Teach Soap

My husband and I have been doing 3 farmers markets, one of which ended two weeks ago. The other 2 are run by a great lady that does a wonderful job, in fact we joined the third because it is at her son's garden nursery shop. That farmers market is outdoors on Friday evenings until October when it moves into the nursery's gift shop. In November, it becomes their winter market and moves to Sunday mornings. We've done very well there. Too well it seems. Yesterday we found out that the gift shop manager doesn't want us indoors because we are too much competition. They sell some expensive soaps inside so we are in direct competition. Weren't we when they accepted us? Aren't we now through October? I'm so upset not to have this great place to sell our soaps through the holidays. The lady running the farmers market is fighting to get us in but it doesn't sound good. She invites us to participate in other events because she says we have quality products but that won't replace a consistent place to sell our soap. It is time to send in the application for the winter part of the farmers market so I have no idea what to do. Any ideas out there? I could sure use some good advice!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

I have zero experience in sellling my products...farmer's markets or otherwise...but I just wanted to express how sorry I am. Pretty poor sport that shop manager is. You'd think that would push them to make better product to try to out do you. Instead they flex their "muscle" and try to ban the competition. That stinks.

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Lisa
“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul” ~ Yiddish proverb

That's awful, Linda! Having used your soap, I can see why they feel threatened. I bet the soaps in her shop aren't even hand made.
That's as bad as having a soapmaker at a market who thinks she should be the only soapmaker there. Competition is a good thing.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

You might try talking to the Gift shop manager and see if he will buy some of your soaps for the shop. Working together might be the answer, both of you still get some sales of it.

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Dawn

You are right when they should have taken this into consideration before you started. But unless you can cut a deal with them I don't know if you have many options. You could look for another place to sell... what is the local competion for this place? Maybe they would welcome you with open arms. If there is no where else, I would do the other events. And I would start handing out cards or flyers to those who come to your booth now so they know where to find you.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Boo! Friendly competition isn't necessarily a bad thing! Those people need to watch "Miracle on 34th Street". Somehow this will come back and bite them on the soap (toosh, since I suspect the forum will change the other to soap)!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Thanks guys! I'm feeling a little better and grateful you guys let me whine and still gave me some good advice. I'm going to talk with Teri first (the woman running the farmers market) and then see if I can work out something with the gift shop manager. I've started looking out for alternate venues too. Hopefully this is one of those "When a door closes, somewhere a window opens" kind of situations.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Hooray! Just found out yesterday that we will be allowed into the winter market! *Let's out huge sigh of relief.* Funny how much I was going to miss the other vendors bothered me as much as not being able to participate. Thanks everyone!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

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Lisa
“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul” ~ Yiddish proverb

That's wonderful news! Hooray for you!
I have fun with the other market vendors, too, and it always seems off if one of them isn't there.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I'm very happy you get to participate in the winter market. That being said, you still need to find a place for after the winter market so you can hand out flyers during winter market on where you can be found! I hope you sell out !

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!