G
Guest
Hello Soap Family!
I been away for a long long time! WOW!
I left on Thursday afternoon to go to my first part of my 6 day show.
First I want to thank you Paul, for the call. I didnt get it until I got to my hotel that evening and checked my messages. I was so teary eyed. I thank you so much for your support!
From all of you! Your support helped me get through this trying week and weekend with this show. And I couldnt have done it without my soap family. As some of you know I have many hats.... single mother of two, full time college student, a police dispatcher, and my business. My family is all in the bay area, I am in Sacramento alone, with not many friends I can count on... So thank you very much for all of your kindness!
Before I left, I took my printer over to my ex mother-inlaws house and finally gained access to yahoo and printed labels... YEAH! I left three hours behind schedule from so much running around.
The show is about 1 1/2 hours away from home (one way) So I got there about 4:30ish.. The kids were with me. (They were so good through it) I unpacked and started to set up. I left about 6:30pm. I didnt realize I had to bring my tent or anything. It said inside space.. they failed to mention that I needed the tent anyway. So I just said.. "lemons, lemonade" I then drove my children to San Francisco (another 1 hour away) to drop them off. My grandmother insisted I stay there because she could tell I was just beyond exhausted and may be dangeros on the highway going to the hotel. I told her.. I was fine.. I would make it there.
I get to the hotel about 10:30pm or so.. after getting lost. Nasty Motel 6 .. ewwwww.. but I fell out. i dont remember even turning on the **** tv.
I get up the following morning at 6am, to meet my mother at the gat for 7:30am. I get there, she is waiting.. we go in.. I didnt like the way the setup looked so we changed it multiple times. I truly didnt bring all of the stuff I had.. so it looked somewhat empty... at that point I didnt care. "lemons, lemonade"
So we had to figure out how to hang the banner. I politely ask the lady behind me.. "may i hang my banner on the back of your tent? " She says yes, and up went the banner.
So, the as the show opens (10am) there was a purse couple in front of me, a purse lady behind me, and a different kind of purse guy on my left side :shock: TOO MANY **** PURSES! The purse people in front of my were very friendly, and had great prices (45.00 was the most expensive one) (knock-offs) My mother being a purse addict wanted to look at them. I saw the purse I wanted and she pursed it for my for christmas after that.. she went crazy.
Through the couse of the day, my other pursed 2 more purses, the puse guy on our left was very jealous.. he kept saying with an asian accent "you make more money to buy more purses from them" he constantly repeated this to my mother over the course of the whole day. Friday was slow sales.
Saturday comes.. it was very busy that day. My mother pursed another purse, my sister-inlaw came to help out that day. I was busy.. I was happy... But the purse couple across from me was making a killing to where, the guy on the left, and the lady behind me found their way to their booth to see what they were doing... The lady behind me had the same exact purses but 40.00 more! :shock: the guy on the left had "santa fe looking purses make of leatherly orange type of stuff" He started searching the inside of the couples purses trying to figure out where they were purchasing these purses. The lady behind, she checked out their prices. I laughed. I purchased my second purse during this. The husband says "I dont know why they keep coming over there, Im not telling them nothing, they need to just stay at their booths and leave us along" I told him "I agree"
As the day go by, the purse couple make a lot of money... and the more the other two vendors got upset. I am about $60.00 shy of my $240.00 booth fee currently, so I hope these 3 days left are successful.
Sunday comes.
Here is the drama...
Sunday my mother and I show up, and one of the ladys from the booth behind us didnt show up.. I didnt think nothing of it..
Well the lady turns around and tells my mother...
"You have to take your sign down, we are leaving today" My mother said ok.. and I said.. alright.. and began taking it down...
During this process she is yanking the tarp hard.. and I told her "dont know my stuff off my table" She didnt pay attention... my mother got upset.. and said "she isnt suppose to be tearing down early, Im going to go get the manager"
She goes off.. and I started moving my stuff out of the way...
The lady turns around after she got the tarp down and her purses are not hanging over my soap in MY tent....
