Atlanta Gift Show (take two)

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Originally uploaded by mama_lentz.

January 18, 2007.

After a hard day of standing around smiling and talking and nodding to customers what's a girl to do? Why if you ask my mom (and she should know) you go to Mexican food and drink a margarita!

This photo was taken Saturday night, and my good, good NEW friend London Edwards (mylittledish.com) came to the show and took me around, showed me the ropes and then we went out!

I am happy to say this friendship has probably been the best thing to come from writing this blog.  If you are a frequent reader, you will know she sent the most kind email and we have since traded emails back and forth IM'ed like we were in junior high and laughed at our plight as 'mompreneurs' more than I can remember (and we only 'met' in November). I wish more people had felt comfortable as her and willing to comment on my blogs....but I read other blogs too and NEVER have the nerve to comment, so se' la ve - or um, whatever, but it has been great (and I LOVE it!).

Anyway - I learned quite a bit at the show (one don't eat the tacos at the Mexican place at the mall across from the AtlantaGiftMart...I repeat do NOT eat the tacos!) Here are a few 'more productive' things I have learned:

• Sharing a booth can save on money, but hurt you in the end
• Being sandwiched between three importers is not where my line should be
• There actually IS a Children's Section at the show
• Breast feeding will happen very near you, in a near by booth
• Strangers in the south will help a 'lady' with her bags
• Cab drivers can be mean and yell at you
• The water in your hotel shower can and will turn ICE cold when you are at your worst
• People will be rude and stare at your stuff and make mean comments
• Customers and fans will seek you out, come to your booth, talk to you and LOVE your work
• Other vendors that you thought would come visit, will not
• Other vendors can be mean, clique' and very high school
• You should know what suitcase is yours when it goes around the carousel 7 times
• Importers can be very nice to speak with
• You may snore so loud you keep your bunk mate (Aunt) up all night
• Competing vendors will not always take kindly to you visiting their booth
• The southern twang or draaawl or accent is very contagious, "Don't Cha Just LOOOVE it?"
• People you thought you could count on, you can't
• An advertising rep for a magazine will use the phrase, "Can you dig it?"
• Family and friends will support you, help you, prop you up ALWAYS
• At the end of the day only you can assess the success or failure of your line

I will dive more into what went right and what went wrong at the show in later posts.  The show was a success, possibly a huge one.  We had a bluebird, literally at the eleventh hour.  Ten minutes before the show was to end a very large 'Channel' came by, loved our stuff and wants to do something with my art that is so in the infant stages I can't even mention it here for fear of screwing it up.........but it was great! 

I believe you can not assess a situation RIGHT after you leave it. Being totally anxious and having no patience, I have found it good to go back and chew on the information, look at the situation from all angles and really seeing what pro's and con's are from a given situation.   

 

Comments

[LondonE]

Okay, better late than never, right. I'm finally posting on our good time in Atlanta. It was such a joy!! and I mean joy, to meet my business soulmate in person. I'm just so thankful you didn't post the picture with my, eh-hem, cleavage! Thanks! Next dinner is all business talk and no politics. HAHA!

[Yuko Y]

I am considering Atlanta show in Jan,08 in temporary, jewelry & fashion acc's section. I have never done a show in the Eastern USA yet. I sell Japanese fashion acc's. Atlanta show is quite expensive so I am undecided yet. Would you recommend it?

[Timberland Footwear]

It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.