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Hatch Market 2009 Feedback

May 10, 2009

Good morning friends,

I have decided this morning not to go back to my table at the Hatch Market 09. First, it’s Mother’s Day and I’d rather spend it with my beautiful little family. Secondly, the Hatch Show was grossly disorganized, at the expense of all the terrific vendors. We all paid our $85.00 booth fee in exchange for two packed-full days of good exposure in an indie craft show “an event like nothing we’ve ever seen on the southside of Atlanta.”

I had assumed (my fault) that because Yuengling Lager was one of the sponsors, that they’d be selling their delicious product there, too. When I met Melanie Feltman, the organizer of the show, and asked her where my booth was (not labeled) she shrugged her shoulders and told me to walk across the street to the corner gas station and buy myself a “big ol Colt 45″ if I wanted beer. Hmmm.

The flow of the show was really awful. There were several of us in the “garden” which really was a lovely spot. But the entrance was blocked by another vendor by the time we all finished setting up. When I pointed this issue out, there was no effort made to remedy it.

By the time my husband showed up from Atlanta, he asked where all the signs were. There was nothing on 10th, the major intersection that leads you to the show.

All vendors were supposed to have this “You will be provided with a skirted table and one chair with a designated space of approximately 10’ x 10’. One sign with your business name, web address and home town will be attached to the front of your skirted table. We ask that, if you find it necessary to remove the sign during set up, you incorporate it into your display at its original location.”

But we didn’t. No signs. No interest in flow. They allowed some vendors to take over, choose their own spots. If there was a problem with flow, no one came by to fix it. The staff said they might be able to fix it on Sunday. But by that time, the damage was done.

So I talked with Melanie Feltman about some of these issues and her response was to shrug her shoulders and say that this was her first time doing this and that she was learning as she goes.

I was frustrated. And I learned a big lesson here. The next time I do a craft fair, I’ll take more responsibility for myself and ask more questions up front. Many of the vendors were like me – new at this, and did not think to take a more proactive approach. So I think we all learned, which is good.

The other thing that felt comfortable at first, but then I later regretted, was that our $85 both fee was our only financial obligation. I was thinking how easy that was - clean cut and uncomplicated. But when it became clear that we vendors were on our own, it felt like the organizers had already gotten their money from us, and had no vested interested in making sure we were in an environment that promoted sales.

With all this feedback, which I hope was constructive, it really was a fun day. The very best part was meeting all the other vendors. We exchanged ideas, creativity, support of each other, we traded, we sold to each other. I met so many fantastic artists, good people with positive energy, and the few people who did come out to the show were really sweet. It really was a beautiful day. Breezy, comfortably overcast. We got about an hour of really sweet jazz, (I had hoped for more) and hope next year they do more of that.

But I won’t be doing Hatch Market 2010, if there is one. Instead, through the sage advice of other vendors, am going to do Atlanta’s Indie Craft Experience next Christmas. Woo hoo! Lots of people have told me it is FULL of energy, people waiting in line to buy your product. It’s a bigger financial investment, but I’m willing to make one, because it echos the serious business commitment made by the ICE organizers.

The last weekend of May, I’ll go to ICE to check out the flow. I think it’s going to be really fun and am SO excited.

And this mother’s day, (my boys are still asleep upstairs) I am going to make a fun dinner to celebrate and hang with my boys, put the tomato plants I bought 2 weeks ago in the ground, plant cosmos seeds with Anton out front, get a pedicure and ahhhhhh, enjoy the gift of motherhood. I traded a book for two pairs of beautiful earrings from Jenna Chavalia. Will post those later this week.

Thank you to all the vendors who participated in the show. I’ll list your links once again and sing your praises and hope to see you again at ICE in Atlanta!

Handmade Charlotte clothing & accessories

Four-Footed Art pop art pet painting

I Make ARRRT! / Alicia’s Colors journals and random / fused glass jewelry and décor

PHOTOCAT photobooth

Grey Area jewelry and screenprinting

Adia Bella Quilts/Daisy Cakes Soap quilts & patchwork animals / olive oil soap

Class Attire chalkboard t-shirts

Simon Creative Center beaded jewelry

Mamie Ruth clothing, accessories and jewelry

Sorella Designs jewelry and hand-silkscreened bags

Thirsty Parrot frozen drinks (non-alcoholic) and food items

Fluffy Flowers toys

Richmond Street Designs mixed media collages

Heddy Lynn tutus, doll quilts, crib sets

CitruSmash fresh orangeade, lemonade

Safehouse Coffee coffee

Brook Earth Farms / Epic Farms soap, cards, magnets, pendants

Jenn Ell’s Revenge clothing, jewelry, and accessories

Butterbean Babies / Compulsive Quilter children’s clothing/handbags and accessories

Jill Massey Designs jewelry

A Noble Egg emu egg ornaments

Kimberly Huff stationery, mixed media

Lolly Felt Like It felted wool items

Mixed Media Art by Laurie mixed media

Indie Peace printed t-shirts

L & S Ames hand-knitted hats

Bede Sisters jewelry, handbags, crocheted items

Crafty Bugaloo hats, pom poms, tams, hair stuff

Anabelle Glass stained and hand-etched glass

Southern Flameworks fused glass jewelry and décor

Coon and Cole Designs bibs, purses

Jane Hancock Papers / Hartley Soap Co. stationery, soap

Dragonfly Designs cards, journals, magnets

Linwood Avenue / Joya Jewelry lamps and chandeliers/jewelry Muddspirit / Debi Designs stoneware pendants

Utility Club of Griffin cookbooks and tomato sandwiches

Bella Bee aprons

The Jelly Lady gourmet and unique jellies DecoHime clothing and accessories

Custom Adornments jewelry

Anne Elser Design handmade books

SoSheSews clothing and accessories

Moment of Stars lino block prints

Clay Shapers pottery

Ragamufyn / 75Rabbit women’s clothing

E! La! La! Soaps & Crafts soap

BiddyBrain Workshop original paintings, mixed media

Papa Willie’s bar-b-que, chicken-on-a-stick, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried pickles, french fries, onion rings

Posted in books, Hatch Market | 3 Comments »

Hatch Swag (250 seeds)

May 8, 2009

Friends!

Still have a healthy handful of books left to stitch but have finished my 250 pieces of swag. I see them as seeds – two hundred and fifty chances to spread positive energy and happy expectation. I chose a Shakespeare quote: “And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything.”

Nice huh?

I begin the final push today, then it’s off to Griffin tomorrow morning at 7AM to hatch at Hatch. I am smiling.

Posted in bookmaking, Hatch Market | Leave a Comment »

Hatch Market 2009

May 7, 2009

Friends! I’m almost ready for this weekend. Have a whole new set of books to sell and lots of energy to share. I’ll be in booth 41. Look for more posts within the next couple of days of the new books I’ll be selling.

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The line up for the first-annual Hatch Market is almost complete. Take a look at what’s in store for you this Mother’s Day Weekend on the grounds of Affairs to Remember (232 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA).