andrealh1975

Here are the others...

After stressing out for several weeks, I've been able to get my own little retail space. It's not as big as I wanted...I wanted to be able to make candles in back and sell out front. But, you can't always get what you want, right? The space is in a shopping center about a 5 minute drive from my house. It's inside of a larger space that's owned by a husband and wife. It has other retail spaces (shoes, clothes, purses, books), a spa and an art gallery. It also has space where they do hair and nails and a beauty supply store. I'll be moving in starting this weekend and will have my grand opening the Fri, Sat & Sun after Thanksgiving. It's small, but I have to start somewhere. I'm able to set my own hours and the owner gave me lower rent for my 1st 6 months. Here are a few pics, I'll take more when it's stocked.

Very nice, I want one!!!!

That's true...I'll keep it the same way and see what happens. I might do a mock set-up at home and play around w/ some ideas.

I recently started putting my jar labels on the tops instead of the sides and plan on putting my jars on cardboard risers...Those of you who put your labels on top, how do you display your jars?

I definitely WON'T be going on tv!! She has been denied space in the show and there's no guarantee I'll be able to sell the space. Once vendors knew there were no more spaces left, they started getting into other shows for that day. If I can find someone who wants her space she'll still have to take care of all the fees, etc.

Same here, most times I wait 10 days to be on the safe side...In some cases if the check is local you'll know if it bounced really fast. This particular check was deposited on a Monday morning, "available" on Tuesday at 12:01am and "taken back" because the check had bounced on Wednesday.

The bank first took back the amount of the check, then they took out the $5 fee. The fee was what caused the account to be overdrawn and the bank started adding fees each day the account was overdrawn.

I've called about 4 times and it's still not there.

When her check bounced I was charged $5 and the amount of the check was taken from my account. That $5 charge caused my account to be overdrawn and my bank usually charges a fee per day for your account being overdrawn. So I got charged fees for that too. The lady has been denied space, the show is next month. When I got the bounced check and fee charge notification from the bank, I called the lady and asked her to call me back. After a week of no call back I e-mailed her, no response. I then sent her a certified letter explaining what happened, what the charges were, a copy of what the bank sent me and a copy of the registration form hilighting the area that talks about vendors paying fees because of returned checks. She then called on Tuesday ranting and raving for 5 minutes on my voice mail saying she wasn't going to pay me anything. That she's talked to a lawyer and the lawyer said don't pay it and yadda, yadda, yadda. I've called and spoken to different people in the clerks office and they told me what procedure needs to be followed. So, I'm doing what I'm supposed to do to work on getting my money back. The total I've incurred from all of this is $290 which includes the amount of her check.

Believe me, I wouldn't do it if she only owed $5. We're talking more than $250, it has nothing to do with being emotional. This is about business and principal. Especially when something was submitted in writing and she agreed to all of the conditions. You don't screw someone, especially when you, "really want to be in the show" as she stated and then expect there not to be consequences. I have several copies of everything, one of which is being submitted with the claim form.

Have any of you ever taken someone to small claims court? If so, how'd it work out? I have a situation where a vendor paid for space in a show and her check bounced. It caused my account to be overdrawn and I've been charged additional fees by the bank. I contacted the vendor via voicemail, e-mail and certified letter, she refuses to pay as she doesn't think she has to pay anything. I do have a statement on the registration form that vendors are required to pay fees stemming from any returned checks. It also states that by sending in their form and payment they agree to all rules/regulations on the form. I'm filing the paperwork tomorrow and paying a little extra to have the sherrif deliver the summons to the lady at home. Let's hope it works.

Here's the link for them... http://secure.candlesupply.com/catalog_page_detail.cfm?queries_index=index7&title_bar=Plastic%20Flwr%20Pot%20Lid%20%2812%29&recordno=13&Product_CatalogID=546&ProductNumber=gLid&ProductCodeID=47&ProductSubCodeID=209&NewProduct=0 FYI - These tops fit the Crisa brand of Flower Pot holders perfectly.

Was hoping for something a bit bigger, but thanks!

Anyone know where I can find alphabet molds? I have a person asking for a candle that's shaped like the letter D. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

You also might want to take a look at Vistaprint. They are always having sales and you can get brochures down w/ them for dirt cheap. www.vistaprint.com

I'd planned on starting registration for my next show a year in advance, but I have a lot of people (more than 15), who couldn't get into this years show so they want to sign up for next year now. So, they would be signing up about 13-1/2 months in advance.

What's the furthest in advance that you will sign up for a show?

BizzyB does logos for about $45.

You could also print in a different color instead of black. That way you can keep that same candle color AND your clear labels.

I agree that friendship and business don't mix. But, if this is something you decide to go through with, just make sure you both are on the same page. Make sure you put everything in writing.

My shows thus far have been ok. I had 2 in the spring, the crowd was excellent, but the sales could have been better. I expect the falls shows to be better.

I'm needing to revamp my feedback form for my upcoming show. It will include the following (not in this particular order): 1. Location of Event 2. Location Amenities 3. Advertising 4. Set up of space 5. Price per booth/table 6. Coordination of Event 7. The likelihood you will do the event again next year 8. Food/beverage Comments Numbers 1-8 will include a scale in which they can choose from Poor (1) to Excellent (5). What else should I include?

Yeah, it's lots of hard work...After my last show there was a vendor who wanted to do her own show and thought that it was a piece of cake. Unfortunately, it bombed. The show at this place in the ghetto and a well known high crime area. She charged $100 per space and have room for 70 vendors. She only gpt 8 including herself and had to come out of her pocket to pay the rest of the $2400 space. Not to mention, when I went to the show, she wasn't even there. She's now realized it's not as easy as it looks and location means a hell of a lot!!!

There is a deadline on the form and each time I talk to a potential vendor I mention it again. There are a handful of regulars that should they need something special I would do my best to accomodate them. But, I've been dealing with people who's VERY FIRST conversation with me starts off with, "Can you hold a space for me, I'll send the payment in 3 weeks." HECK NO!!!