"My sister is upset with you" I said "uh? why?" She says "Because you brought all of your purses from them, and you said she was checking out their prices" I said "WHAT!" I got so angry :x :x :x
I said "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME, YOUR SISTER DIDNT SHOW UP BECAUSE SHE IS BEING A BRATTY BITCH ABOUT ME BUYING PURSES! AND HAD YOU TAKE THIS DOWN BECAUSE OF MY BANNER! TELL THAT BITCH TO GROW THE HELL UP!" I was so upset.. my mother came back with the manager.. I took the manager outside and told her what was going on... the manager said she would take care of it, they had the same problem with them last year, and that they would not be welcomed back...
So meanwhile the manager and I are looking at my tent... and it looked like I was sellign purses.. you could barely see my soaps... I was going to strangle that lady.. and she had the nerves to laugh about it... the manager left.. she went to talk to them, and then to the purse couple across from me...
After the manager left.. I walked to the back of my booth and said "If one of your purses fall on my stuff, its going to be me and you" And she then stopped lauging...
:evil: :evil: :evil:
For the rest of th day, I perked myself up, my mother and I started realizing what the purse ldy behind us had done... By removing that wall.. when people were in her booth they would bend over and see the purses in front of.. people were leaving her booth and going to the couple in front of me to buy them cheaper.. LOL we counted all day this happened! LOL I cracked up. She hung her ownself by trying to get back at me...
The nerve of some people...
I met a soap lady there.. she was located in the building before me. My sister inlaw had told me there was another soaper there, and a bath & body lady who didnt have soap... So I went to the booth to see if I knew her or not... I get there.. and I recognize the lady.. She had been at my booth that Friday checking out all of my stuff. She didnt tell me she was a vendor, or a soaper :? hmmmm... So she smiles and say.. "oh you have nice stuff, I dont like putting so much time into mines like you do" I checked out her stuff... Basic, sloppy packed with tape on the back... $2.75 a bar, compared to my $6.00 a bar.. How will she ever make money? who knows..
We made friends.. she said she wanted to swap soap.. I said fine.. I took two of hers for one of mine.. She wanted to have a soap talk in January, we talked but of course I could tell she didnt want to tell me much.. which was ok.. No competition whatsoever... She soaps with Babassu Oil, I asked "Oh do you get it local?" She says "You can buy it from me..." I smirked.. when I was at her booth says says "Oh I sell displays as well" I said "Ok, thanks" They were cardboard displays, I know where to get them from... I left..
I am a little skeptical about her.. we will see...
The bath & body lady.. was just.. :roll: rude like. I said hello, she said "your the soaper" I said "yes" she said nothing else.. I said "good luck in the show" She didnt even smile LOL..
On the plus side... I had a lady come into my booth after the drama.. she smelled and touched everything.. her and this other lady with her... spoke very silently between them.. I said "If there is anything you have questions about just let me know" They smiled and said "ok"... they said about 10mins or so.. I found it odd...
Before she leaves she turns around and says "Do you make this yourself?" I said "yes, I do" she then says "Do you make alot of it?" I said "Umm, yes, I do" She says.. I am an owner of a boutique and I love your upscale packaging, Im very impressed and would love to have your items in my store." I said :shock: "Ok," She gave me a card and told me a little about her store, and told me to set up an appointment with her manager. I said "Ok" so the show ended. My items are still there.. its security guarded for the week.. which was nice I didnt have to tear down my stuff, its all still setup, I am just bringing my tent and some other items when I go back...
On the way home today, I get a call from a lady who picked up my card and brochure and invited me to Discovery Bay for a show on the 8th, she really liked the look of my items, and there is no vendor fee.. I said sure why not... I will call you on Tuesday.
I get home... and the store lady called me :shock: She says "Im sorry, i couldnt wait for you to call me, can we set up an appointment? I really want to have your items here before the holiday kicks in" I said.. sure.. She said "I showed my manager your website and everything, and she loved it.. you fit so well here.....I smiled. My appointment is on Thursday at 1pm before I go to my show.
I get on the computer to check my email... i got an email that said this..
This email.. just made my weekend.. I love it!
I been away for a long long time! WOW!
I left on Thursday afternoon to go to my first part of my 6 day show.
First I want to thank you Paul, for the call. I didnt get it until I got to my hotel that evening and checked my messages. I was so teary eyed. I thank you so much for your support!
