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Probably the biggest thing I learned; since my wife commented on the second day that they felt like third wheels. Whenever someone needed a bracelet made, I thought I would make some “preps” or partially made items, that we could work on at the stand. My kids and even my wife could practice making an item, and maybe even help me out and relieve a little of the pressure.
My daughter and I started making a few of the key chains that I had prepped, but something unique happened while we were making these and even some of the ordered bracelets: people wanted to watch. I think people thought we were selling bracelets that we bought. They really gravitated to seeing the items being made right in front of their eyes. I had to remind myself that this is making a form of ‘art’ and sometimes people like to see things be created from scratch. Why not benefit from that curiosity. Not all the people watching will buy something but it can be a good way to interact with folks.
We even found we could make items while standing and talking . This proved to be completely helpful, when we had orders for about 7 bracelets, to be made, while I would start the process, my daughter, Alyssia would continue working on them, allowing me to start on another. This system worked out much better than I expected and as I said earlier had the added benefit of giving something for people to watch.
This and a few other things, I want to talk over with the family after the event. Taking something from the law enforcement and military community, an after action report or debrief. Going over the event and the things that went well as well as the things that sucked big time.
Talk to you soon, Constant Reader.
Leading up to this event, I spent a lot of time making various bracelets and key chains. I was trying to have what I would presume most of the attendees would be interested in. This was fairly hard to do since I had never been to this event or liken myself to being a biker.
Each evening, when we would come home, I would have all these ideas of different bracelets, colorations and designs that might be popular. I found an interesting way to do this each evening as well. Recently I’ve been listening to a book, “The girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Each night when I wanted to spend a little time making items, I would turn my iPod on with this book and wham. I would get lost in what I was doing and the book and later on would look up and find I had made quite a bit. So much so, that on Friday night my fingers were killing me. I hadn’t even realized it while I was working but my fingers were so sore. Part of the trade I guess. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, morning and evening I would work on what I thought would be popular and may sell.
It didn’t take long to realize that I had geared most of my items to police officers or people interested in police. I needed more biker type items and frankly things that little kids would like. There were several times that kids would pull their parents arm over to our stand and show them something they saw while passing by.
I’ll see you next entry, Constant Reader.
As I wrote previously, after a trifle glitch in the matrix, we got the go ahead to set up. This went a lot smoother, since we had done the same thing on the first day. I think we looked darn cool too, with our matching shirts and all.
I forgot to say that on the first day, we nearly lost our canopy to the wind. I had to use some of the paracord and tie some anchors to the rear in a patch of ground with stakes and I had to use a couple of paint cans to anchor the front legs. A bit crude but it worked. I had an idea to expand on the paint can idea, since I can’t depend on anchoring to an open patch of ground. I went to our local Lowe’s and picked up 4 empty paint cans with lids, filled them with sand and taped our logo to them. Once we had the canopy up I tied the cans to the canopy with paracord, using a Siberian Hitch at each paint can. It is a quick, fast knot that is adjustable and is really quick to unravel at the end of the day. As a matter of fact I had a few people commenting on the cans and that they were a good idea. Heck, I was just trying to make sure our set-up made it back home.
We had a wonderful lady from a chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club stop by. She wanted a particular size of bracelet to wrap around the right upper side of her vest just under the shoulder. She told us that several people from their clubs wear them that way or wear them dangling from the side of their vests. I had never heard of this before. We got to making her bracelet, when she returned shortly thereafter with her husband and two other club member. That one bracelet transformed into 4 sales along with some great suggestions on colors and designs. They also suggested that I check out their national website for events that I may be able to attend and sell some of my items.
Tune into the next entry when I continue the story, Constant Reader.
Now this was interesting. We get to the downtown area, early, while all the vendors are setting up. I speak with the lady that is going to be selling the Flint Police Mounted Unit T-Shirts from their trailer, and speak with her briefly and ask her if she minds if I set up in the front of her trailer. Of course she says yes. So we get to it.
A short time later, a tall fellow walks up and says his name is Bob. He asks if I’m with the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Group and I tell him that I’m affiliated with the Flint Police Mounted Unit, and was told by a committee member that I could set up next to the trailer. He gives me a strange look, like maybe I’m making all this up while we are talking. He asks me who told me that. So, I give him a couple names and tell him that we were set up on the surface lot the previous day. Well he recognizes the name and just sort of talks out loud about how that person wasn’t supposed to do that. He says he needs to talk with his wife first, who is the person in charge of the vendors, to make sure it is OK for me to set up. As soon as he briefs her, she comes over and maybe she didn’t see red, but she definitely saw a shade of pink. She said that I wasn’t the only one that was told something like that by other people. Well at least I’m not the only ‘bootleg’ on the Bricks. 🙂
During the whole time that I’m talking to the both of them, I wasn’t nervous. Not because I knew people in high places, but because, neither of them started out saying that I couldn’t set up. They were just trying to figure out how I could do it. That I am so grateful for. There was a chance, however fleeting to get it done and I held hope that it would.
