Mark your calendars for our first Spring Event this year for March 25th through the 29th.
Well, it’s done! We went to market and bought enough products for the coming season. That’s only the beginning. Now it’s time to get the florals ready, the products in and priced, window treatments made, put the products out into the shop, make the place look like a showplace, and on and on and on, as well as move in to our new shop. It’s not even finished yet. It’s like planning for a huge wedding and wondering if we’ll ever get it all done.
Be still, my anxious heart. It will all get done. Or, what needs to be done will get done!
As I was on the phone yesterday with a customer, she made a comment about wondering what market was like. So, I thought, what a great blog post that would be. So here goes:
We arrive at market early in the morning. And, by early, I mean, before 8 A.M. First of all, because we want a prime parking spot. If not, we have to walk forever, which isn’t bad when you start out in the morning. But, in the evening, when you are leaving around 7 or 8 o’clock and you are dead tired, you want to be close. Secondly, because the traffic on the way to market is like something you’ve never seen before. My knuckles are so white, by the time we arrive, and I am not even the driver. Thirdly, because we need to be at market for as many hours as possible so that we can find the greatest “stuff” for you guys!
There’s 15 floors in this building and 3 more buildings to go through. So many floors, and so little time! We usually set up appointments with reps for each showroom that we know we will buy from. We get to know the reps pretty well, and they are always telling us what’s really “hot.” However, what’s hot on the East or West Coast, is not necessarily “hot” here in the state of Kansas. That’s why it’s important for us to get to know you and your likes.
We’re always passing storefronts that have the greatest ideas. It’s very distracting to me, because I want to do what they’ve done for you back here at home. So little time!
Then we go into these interesting showrooms and see all of the pieces that they’ve used to make these great products and we start buying and buying and buying. Sometimes you feel like it will never end. Once I start buying, it seems like I can’t stop. So I try not to start buying until the 2nd or 3rd day we are there. Do I have a budget? A budget? What’s that! I usually don’t stop buying until I think I have enough product.
And then we go up into the clothing area, about the 13th or 14th floors. Thousands upon thousands of pieces of clothing to choose from. But, remember, from each vendor, you have a minimum number of pieces of clothing and dollar amount that you have to spend. So many details, at times, that it makes my head spin. And then you have to think, how will this look on all kinds of bodies? Will it be a good buy? Is it too young or too old for our clientele? Does it make me look fat????? And that’s only the beginning.
I know you are wondering—why do you do this? Sometimes I wonder about that myself.
And then there’s the beautiful showrooms that lure you in with these magnificent displays. And then, of course, you have to buy the products to make these items.
There’s lots of parties to attend at market and lots of liquor there. I think they think the more you drink the more you’ll spend. I’m glad I don’t drink. Even though it’s only Coke I’m drinking, I spend way too much.
And then by the end of the day, you are so tired of looking at beautiful items, that all you can do is go back to the motel room and crash. I didn’t even take my coat off one night, before I fell asleep in bed.
Well, girls. That’s just the first day. Next post I’ll share some of the new products we are getting in this spring and throughout the year.
Please – mark your calendars for our first spring event–March 25th through the 29th. Hope we see all of you!
~ Debbie
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