building my small business in my 30s \\ popup prep, making candles, new designs, product photoshoot

Popup Market

I have two popups this weekend: one on Friday and another on Saturday. The Friday event is a Summer Festival from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., featuring food vendors, craft vendors, and DJs. The best part is that it's free for vendors, so all earnings are pure profit. This event will last only four hours, making it a manageable time commitment.

On Saturday, I'll be at the Troy Market from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., a market I've participated in before. The fee for this market is $ 55, which shouldn't be hard to recoup. During my last visit, I made around $ 550 despite the rainy weather. This weekend promises sunny skies—83°F on Friday and 86°F on Saturday—so I'm optimistic about making good sales.

Tote Bags: New Supplier and Designs

Usually, I purchase my tote bags from Amazon, but their stock was low this time around. I found an alternative supplier, Totebagfactory.com, which offers black and beige canvas bags. These new tote bags are smaller than my usual ones, so I'll likely sell them for a lower price, around $ 14. I ordered 24 bags in total, 12 in each color, to see how they fare at the market. The black ones might be great for Halloween-themed designs as fall approaches.

Prepping for the Weekend: Inventory and New Labels

Today is Friday, July 26th, and it's 9:44 a.m., right before starting my regular 9:00 to 5:00 job. I have a half day today, finishing at 2:00 p.m., allowing me to set up for the evening popup. My setup time is at 3:00 p.m. in downtown Troy, and the event kicks off at 5:00 p.m., running until 9:00 p.m.

Last night, I restocked some of my popular candle scents, Cedarwood and Tonka, as well as Spiced Honey and Tonka. Surprisingly, these cozy scents are top sellers even in summer. I prepared three minis and a few 8 oz jars for each scent, printing and attaching labels this morning.

I also decided to revamp the labels for my room sprays. Previously, I used linen paper, but it didn't hold up well when customers tested the sprays. For durability, I've switched to glossy sticker paper, which is more resistant to water and easier to clean.

New Tent and Setup Plans

Previously, my tent had developed mold issues due to poor storage conditions. I bought a new one from Home Depot, which has better reviews and reportedly can be set up more easily by one person. I hope to arrive early at 3:00 p.m. to set up this new tent and finalize my stall arrangement with some time to spare.

I'm aiming to have everything ready by 2:00 p.m. today, as there's a significant amount of work to be done, including finalizing candle and spray labels and preparing tote bags. Hopefully, my new setup will attract customers and lead to a successful weekend.

Candles and Room Sprays

Keyword

Popup Market
Summer Festival
Troy Market
Candle Making
Tote Bags
New Designs
Restocking
Room Sprays
Tent Setup
Vendor

FAQ

Q: What are the timings for the two popup events this weekend?
A: The Friday event is from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the Saturday market runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Q: How much did the Troy Market cost to participate in?
A: The fee for the Troy Market is $ 55.

Q: Why did you choose new tote bags and where did you get them from?
A: I chose new tote bags due to low stock from my usual supplier on Amazon. I got them from Totebagfactory.com.

Q: What changes did you make to the labels for your room sprays?
A: I switched from linen paper to glossy sticker paper to make the labels more water-resistant and easier to clean.

Q: What type of tent did you purchase and why?
A: I purchased a new tent from Home Depot because it has better reviews and is easier to set up by one person.

Q: What are your popular candle scents at the moment?
A: My popular candle scents are Cedarwood and Tonka, and Spiced Honey and Tonka.