From all of you! Your support helped me get through this trying week and weekend with this show. And I couldnt have done it without my soap family. As some of you know I have many hats.... single mother of two, full time college student, a police dispatcher, and my business. My family is all in the bay area, I am in Sacramento alone, with not many friends I can count on... So thank you very much for all of your kindness!
Before I left, I took my printer over to my ex mother-inlaws house and finally gained access to yahoo and printed labels... YEAH! I left three hours behind schedule from so much running around.
The show is about 1 1/2 hours away from home (one way) So I got there about 4:30ish.. The kids were with me. (They were so good through it) I unpacked and started to set up. I left about 6:30pm. I didnt realize I had to bring my tent or anything. It said inside space.. they failed to mention that I needed the tent anyway. So I just said.. "lemons, lemonade" I then drove my children to San Francisco (another 1 hour away) to drop them off. My grandmother insisted I stay there because she could tell I was just beyond exhausted and may be dangeros on the highway going to the hotel. I told her.. I was fine.. I would make it there.
I get to the hotel about 10:30pm or so.. after getting lost. Nasty Motel 6 .. ewwwww.. but I fell out. i dont remember even turning on the **** tv.
I get up the following morning at 6am, to meet my mother at the gat for 7:30am. I get there, she is waiting.. we go in.. I didnt like the way the setup looked so we changed it multiple times. I truly didnt bring all of the stuff I had.. so it looked somewhat empty... at that point I didnt care. "lemons, lemonade"
So we had to figure out how to hang the banner. I politely ask the lady behind me.. "may i hang my banner on the back of your tent? " She says yes, and up went the banner.
So, the as the show opens (10am) there was a purse couple in front of me, a purse lady behind me, and a different kind of purse guy on my left side :shock: TOO MANY **** PURSES! The purse people in front of my were very friendly, and had great prices (45.00 was the most expensive one) (knock-offs) My mother being a purse addict wanted to look at them. I saw the purse I wanted and she pursed it for my for christmas after that.. she went crazy.
Through the couse of the day, my other pursed 2 more purses, the puse guy on our left was very jealous.. he kept saying with an asian accent "you make more money to buy more purses from them" he constantly repeated this to my mother over the course of the whole day. Friday was slow sales.
Saturday comes.. it was very busy that day. My mother pursed another purse, my sister-inlaw came to help out that day. I was busy.. I was happy... But the purse couple across from me was making a killing to where, the guy on the left, and the lady behind me found their way to their booth to see what they were doing... The lady behind me had the same exact purses but 40.00 more! :shock: the guy on the left had "santa fe looking purses make of leatherly orange type of stuff" He started searching the inside of the couples purses trying to figure out where they were purchasing these purses. The lady behind, she checked out their prices. I laughed. I purchased my second purse during this. The husband says "I dont know why they keep coming over there, Im not telling them nothing, they need to just stay at their booths and leave us along" I told him "I agree"
As the day go by, the purse couple make a lot of money... and the more the other two vendors got upset. I am about $60.00 shy of my $240.00 booth fee currently, so I hope these 3 days left are successful.
Sunday comes.
Here is the drama...
Sunday my mother and I show up, and one of the ladys from the booth behind us didnt show up.. I didnt think nothing of it..
Well the lady turns around and tells my mother...
"You have to take your sign down, we are leaving today" My mother said ok.. and I said.. alright.. and began taking it down...
During this process she is yanking the tarp hard.. and I told her "dont know my stuff off my table" She didnt pay attention... my mother got upset.. and said "she isnt suppose to be tearing down early, Im going to go get the manager"
She goes off.. and I started moving my stuff out of the way...
The lady turns around after she got the tarp down and her purses are not hanging over my soap in MY tent....
"My sister is upset with you" I said "uh? why?" She says "Because you brought all of your purses from them, and you said she was checking out their prices" I said "WHAT!" I got so angry :x :x :x
I said "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME, YOUR SISTER DIDNT SHOW UP BECAUSE SHE IS BEING A BRATTY BITCH ABOUT ME BUYING PURSES! AND HAD YOU TAKE THIS DOWN BECAUSE OF MY BANNER! TELL THAT BITCH TO GROW THE HELL UP!" I was so upset.. my mother came back with the manager.. I took the manager outside and told her what was going on... the manager said she would take care of it, they had the same problem with them last year, and that they would not be welcomed back...
