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 (12th and 13th). 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.
