Never Again

           The reason why Richard started making planters was because we needed planters for our yard but didn’t particularly wish to pay over 150. for each one. He thought he could make one for less.  After filling six planter boxes for ourselves, Richard wondered if we’d be able to sell them.  And so we started a business.  Or are attempting to.

          We would take our planters and other items (Richard keeps on adding small things) to farmers markets perhaps we could sell them.  We have made enough to cover our expenses but are now in a loll with spending cash only and not paying bills as we had hoped.

          His first experience was in Riddle – I think when I was sick.  He took Jaime for the afternoon – I think from 12:00 to 4:00 on Fridays.  It was not the most productive – but the least amount for set up fee.  Myrtle Creek has farmers market on Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00 and Canyonville is Wednesday from 9:30 to 1:30. 

          Thus far we’ve made sales in Canyonville and Myrtle Creek.  His first two projects were special orders custom made.  We then sold three planters in Canyonville when the weather was nice.  Not such a great turn out when it is cool or overcast.  There have been a few Saturdays that we have worn coats and we had sweaters on Wednesday.  The temperature had raised over 40 degrees for the weekend.

          Last Wednesday the girl in the booth next to ours asked if we would be doing the Summer Mega Mart coming up for Friday and Saturday (12^th and 13^th). We had never even heard of it, but Richard called the provided number and signed us up for two eight day shifts. What a waste.  Recruiters had been great and brought in vendors from Eugene. Outside spots were quite reasonable at 25 dollars for both days.  But inside vendors had to pay over 100 for their spots. 

Marketing sucked big time!  I have never seen so many vendors so bored out of their minds.  I felt horrible for all of those who had less profit than what they had spent – which looked to be the majority.  So many of the sales made were from other vendors.  I felt bad from those who had made the drive from Eugene as I heard they would have fared better if they had just stayed in Eugene.

Richard has a book called “Your Marketing Sucks” by Mark Stevens.  It was written long before this Summer Mega Mart was put on, so I guess he wasn’t talking about Seven Feathers.  But I couldn’t help thinking of that title the entire time we sat in the parking lot throughout the atrociously hot day.  I think there had been at least 24 tents set up in the parking lot on Friday.  When we returned Saturday morning there were only seventeen left.  Throughout the day that number dwindled as vendors packed up and moved out. 

We decided to pack up at 5:00.  We had only made one sale on Friday.  Nothing on Saturday.  Few people stopped to browse – but mostly guests of the hotel that might have room for small trinkets, but nothing big.  The summer mega mart was a flop in my opinion.  And this heat has made me so tired and grouchy.  But at least we did have a breeze.  Sometimes too powerful of a breeze.  Friday’s breeze was cool.  Saturday’s was less powerful and warm.

I don’t ever want to do that again.  I guess if it’s better advertised.  My guess is they have lost business with most of the vendors that were there. It's not like they have an incentive to come back.  I would suspect most people lost money. 

Invitation Answers post 2

         A year in April I had started a class called Sociology of Ageism.  A class that seemed more to do with life than with career choice. It was during this class that I was able to meet one of my favorite instructors that I had during my three years online.  She was really quite animated and did her entire lecture with the camera on. 

          I had seen other instructors use the camera before the lecture started, but not for the entire lecture.  I don’t know how many students watched the video.  I was the only one present for her live lectures.  I had become familiar with Zoom during those three years at school.  I did not realize that this year it would be an essential for so many.

          I’ve had several instructors who cared about their students as well as the subject they were teaching.  I didn’t have many who didn’t seem to care, but I do remember a couple that didn’t seem like they wanted to be there and expressed a “whatever” attitude.  But at times I understood the tone in their voice.  Either the subject was boring or else they just weren’t getting the feedback that they were looking for.

          I think it was during my last year that the students were required to elaborate on the quote of an instructor and to ask a question related to the lecture.  Thus I was forced to take notes which actually helped me to retain more.  What a concept, right?

          I have written posts about many of the classes that I had taken.  Some I did not.  I can’t seem to find any mention of my entrepreneur assignments.  I think entrepreneurship is the American Dream for many, but not for me.  I never wanted to own a business or invent something in order to gain profit.  There are so many advertisements right now that are related to Covid19 or current situation.  Some offer product out of concern for their clients but I think overall companies are taking advantage of marketing by preying on weaknesses or necessities even that volunteers have given but of course the company product is much better and so you should buy.

          I never did take the marketing class that was a part of the agenda when I had first started taking courses.  The agenda was changed and the marketing class was removed.  In Salt Lake marketing was always in my face.  In this little town of Myrtle Creek, only a handful of people understand what marketing is.

Rumors and Speculation

I remember hearing about the Hostess bankruptcy (here and here) back in 2012 – the year I started my blog.  I’d written down some ideas and had collected some pictures to go with a post that never got posted.  I would miss the delicious cream-filled treats.  I would not be able to make “Twinkie” trains with Jenna

https://www.somewhatsimple.com/how-to-make-a-train-cake/  © 2019 SOMEWHAT SIMPLE, DESIGN BY LINDSAY HUMES.

But as I was working on my post, it was announced that Twinkie would stay (here) and so I never posted it (as the title was "No More Twinkie Trains").

or purchased Ding Dongs or Hostess Cupcakes again.

In 2016 Hostess announced a rebirth for their products (here and here).  However, the icons no longer appear on the box (eg Captain Cupcake, King Ding Dong, and Twinkie the Kid)

and the snacks are about a third of the size from what I remember (for example, the foiled ding dong covered my palm and didn’t appear to be lost in it;  and keep in mind that I really do have small hands)

 

The ding dong no longer comes in foil

But hey, what a great marketing strategy.  Disappear for four years and come back smaller and perhaps the public will be so grateful that they might not notice the decrease in size – and maybe even taste.

  

The only snack that appears to have gone up in size is the Hostess Zinger which was a parent company to then Dolly Madison (here and here). 

Not much difference in size when comparing the twinkie side by side the zinger.  There was a vast difference in size when the zinger was marketed under Dolly Madison.  

Lots of parent companies that seemingly own everybody else.  Too many hands in the pot if you ask me.