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View Full Version : Fair Booth Concerns
LBSLOTT
05-08-2007, 01:49 PM
Ok, I've been in my Mia Bella Candle business almost a year, and I wanted to get into the fair/show avenue. But I kept putting it off, because I'm breastfeeding and my 7 mo. old DD won't take a bottle. Well, I came across a fair that just seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up. It's a "Ladies Day Out" shopping Extravaganza, so there's going to be lots of ladies shopping, and possibly looking for a business to do too. So I signed up and paid the fee. Well, it's in two weeks and I've been trying to get DD to take a sippy, but to no avail yet. I already asked my mom if I couldn't get DD to take it before then, if she would mind coming and me bringing the baby with me and she "man" the booth when I need to go feed her, and go feed her in the car or something.
But I'm getting really nervous about it. This is my first show ever, plus my DD usually doesn't just eat when you put her to the breast. Sometimes it takes me hours just to get her to eat good. Most of the time she'll eat like 3-5 minutes and then be hungry again in like 30 min. to an hour. She has GERD (acid reflux) and now she's teething, plus I just classify her as high needs (she hardly ever let's me put her down). Now this could go two different ways. Either, she'll be distracted by all the patrons and be quiet and entertained. Or, she'll be overstimulated by it all and get cranky and cause a scene.
I just really don't know what to do. The fair is 9-4, plus set-up and clean up, so its pretty much all day. The fee was said to be non-refundable, non-transferrable, but i'm leaning towards either just swallowing that sunk cost, or seeing if I can back out and get a refund under these special circumstances. I'm just really nervous about how all this will go. Any advice? What would you do? Edited by: LBSLOTT
But I'm getting really nervous about it. This is my first show ever, plus my DD usually doesn't just eat when you put her to the breast. Sometimes it takes me hours just to get her to eat good. Most of the time she'll eat like 3-5 minutes and then be hungry again in like 30 min. to an hour. She has GERD (acid reflux) and now she's teething, plus I just classify her as high needs (she hardly ever let's me put her down). Now this could go two different ways. Either, she'll be distracted by all the patrons and be quiet and entertained. Or, she'll be overstimulated by it all and get cranky and cause a scene.
I just really don't know what to do. The fair is 9-4, plus set-up and clean up, so its pretty much all day. The fee was said to be non-refundable, non-transferrable, but i'm leaning towards either just swallowing that sunk cost, or seeing if I can back out and get a refund under these special circumstances. I'm just really nervous about how all this will go. Any advice? What would you do? Edited by: LBSLOTT
LDYAPXR
05-08-2007, 02:13 PM
First things first, I worked in peds and I breastfed my son until he was 9mo old and the only bottle he would take was Avent and I swear by them. I do not think it would be a good idea to take her at all because you will be too distracted worrying about her and the customers will see it in your face and be less likely to want to "bother" you. If you know what I mean. I don't know but I doubt that you will get your $$$ refunded unless there was a death in the family or something of that nature. I do not think that they would consider a high maintenance baby special circumstances because they would most likely ask you why you even applied knowing how your daughter is. Not to be mean or anything but I have organized events that have been "no refund" and I have heard more stories than you can imagine. LOL
Also, she is too young to be on a sippy at 7mo. Try the Avent bottles(available at Target, Walmart etc) and pump, pump, pump! LOL
Also, she is too young to be on a sippy at 7mo. Try the Avent bottles(available at Target, Walmart etc) and pump, pump, pump! LOL
Candlemama
05-08-2007, 02:56 PM
oh, girl, I totally understand. I remember working a fair when my DD was about the exact same age. She never took a bottle either. I was her bottle. http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif
Wanna know what I did? I brought her with me. Yup. I brought my bjorn, and her busy thing that she could sit in and play. I actually just nursed her right there on the spot. It's a women's show, right?My daughter
loved it, the customers LOVED it, and actually I think, made me more approachable!
What better way to show women that mom's of babies can work this business. How far is your mom from the event? If DD becomes fussy, would she be able to come get her and try taking her for a walk to soother her?
It all depends on how YOU go into it as well. If you go into it stressed to the gills about it, DD will feel that and probably be stressed. Just go into it matter of factly and git 'er done.
At this point, over a year later, it's weird when I DON'T have my kids with me! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif
I agree with Darlene in that she's a little too young for a sippy, especially if you've been trying and she's been refusing. Let it go, and start changing your outlook on how it will go. It is was it is, and it's no biggie. ;)
Plus, it's just ONE day. In the grand scheme of things that's nothing. Have your mom come with you (if possible) to help you with baby while you set up. Have her stay a bit, see how baby does. Then have her come back at break down time and voila!
Wanna know what I did? I brought her with me. Yup. I brought my bjorn, and her busy thing that she could sit in and play. I actually just nursed her right there on the spot. It's a women's show, right?My daughter
loved it, the customers LOVED it, and actually I think, made me more approachable!
What better way to show women that mom's of babies can work this business. How far is your mom from the event? If DD becomes fussy, would she be able to come get her and try taking her for a walk to soother her?
It all depends on how YOU go into it as well. If you go into it stressed to the gills about it, DD will feel that and probably be stressed. Just go into it matter of factly and git 'er done.
At this point, over a year later, it's weird when I DON'T have my kids with me! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif
I agree with Darlene in that she's a little too young for a sippy, especially if you've been trying and she's been refusing. Let it go, and start changing your outlook on how it will go. It is was it is, and it's no biggie. ;)
Plus, it's just ONE day. In the grand scheme of things that's nothing. Have your mom come with you (if possible) to help you with baby while you set up. Have her stay a bit, see how baby does. Then have her come back at break down time and voila!
