I went to sell in a market for the first time last Wednesday with my kid. It was a school book and crafts fair. It has not been open for four years since the pandemic. This year, there were more than twenty stands, all selling handmade items by students and their families. It has been a fun and new experience.
Before the fair, I thought about what and how many items I should bring. I have had two thoughts going back and forth: what if too many people buy, and I need more items to sell? What if people don't purchase, and I have a lot of leftovers?
I had seven dozen cookies and thirteen jars of quince jam. Then, I made two quiches and a dozen blueberry muffins—items that can last and do not need to be refrigerated.
My kid was excited to help me with set up and selling. He was handling the jam to the clients; some were his teachers and classmates, or counting change from the cash box. If nobody buys it now, he asks, "Mom, why nobody comes to buy it."
Later, he started to take a dollar or two and came back with lumpia and apple juice from other stands. He got so excited about buying stuff by himself. He took the whole cash box away and tried to purchase slime and 3D printing fidgets till I called him back.
A high schooler was selling her book about climate change. Some sixth graders were selling cookies, muffins, and apple ciders; everything was one dollar each, and 75% of the sales went to charity. There are also pickles, plants, paintings, quits, and babysitting services—a little bit of everything.
Two boys were selling cookies next to me. One dropped the whole cookie pan on the ground when they set up. They almost wanted to cry. Their mom came and helped them to pick it up. They felt better when they found they could still use some intact ones.
Alma, one of my long-time clients and friends, came to the stand; it was a surprise. She bought all the big quince jam and other pastries—a massive support to me.
When dark arrived, we cleaned up and gave away some blueberry muffins to our neighbors. Then we headed home.
So, it was not like I needed more items or had too many, it was in the middle. I sold more than half of them, and, I saw many smiling faces.
I had seven dozen cookies and thirteen jars of quince jam. Then, I made two quiches and a dozen blueberry muffins—items that can last and do not need to be refrigerated.
My kid was excited to help me with set up and selling. He was handling the jam to the clients; some were his teachers and classmates, or counting change from the cash box. If nobody buys it now, he asks, "Mom, why nobody comes to buy it."
Later, he started to take a dollar or two and came back with lumpia and apple juice from other stands. He got so excited about buying stuff by himself. He took the whole cash box away and tried to purchase slime and 3D printing fidgets till I called him back.
A high schooler was selling her book about climate change. Some sixth graders were selling cookies, muffins, and apple ciders; everything was one dollar each, and 75% of the sales went to charity. There are also pickles, plants, paintings, quits, and babysitting services—a little bit of everything.
Two boys were selling cookies next to me. One dropped the whole cookie pan on the ground when they set up. They almost wanted to cry. Their mom came and helped them to pick it up. They felt better when they found they could still use some intact ones.
Alma, one of my long-time clients and friends, came to the stand; it was a surprise. She bought all the big quince jam and other pastries—a massive support to me.
When dark arrived, we cleaned up and gave away some blueberry muffins to our neighbors. Then we headed home.
So, it was not like I needed more items or had too many, it was in the middle. I sold more than half of them, and, I saw many smiling faces.
