Post by traveler on Sept 16, 2010 22:52:57 GMT -5
Just a quick review of this show that ended this evening. This is touted as the largest show in the upper mid west. 3 days in the middle of the week. Set up was an absolute nightmare. Everyone had to set up Monday, and we dodged cars trucks, Ag sprayers and huge machinery being brought in. It was absolutely TERRIBLE! A bumbling mess!!! We had to be set up by 6 PM, as they shut the doors down so I got what I could done, and came in at 8 the next morning and finished it up. What was supposed to be a 10X8 space, was 8x8. (I had grid wall so no doubt on my space size here!!!) the cost was 100.00 but next year will be raised to 125.00. Last year it was 75.00. I'm seeing a pattern I don't like here!!) Inside vendors weren't invited to the super they put on for the outside vendors which got our noses out of whack... Anyhow...
Day #1 we did pretty good. LOTS of foreigners wanting "AG" souvenirs (IE John Deere). I also made the interview cut into the Minneapolis Ag newspaper, so that really helped. Day #2 was about 25% less than day 1, but a couple big sales at the end of the day brought the number up to that... and day #3 was not even worth sitting for. It was over by the middle of day #2 for sure. MANY of the sales were simply because I told them the truth about the John Deere stuff. It is no longer made and I can't get any more once I sell out.
Today the show closed at 4, and was RUDELY told that we had to be out by 6 or come back tomorrow at 8 AM PERIOD!!!! Many of the vendors myself included, can not tear down in 2 hours. They didn't want us to take down early but many did simply because they had the restraint at the end of the show. Myself.. I packed it down pretty well and just let it sit until tomorrow when I can get a 31 foot RV nearer to the doors and load it then. heck with this dodge ball game!!!
I did well enough...unfortunately... ( Can you believe I added that word to a successful show?).... that I would ~consider~ setting up here again, but it was such a nightmare as far as the set up goes, that I am not beating down the door to go here next year. Given that my sales were 70%+ of items I can't get any more, it could be a waste of time next year.
I was told that the only way I could go to this event was to do the Fair. There were at least 3X's as many vendors here than the fair. No one packed and walked early, but several almost did today. I did talk to some of the jewelry vendors, and several clothes vendors and they did dismal. Guess product had MUCH to do with the sales.
Off to Texas now!
Day #1 we did pretty good. LOTS of foreigners wanting "AG" souvenirs (IE John Deere). I also made the interview cut into the Minneapolis Ag newspaper, so that really helped. Day #2 was about 25% less than day 1, but a couple big sales at the end of the day brought the number up to that... and day #3 was not even worth sitting for. It was over by the middle of day #2 for sure. MANY of the sales were simply because I told them the truth about the John Deere stuff. It is no longer made and I can't get any more once I sell out.
Today the show closed at 4, and was RUDELY told that we had to be out by 6 or come back tomorrow at 8 AM PERIOD!!!! Many of the vendors myself included, can not tear down in 2 hours. They didn't want us to take down early but many did simply because they had the restraint at the end of the show. Myself.. I packed it down pretty well and just let it sit until tomorrow when I can get a 31 foot RV nearer to the doors and load it then. heck with this dodge ball game!!!
I did well enough...unfortunately... ( Can you believe I added that word to a successful show?).... that I would ~consider~ setting up here again, but it was such a nightmare as far as the set up goes, that I am not beating down the door to go here next year. Given that my sales were 70%+ of items I can't get any more, it could be a waste of time next year.
I was told that the only way I could go to this event was to do the Fair. There were at least 3X's as many vendors here than the fair. No one packed and walked early, but several almost did today. I did talk to some of the jewelry vendors, and several clothes vendors and they did dismal. Guess product had MUCH to do with the sales.
Off to Texas now!
