Don’t panic
or how I learned to stop worrying and bring snacks
I registered TreeLilys INC May 21, 2021. This year, 2022, is the first full calendar year of being a full-time small business owner and artist. I have learned A LOT in this time and I wanted to share this information with you. This is my own experience and does not reflect everyones. With that in mind, let’s begin.
Me with my small cooler of snacks.
Lessons
Save for the lean times
Bring Snacks
Not every opportunity is a good fit
Watch for scams
Keep your self-worth separate from your business
Network
Pack a fix-it-kit
Be kind
Ask for help
Simplify
Follow up
Flexibility is key
Bring snacks
When I was a waitress, I could snack on cold fries all shift- and if I was lucky, an entire untouched and incorrect meal would pop up and I’d swipe it before it hit the trash.
Being a vendor at an event is a different story. I have no coworkers and there is no kitchen to snag a snack from in a pinch. I have to be pretty much entirely self-sufficient which means I either have to
Plan ahead with a packed lunch/snack or
Bring money to spend at food trucks that are hopefully (and not always) available.
NEVER EAT IN YOUR BOOTH. This is a big one- it looks unprofessional and unapproachable. If I can, I leave my booth in sight but remove myself from it’s footprint at an opportune moment. If that is not possible, I duck down and pretend to be busy with something behind my art- using it as a shield from preying eyes. If someone enters my space, I put the food down and tend to them. I never ignore a potential customer.
Some great food items to bring include
Snacking nuts
Cheese
Dried fruit
Crackers
Chips
Chocolate
Smoothies
Energy bars
Trail mix
Sandwich
Mints for after I am finished
Being hungry makes me a poor salesman. It makes me irritable and anxious to leave…to go get food. When I take care of myself, I can more easily take care of my customers. It’s just science.
Also- bring SO MUCH WATER. Especially in the hot summer months. I can’t tell you how many times I have given extra water bottles to my vendor neighbors who seem to have forgotten theirs. Bring extra- always.
I have done events outside for 10 hours in 100+ degree weather. It is brutal. I have seen other vendors pass out from heat exhaustion and have had to go to a medical tent myself to overcome the dehydration that can sneak up on you. Drink water, y’all.
