Especially in Phoenix...in the summer ...outside.
This is the main reason I wouldn't have chosen this time for making this change. I was honestly surprised to find a market that ran through the summer.
I also acknowledge that, despite the heat, this may have been the best time for me to have made the switch. A few reasons why I say this:
The web hosting all in one e-commerce site I'm on had a 50% off sale for the site (& is relatively easy to build & use). It also includes a point of sale so I can use it for sales & track inventory!
It's been fairly easy to get spots at the outdoor market running through the summer. There was 1 I couldn't get but that was early on.
I've had the opportunity to work out the kinks before larger markets are back in operation. And there have been lots of kinks to work out!
I've thought a lot about the early days of getting the Boutique going and the stages of evolution that the space and I went through. This time the merchandise is all mine which makes it easier to know all the info about that. But there is still a learning curve for the space & display arrangement, and the customers.
Since I'm sharing the journey, I will share a little about each of these things this week. Let's start with setting up the space. And let's start at the very beginning-a very good place to start. 🎶
This was the first setup I did. It's not shown in the booth because that's the night I was almost finished setting up when a bee 🐝 decided it was willing to go out by using me in a surprise attack. So this is, at least, the plan I had.
So I was moving things around each time, trying different things. Then one night I was only able to get a 6'x5' space.
There were a few nights I didn't get to take a picture, but I was tweaking and adapting and before last Saturday's Market I did a few things:
1) I admitted that no matter how I rearranged everything, it would not fit in the bins I had the way I needed them to fit
2) Bought proper bins
3) Created storage boxes that could be opened and, with very little effort, set up for sale displays.
And, finally, fter setting up the space several times now I've finally settled on how I want it to be. (NGL, there are a few other tweaks that I'm making for this coming Saturday -- in addition to the mini air conditioner that will be aimed directly at my face).
1) Some items will be rearranged
2) I've ordered the last two tablecloths I need
3) I've got some more display boxes that will make setup even easier! (honestly - the quicker I can sit down and put that AC directly on my face the better!
OH - and one other thing . . . my vinyl banner came in!
Comments