I have been a full time crafter for almost a year now. I started selling my wares at craft fairs right after my fourth daughter was born and she will be 1 year old in a few weeks. I started off with a few local elementary school craft fairs and a few in a large rental space at Goodwill that vendors I know were putting together. After just a few months I started organizing my own craft fairs and then decided to take the leap into our local farmers market- which is a big commitment because it runs from June through September. Goodbye every Saturday all summer long! Next a fellow vendor approached me about a store front opportunity in town. She had found an empty store front on Main Street in the heart of our downtown area. She had the awesome idea of turning it into a multi-vendor store that would serve as a store front venue for hand crafters and direct sellers. I was more than apprehensive at first. I straight told her no. I was worried about spreading myself too thin. I do have 4 children and a husband that works out of town frequently plus I am busy in the shop building crafts, running our oilfield repair business and selling doTERRA essential oils (and since then have started selling Chalky & Company too!) Whew! I need a nap just after typing that never mind living it everyday. Plus- as she explained it to me we would have to set up our display and items, sell for the day and then tear down our displays and pack out our items. Ugh. I am already doing that every Saturday in 100+ degree heat. I REALLY don't want to do that any more than I have to, but I received a few more messages from her that she was having trouble filling the spots and do I know anyone who would be interested and am I sure I don't want a spot? I agreed to meet her at the store and take a look at the place. It was... a mess! The owner still has tons of antiques stacked all over the place. It was dusty, dirty and dingy. The walls are a dozen different colors and textures. I fell in love! Ha! Anyone who knows me knows that I love a fixer upper. I tell her that the location is great and the building has tons of potential but I am still not interested. I can not be taking care of 2 small children full time and packing in and out hundreds of pounds of horseshoe home decor pieces. That's just crazy talk- not happening. She understands but says we wouldn't be able to afford a cashier and so no one would be able to leave their items in the store without being there to sell them. I suggest that we operate like a co-op and that everyone who wants to leave there items in the store full time must donate 3-4 days a month to serve as cashier. She says that will work and just like that, VOILA a plan begins and a business venture is born. She signs the lease and we both start recruiting fellow vendors. We clean the place up, paint the crazy walls and move in our displays and products. We are very lucky to have a great group of vendors at our core that are willing to help with things like painting the interior of the building, climbing up crazy tall ladders to hang signs on the exterior of the building, working as cashier whenever we need them. It really is a great group and we are so thankful for each other. I am still doing craft fairs and will probably do the farmers market again next year but I now have a "permanent" home for my wares and I am so excited to be a part of this adventure.
The CMU music department students decorated our windows for Mavs month!
If you want to check it out view our Facebook page or visit us at 558 Main Street in Grand Junction. We have 19 vendors and there is so much to see! We also have parties and special events happening all the time so subscribe to us on Facebook to receive updates about whats happening! I actually have a party there nest weekend, October 22, 2016 called Fall Family Craft Day where we will be painting with Chalky & Company products. It is very kid friendly and I hope everyone joins us for tons of fun! We will also be having a L'dara Wellness Tea Tasting and a Dove Chocolate Discoveries Halloween Costume Party later this month and a doTERRA party next month. Always something fun happening! I also have several craft fairs coming up over the next few months. Check them out if you can!
Loma Elementary Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday 10/22/16 9a-3p
Tope Elementary Craft Fair
Saturday 11/12/16 9a-3p
Home for the Holidays
Saturday 11/19/16 10a-4p @ the Grand Valley Activity Center in Parachute
Two Rivers & Avalon Holiday Craft Fair
11/25/16 2-6p & 11/26/16 9a-4p @ Two Rivers Convention Center
Palisade High School Arts & Crafts Festival
Saturday 12/3/16 9a-3p
Fruita Rec Center Craft Fair
Saturday 12/10/16 10a-3p
There are many great vendors at each of these events and we all appreciate when you shop small and shop local! Thanks so much for your support and business! I hope that you can make it to some of these great events and come down to the store and see what we are doing there. Have a great day!
No comments:
Post a Comment