April 8 & 9 Hoftsra University Flower Show Days 2&3

Hofstra University Flower Show- Day 2

I noticed today that there was another soapmaker at the show. But after further inspection and a Google search, I am 99% sure that they import the soaps and lotions from Australia, rather than handcraft them. The first give away was the boxes marked “Made in Australia”, but also the Google search showed them in a few other places in an “International Marketplace”. But gosh, these things were cheap! 5 for $10 cheap. It amazed me. But I guess when its just a pass through- open a box and put them out- you don’t have to figure labor into the equation. The good news is I doubt we’ll be running into each other much even though they are from PA too because of the type of show that I typically do- handcrafted by artist- type of things. But it does make me think how many other of these small flower shows I should try…

Sales today were a little better than Friday but still slower than I was hoping for. I did get lots of great information from my neighbors about other shows and promoters, and I got great feedback from the customers. I especially liked it because I just redesigned my display a few weeks ago, and it seems as though I made some really fine decisions.

Day 3:
Sales were brisk all day and even had a few big ones to boot! Load out was crazy as usual, but they did have student athletes to help. It was the typical- people who don’t have their booths down yet pull up to the loading dock, and those of us who do, have to walk our stuff to the other side of creation just to get loaded. The drive home was stressful- I followed C who was following his GPS- right through Manhattan. I could do without that experience ever again. I liked my way better- it was longer, but Staten Island is kind of pretty, and the Belt Expressway was a nice drive compared to the craziness of the ride home.

Best Sellers:
Soap: Into The Woods & Peppermint Foot Scrub (tie)
Bath Fizzys: Lavender
Bath Salts: Love Potion
Lip Balm: Pina Colada
Lotion Bar: Lavender

I also brought some new products- bubble bags and sachets for the first time and they both seemed rather popular. That is a good sign. Soap Samplers sold well as usual and the Jars of Fizzys sold as well.