05-08-2007, 05:30 PM
I'm glad you came here! I was wondering if you were going to - but all the women on here know a LOT and can really help! Good to see ya!
LBSLOTT
05-08-2007, 06:45 PM
Yeh, I will probably take her play yard and take her and my mom. (My mom is a great Salesperson, too!) I was actually thinking that having a cute adorable baby might attract more people! LOL But I'm just worried she will instead be an unattractive screaming baby the whole time! LOL
I guess I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best. If she starts fussing, my mom can take her for a walk or something.
I guess I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best. If she starts fussing, my mom can take her for a walk or something.
Candlemama
05-08-2007, 08:21 PM
No way! Other women and mom's TOTALLY get it when the baby is crying. Dang, girl, you may end up making sympathy sales! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif
It's so funny, Once you have a kid your days of traveling light are long gone. (ie, your baby, the play yard, your mom...lol...)
It's so funny, Once you have a kid your days of traveling light are long gone. (ie, your baby, the play yard, your mom...lol...)
Livvy
05-08-2007, 08:55 PM
LBSLOTT,
Good luck with your fair booth! Just think positive. You will do great, I'll cheer you from all the way in Oregon smileys/smiley1.gif.
Olivia
Good luck with your fair booth! Just think positive. You will do great, I'll cheer you from all the way in Oregon smileys/smiley1.gif.
Olivia
happymommy
05-08-2007, 09:32 PM
Are you trying to get her to take the bottle yourself? Some babies will refuse the bottle from Mom, but will take it from others. You may even have to leave the house. Either way, I'm sure you will do just fine! You'll figure it out and if you have your mom there, it will be no problem. Just picture her having a great time and being happy! If you need to take her away for a quiet break in the car, your mom can man the booth for a bit.
Good luck!
Good luck!
CarmenJ
06-02-2007, 02:17 PM
How did the fair go?
When I do craft fairs, I'll probably have DD with me, so I'd love to hear every little detail! smileys/smiley20.gifsmileys/smiley27.gif
When I do craft fairs, I'll probably have DD with me, so I'd love to hear every little detail! smileys/smiley20.gifsmileys/smiley27.gif
Candlemama
06-02-2007, 08:10 PM
oh, my gosh, I'd love to know too! I totally forgot about this! I had no problem with my daughter being at my events. Now that she's two....it's a wee bit different of a story http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif
nwells
06-03-2007, 09:14 AM
Been there... this is what I did, take her with me but when she gets fussy have grandma walk around with her for 10-15 minutes then bring her back to you. Now take her and feed her and she will eat pretty well. I breast feed my last daughter until 18 months. I also worked the whole time. Feed her before the show starts. When I was out and about is the only time my daughter didn't want to be feed all the time.
Hope this helps, Nicole
Hope this helps, Nicole
LBSLOTT
06-03-2007, 11:50 AM
Well, as for the update....Things with my daughter going to the fair went fine. I just went out to the car and fed her there. Most of the time she was interested in what all was going on enough to keep her happy.
As for the fair, otherwise...It was a downer. The whole day, we all had maybe 5 or 6 non-vendor customers. I think it was a very poor location, and maybe poor advertising. I was really disappointed in it, because I spent $75 for the booth, and at least $175 in products for it alone, and only sold a little over $100 worth. So anyway, I'm hoping to get some home parties and maybe another (cheap) fair lined up soon to sell the rest. But I had my hopes up really high for that show and what a bummer!
I did have one awkward situation. This girl and her mom were really interested in the candles and buying some, going around to all the vendors buying lots of stuff (with a credit card). She tried to buy a candle from me, but I don't have the means to take credit cards, so she didn't have any other means to pay (which i thought was weird), well then afterwards, my mom and & I were talking about how odd that was, and we notice they're sitting over by the "Party Lite" booth. And at first, I just thought they were kind of camping there for a minute, but no...they were with the Party lite group there..maybe family members or something. I dunno..but isn't that cooky?!!? Why would they want to buy a candle from me, when they or their family is selling candles? And then I thought it was really suspicious that they only could pay with a credit card (that they probably knew wouldn't be processed until the following monday when they would already have their candle). HMMmm...I dunno..anyway, they didn't scam me, if that's what they were up to.
As for the fair, otherwise...It was a downer. The whole day, we all had maybe 5 or 6 non-vendor customers. I think it was a very poor location, and maybe poor advertising. I was really disappointed in it, because I spent $75 for the booth, and at least $175 in products for it alone, and only sold a little over $100 worth. So anyway, I'm hoping to get some home parties and maybe another (cheap) fair lined up soon to sell the rest. But I had my hopes up really high for that show and what a bummer!
I did have one awkward situation. This girl and her mom were really interested in the candles and buying some, going around to all the vendors buying lots of stuff (with a credit card). She tried to buy a candle from me, but I don't have the means to take credit cards, so she didn't have any other means to pay (which i thought was weird), well then afterwards, my mom and & I were talking about how odd that was, and we notice they're sitting over by the "Party Lite" booth. And at first, I just thought they were kind of camping there for a minute, but no...they were with the Party lite group there..maybe family members or something. I dunno..but isn't that cooky?!!? Why would they want to buy a candle from me, when they or their family is selling candles? And then I thought it was really suspicious that they only could pay with a credit card (that they probably knew wouldn't be processed until the following monday when they would already have their candle). HMMmm...I dunno..anyway, they didn't scam me, if that's what they were up to.
