demographic of the area. I know it would've turned out better if it was in Draper, Lehi, or Alpine, where people have money. Anyways, lesson learned that even if it looks like a good opportunity, weigh in the area too.

I'm going to try to look for other opportunities, I mean, I have the inventory for it! I don't want it to go to waste! Plus a million hair-bows too. My husband had the idea that I make some to draw-in a different audience. So, I need to get rid of all of those too.

To the journey that keeps on going.

I've been accepted to my first boutique fair - EVER! I'm so excited. I've always wanted to do this and things haven't really been going too well with getting into other fairs, but this one is a go! It's called Polkadots and Shiny Things Boutique and will be on June 7th in Millcreek, Utah. It's their first time ever holding a fair, so I'm not sure what the outcome will be like, but I'd love to see any of you there! Plus, if you buy from the fair, you won't have to pay shipping from the shop! How's that for incentive? More information about the fair can be found here.

In preparation for this show, I'm getting together all of my print goods and switched up my packaging just for the fair. I also need to make my table look like I know what I'm doing, so that's been my main focus this week:

 I was able to find some awesome finds at my local charity store, but they need a makeover in order to look presentable. My husband suggested I also sell some bows that I like to make in order to catch different audiences' attention. I hope it works... I'm really hoping to get my name out from all this.

And then I'm just trying to figure out a good set up for my table. It's not quite there yet, but I know it'll look so much better when the product is out and I have my cute little chalkboards explaining prices and such.


I also want to make 1 or 2 new Father's Day prints which will first be revealed at the fair! So, come on, you gotta come! My husband liked my ideas for the prints, so you know they're going to be awesome.