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Prepare for Fair
Jun. 26th, 2004 06:40 pmOne more item off the resolution list... Prepare for Fair was today. Like last year, we had a ton of stuff, from the "Someone might like it" to "that's pretty cool." But unlike last year, not a ton of people. We had a pile of wenches early in the morning, and we had some drive-bys (some of whom bought stuff, unlike last year.)
Kathy's got the official count, but right now it's something like $1800, roughly a grand lower than last year. And my basement is once again stuffed to the gills with things, which I did not want.
Things that flew out last year didn't get a sniff this year. Aloe plants. Cloaks. Carry and picnic baskets. Feast gear. Some of the best - a couple of baskets with wine glasses, a men's doublet, a reversible bodice, a cloak, etc. Those were saved from the "burnoff" where stock was sold at rock-bottom prices to the helpers, and will be put up on ebay. The proceeds will be forwarded to Kathy and considered part of Prepare for Fair.
To try to appeal to the drive-bys (and to up the chances for sales) I had tossed in for this day only ALL of my books - the ones I was donating to charity plus the collectables that had been waiting for me to get to a book convention "someday." Those books will be packed up again and given to charity now. (Again.)
And then there's the stuff that has been put out for two sales in a row and not moved, not even during the burnoff. For those, I think it's time to simply put them out on a table marked "free" during the next town-wide yardsale. Life is short, space is limited, and we've had two cracks at them for both full and rock-bottom prices. It's a pretty safe bet that they're simply not of interest.
The future of Prepare for Fair is somewhat in doubt. While making almost two grand is most assuredly not a failure, it's not a success either, particularly compared with last year. I'm going to clear out the really unsuccessful merchandise and take a year off. We'll see how I feel in 2006. I would like to do one of these for a charity of my choosing! The MS seed money and Colon Cancer research are worthy charities, but I'd like to do one for Alzheimers.
Kathy's got the official count, but right now it's something like $1800, roughly a grand lower than last year. And my basement is once again stuffed to the gills with things, which I did not want.
Things that flew out last year didn't get a sniff this year. Aloe plants. Cloaks. Carry and picnic baskets. Feast gear. Some of the best - a couple of baskets with wine glasses, a men's doublet, a reversible bodice, a cloak, etc. Those were saved from the "burnoff" where stock was sold at rock-bottom prices to the helpers, and will be put up on ebay. The proceeds will be forwarded to Kathy and considered part of Prepare for Fair.
To try to appeal to the drive-bys (and to up the chances for sales) I had tossed in for this day only ALL of my books - the ones I was donating to charity plus the collectables that had been waiting for me to get to a book convention "someday." Those books will be packed up again and given to charity now. (Again.)
And then there's the stuff that has been put out for two sales in a row and not moved, not even during the burnoff. For those, I think it's time to simply put them out on a table marked "free" during the next town-wide yardsale. Life is short, space is limited, and we've had two cracks at them for both full and rock-bottom prices. It's a pretty safe bet that they're simply not of interest.
The future of Prepare for Fair is somewhat in doubt. While making almost two grand is most assuredly not a failure, it's not a success either, particularly compared with last year. I'm going to clear out the really unsuccessful merchandise and take a year off. We'll see how I feel in 2006. I would like to do one of these for a charity of my choosing! The MS seed money and Colon Cancer research are worthy charities, but I'd like to do one for Alzheimers.