So meanwhile the manager and I are looking at my tent... and it looked like I was sellign purses.. you could barely see my soaps... I was going to strangle that lady.. and she had the nerves to laugh about it... the manager left.. she went to talk to them, and then to the purse couple across from me...
After the manager left.. I walked to the back of my booth and said "If one of your purses fall on my stuff, its going to be me and you" And she then stopped lauging...
:evil: :evil: :evil:
For the rest of th day, I perked myself up, my mother and I started realizing what the purse ldy behind us had done... By removing that wall.. when people were in her booth they would bend over and see the purses in front of.. people were leaving her booth and going to the couple in front of me to buy them cheaper.. LOL we counted all day this happened! LOL I cracked up. She hung her ownself by trying to get back at me...
The nerve of some people...
I met a soap lady there.. she was located in the building before me. My sister inlaw had told me there was another soaper there, and a bath & body lady who didnt have soap... So I went to the booth to see if I knew her or not... I get there.. and I recognize the lady.. She had been at my booth that Friday checking out all of my stuff. She didnt tell me she was a vendor, or a soaper :? hmmmm... So she smiles and say.. "oh you have nice stuff, I dont like putting so much time into mines like you do" I checked out her stuff... Basic, sloppy packed with tape on the back... $2.75 a bar, compared to my $6.00 a bar.. How will she ever make money? who knows..
We made friends.. she said she wanted to swap soap.. I said fine.. I took two of hers for one of mine.. She wanted to have a soap talk in January, we talked but of course I could tell she didnt want to tell me much.. which was ok.. No competition whatsoever... She soaps with Babassu Oil, I asked "Oh do you get it local?" She says "You can buy it from me..." I smirked.. when I was at her booth says says "Oh I sell displays as well" I said "Ok, thanks" They were cardboard displays, I know where to get them from... I left..
I am a little skeptical about her.. we will see...
The bath & body lady.. was just.. :roll: rude like. I said hello, she said "your the soaper" I said "yes" she said nothing else.. I said "good luck in the show" She didnt even smile LOL..
On the plus side... I had a lady come into my booth after the drama.. she smelled and touched everything.. her and this other lady with her... spoke very silently between them.. I said "If there is anything you have questions about just let me know" They smiled and said "ok"... they said about 10mins or so.. I found it odd...
Before she leaves she turns around and says "Do you make this yourself?" I said "yes, I do" she then says "Do you make alot of it?" I said "Umm, yes, I do" She says.. I am an owner of a boutique and I love your upscale packaging, Im very impressed and would love to have your items in my store." I said :shock: "Ok," She gave me a card and told me a little about her store, and told me to set up an appointment with her manager. I said "Ok" so the show ended. My items are still there.. its security guarded for the week.. which was nice I didnt have to tear down my stuff, its all still setup, I am just bringing my tent and some other items when I go back...
On the way home today, I get a call from a lady who picked up my card and brochure and invited me to Discovery Bay for a show on the 8th, she really liked the look of my items, and there is no vendor fee.. I said sure why not... I will call you on Tuesday.
I get home... and the store lady called me :shock: She says "Im sorry, i couldnt wait for you to call me, can we set up an appointment? I really want to have your items here before the holiday kicks in" I said.. sure.. She said "I showed my manager your website and everything, and she loved it.. you fit so well here.....I smiled. My appointment is on Thursday at 1pm before I go to my show.
I get on the computer to check my email... i got an email that said this..
To: [email protected]
Subject: Soaps
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:50:22 +0000
Hello,
I purchased some soaps from you at the Antioch boutique this past Friday. I thought you might like a little feedback.
I saw other handmade soaps at a different booth before passing yours Friday, but I didn't purchase any of those soaps because they were sloppily wrapped, too big, and just plain unattractive.
It was not until I got home and read through the material that you had put in my bag that I really got a sense of what Smell It Like It Is is all about. I am so impressed! You do an excellent job! I just love your words of inspiration!
Lesli
This email.. just made my weekend.. I love it!