It was still dark as I made my way on the quiet roads between here and Monroe County the moon still full in the sky. The early hours of a Saturday morning don't tend to lend themselves to much traffic. As I drove the quiet streets, the vehicle packed to the gills with tables, totes of product, decorations etc., I was aware again of how much goes into attending a vendor event. An hours' drive got me to my destination at 8am with a two-hour window to set up the stand. This event is a favorite, set at the beautiful location of Genesee Country Village & Museum, our stand was in the Exhibition Barn. With twinkling lights and vendors all set up with festive wares it truly is a delight. There wasn't much time between finishing setting up and being ready for the event to open to the public.
It's at events like these that you get to meet some truly neat people. Like the ladies having a laugh together and cracking not only themselves but myself up with their jokes. Like the couple that have stopped at our table at various events and introduced themselves as having returned from a trip to England recently and then we get to talking. Or the young lady back for a second year in a row to buy Christmas gifts. Not only are the people stopping at the table great to be with, but it is also the other vendors that make these events what they are. There is a whole community of people that I never even knew existed until I began this business. All of a sudden you have a common ground, and it is great to see vendors looking out for each other and helping each other along.
I don't think I quite realized all of this before our business really took off. As I drove home from the event this evening, pulling into the driveway just as dusk was beginning to take the last rays of sunshine from the day, it was a quick turnaround to beat the waning sunlight and get barn chores done, before dinner needed to be ready, and again the totes needed to be reloaded and ready for day two of the event tomorrow. A quick dinner with the family and it was off to make more lotion.
As I sit and write this this evening, I am struck again by how much heart and soul goes into a family run business, how when you shop local, you truly are shopping local, helping a local family, encouraging an entrepreneur. I may be tired, and it may be late, and I may have to be up early again for day two of this lovely event, but I am also, thankful, thankful for our loyal customers, thankful for new and returning customers, thankful for other friendly vendors going about their daily lives and running a business too. On a side note, I'm also thankful for no snow as the first year we did this event it was bitterly cold!
I just thought it may be neat to give you a little insight into what goes on for a vendor event day and how thankful we are, because without you, we wouldn't be where we are today.
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