My Apologies, it won't happen again

I just looked at my blog and re-read my last post. That was a little negative, I apologize. I don't want to be that person. I think I was just a little down from the market the day before. I certainly don't want to offend anyone, or alienate anyone. I was having a moment and I probably shouldn't share those moments, while in the moment of having a moment. If you know what I mean!

Park Silly Sunday Market and Access Hollywood

So so sorry that I haven't blogged about the market. Yesterday was the 4th week and I keep meaning to bring my camera and always forget. I didn't want to talk about it without pictures but at this rate, the market will be over before I remember to bring my camera.

The market has been interesting. How's that for pc? I've been struggling a bit with this market. I can't figure out the client base here. The Salt Lake Farmers' Market was mostly young and hip. I feel like my style sense worked very well there. Park Silly on the other hand, who are these people? Please don't be offended that I have skulls on t-shirts or that I want to dress your baby in a black onesie. It's all very tasteful. It doesn't help that in Salt Lake I was pretty much the only booth selling baby clothes and in Park City there are like 8 booths selling baby clothes. The women right across from me, Meg and Katherine are selling baby clothes. Their items are different from mine, yes, but I'm sure they are as thrilled as I am every week that we are basically watching eachother make sales that would have, could have been ours alone. It's a good thing that they are super nice so I don't have to hate them!

Then up the way is another woman selling, get this, screen printed onesies! It's a competition! At first our stuff was pretty equally priced. Now, she has lowered her prices. I'm struggling if I should do the same. Across from her is a woman selling onesies with flocked prints. Had I known all this, I wouldn't have even applied for this market. I don't really think its very fair to the vendors who pay a lot for a space each week and drive from the city each week.

My one claim to fame is that Billy Bush, the host of Access Hollywood came into my booth last week and bought a dress for his daughter. Did you know he is a cousin to the current president? He was very nice.

I have been struggling with pricing issues lately. I feel like the average customer doesn't appreciate the time, effort, skill, thought, artistic eye, personal style and God knows what else that goes into making a handmade object. Our current trend of throw away products had made it very hard for people to appreciate something well made and hand made. Look at the WalMart culture for example. It doesn't matter that the shirt you buy was made with crappy inferior fabrics and at that price point it was made in a child labor sweat shop at the price of personal injury, long greuling hours, probably awful and hazardous working conditions. As long as its cheap... And when it falls apart in two washes, you can just run right back and keep the cycle going.

The reason I bring this up is that two really cool things happend to me, yesterday and today. First, I was on etsy chiming in on a thread about not underselling your product just to make a sale. Someone contacted me with good advice and and kind words. I was very grateful to find that email this morning. Then, yesterday as my husband was telling me I should lower my prices, a woman came into my booth, asked about my stuffed animals, who was the artist? she asked my husband. She didn't even flinch at the price, (there only $20 for god's sake) and then she asked me to sign it. So sweet. I can't tell you how the little things can make up for all the other stuff!

Bubble and Bee, my favorite!

So, another one of my favorites is Bubble and Bee. They were our neighbors at the Salt Lake Farmers' Market last summer. All of their products are organic and made locally. I love their stuff! I went to the market last saturday and yes, they are going to be there all summer again this year. I stopped by to say hi to Steph and found out that Whole Foods Market has picked up their entire line of products and will be selling it in all of their Utah stores! How exciting! I'm so happy for them. They have worked so hard over this past year. And really, it couldn't have happened to nicer people.

They also have a very interesting blog that I think everyone should read. It's full of stuff you really should know (maybe don't want to know) about the world of chemicals and beauty products.