Warners Bay Market
Dear Ann,
It was the day before Mother’s Day & the second Warners Bay Market. Even though I had asthma I was hell bent on soldiering on, as it is quite an up market & the people in charge look after me really well.
When I arrived at the venue at 7 a.m. Rhonda, from the Chamber of Commerce, who knows me from the Christmas Pudding era had two people ready o set up my gazebo, tables & unload the car for me. This is a tremendous help so all I have to do is arrange the produce on the tables.
I have always been good at sales & thought I was fairly good at marketing too, but I have learnt quite a lot since attending markets. On that particular day I set up my relish differently & wondered why I hadn’t been doing it that way all along, as it certainly made a difference.
I also learnt something from Charley who saw my market relish set up on my kitchen bench ready to load in the car. When she saw what I was charging for the very large bottles she advised me to put the price up as she said The Farmer’s Markets (huge affairs & very businesslike) sell jars that size for double the price, so I am learning!
I was well ready before starting time at 8 a.m, which was just as well as some of the stall holders who have others to help them come looking around the other stalls. That is something I can’t do being on my own.
I had already sold some largish jars to these people before the public came wandering in. It was only 8.15 a.m. when a lass arrived saying “Thank goodness you are here & I have found you. I have been out of relish for the past three weeks because I had all my neighbours in for them to try the relish on some biscuits & they all loved it.”
She then smartly said she would have two of the largest jars & two of the next size down. She wasn’t sure it would be enough to last a month, so bought another jar just in case.
I had a wonderful start to the day! It’s a good sign when customers come looking for you & love the product so much. So far I have not had an inkling of any complaint, only how much they love the relish. Good, good, good!
Dawn’s table at the Warner’s Bay market.
A lot of people ask for my ‘hobby’ card (I don’t have a business card) so I am very glad Philip arranged these for me when he was home in December. I am very liberal in handing them out. It is good to let them know I will be there with Christmas Puddings in September.
It looks like I will be handling relish as well, as it seems to be so popular. Another lady who bought some said she had a small takeaway business & could I make relish for her business? I assured her it was no problem!
Then Mrs. Killjoy came along mid morning. I am sure you have met this lady as she is pretty well in most parts of the world. As she went past the stall she informed me it was illegal to use used jars. Said it just like that!
I replied that I thought I was helping the environment with the recycling & that the jars are all sterilised. She again said it was against the law then mentioned the lids. I said they are sterilised too & asked would she like a taste? She declined with disdain & a very firm “No thanks” & walked off.
Life is interesting! Since that episode I have had some educational lessons from my logical-brained son on how to deal with this so I keep on learning, it’s no hardship!
And life is good to me too as I am having a ball. I enjoy not only attending the markets, but also making the produce.
After a market selling the relish I come home & five days later I have ten batches made, bottled & labelled ready for the next market. I give out a biscuit (cracker) with a teaspoon of relish on it & it goes down well.
The activity has given me a new lease on life, with a reason to get up in the mornings. However, I don’t get up early, unless it’s market day & still have time to sleep in & rise when I am ready.
I still have plenty of time for leisure as it only takes me one week to do what I need to do. There are still two weeks completely spare, but I think that that will be a little different with the advent of Christmas Puddings this year.
This might have to change, as making ten batches of relish makes no more than 65 – 70 jars of all sizes. With my new marketing strategy when I sold it all at this last market I came home with record sales.
David was absolutely floored when he came for our weekly Sat. afternoon chat & asked casually how it went. He was impressed so much that he went home & told the family before Mother’s Day the next day with Lauren saying when I arrived “I believe you had a good market day.”
Philip & Greg were also thrilled for me. I must admit I was pretty pleased with myself too. I have to also say that I like being successful! It’s much more fun!!
My friend, Sandra, absolutely loves this relish & won’t let me give her a jar because she gets the largest jar & prefers to pay for it. She uses it in about two weeks & sends the jar back for a refill. I give her a $5 discount each time, as anyone who uses it like that deserves a bonus. Sandra is my best customer up to date.
I had to get used to the markets as it usually starts off slow & I think to myself that I won’t sell all that I have brought along, but slowly & steadily it gradually disappears, mostly one jar at a time.
Then all of a sudden there is nothing left. It’s a great feeling. I enjoy just sitting there for six hours especially if it’s a nice fine day, I just sit & think & do nothing, but serving customers as they appear. Much better than sitting in a cafe drinking coffee!
Sending big hugs & lots of love, Dawn X O X O