They do a bunch of checking and tell me that I can set up, but I might not be in the same place on Sunday if I come. I give them my eternal thanks and move to a more proper spot that they point out on the other side of the trailer. Bob even moves his motorcycle to accommodate us. What a guy.
On the next entry we will discuss further what happened on the official first day of the event. See you then, Constant Reader.
After we got set up, I was a bit exhausted. I didn’t know how everything would go, so I just try to relax and watch the practice by the officers. Then Jim Nelson, comes up. He is a motor officer from St. Paul, MN. He asks about the bracelets a bit and says he will be back in a bit to get something. Later on he even brought a plate of food from the tent that the officers were located. This guy was so generous he shocked me a bit. Maybe I’m somewhat jaded by working in Flint as a police officer for so long, but he astounded me with his kind demeanor. I looked upon it as a good sign that perhaps I was in the right place.
Throughout the day we made a few sales. Jim Nelson, bought 3 bracelets and we sold about 9 items in total. Come 4pm we began packing up as the officer’s were finishing up their day of practice. I felt a good sense of accomplishment, but I also had this lingering thought of what would the next day would bring. As I said before, the enormity of this whole thing, left me feeling inadequate. I even told my family that I was planning on doing the event on Saturday, but I felt like maybe I wasn’t ready for Sunday. While we were driving home, my wife began encouraging me to do the whole thing, Friday, Saturday and definitely Sunday. See it to the end, she said. Learn from it and move forward, she said. She planted a seed if nothing else. Now I’m back to doing something that puts fear in me.
As we drove home, I thought about it more and I believe she was correct. I shouldn’t fear what may come. Embrace the experience, heck it just may be a lot of fun.
Tune in next time to see how it unfolded, Constant Reader.
The day before the show, my wife drops a bit of a bomb on me. It was good though. She made up a great logo design about a week prior and put it on a T-shirt for us to wear at the Bikes on the Bricks event. It looked awesome and after we all gave her the go ahead, she made up shirts for all of us, even her to wear. To add to that, Amy decided to tag along and go with us on the first day. I was extremely happy to have her. Frankly I was so anxious I probably needed her.
Well we get to the surface lot where the officer’s are going to be practicing, but I don’t see the Flint Police Motor Unit trailer. We wait around a bit and eventually find that initial supervisor that I spoke to and a couple other people on the event committee that I work with. The point me to a spot in the lot, next to there food tent and we begin setting up there.
A few firsts were in play here as well. First time being at an event like this or at all. First time setting up our collapsible canopy. First time selling my creations on a larger scale.
As I talk with the guys from earlier, they tell me that today(Friday) I can set up in the lot, but they give me a couple suggestions on setting up the next day or two for the official event, Bikes on the Bricks. I was also told that the motor unit trailer, will be on the main thoroughfare, Saginaw St., with a suggestion of maybe setting up right there with them the next day. As you can imagine, I’m trying to take all this in and feeling a little bit like a fish out of the water. There are people putting up large commercial tents and it all feels more official than I imagined. I’ve never done this before and am so far small potatoes. So what am I doing here? The answer I kept coming back to, is that I’m working on building a business. I’ve also got that quote from Eleanor Roosevelt rolling around my head of doing something every day that frightens you. Well here I am, a bit frightened. My family is with me and I don’t want to look stupid in front of them or waist there precious time as well.
Tune in next time to see what happened next, Constant Reader.
Before I move on to the new topic at hand. That gentleman did go to the conference and he returned home. Once we were able to hook up, he sold, 5 bracelets. To me that was excellent. He also said the turnout at the Seattle show, wasn’t what he expected. He thought it would be like in the past, where they have a fairly elaborate expo and many people and business are selling items. For some reason they didn’t have that type of expo according to him. He thought he would be able to sell a few there. Either way, I am eternally grateful for what he did and if he ever catches these words I want him to know that.
OK, the show. As I’m writing this, I’m sleepy. I’ve put in lots of hours of hard work once I found out about this show. I want to do my best to be as prepared as I can and look like a professional business, not just some guy with a table, hocking his wares. I plan to bring my 3 kids, along with me. I figure as I’m learning about business, they can come along and learn with me. I’m not afraid of making mistakes in front of them. I long ago heard a statement from Melvin Van Peebles, speaking on the importance of letting your children see you do well and see you make mistakes. They watch how you handle, triumph and defeat and glean what character is in the face of differing circumstances.
I’m excited and anxious. Did I make enough items? Will everything work out for the most part? Will my children enjoy the experience. So many questions. But as I’ve lived and been a part of various events that take planning and a lot of work, few of them work out exactly the way you need. You have to improvise, adapt and overcome. I’ll add another verb to that: decide. Many times a myriad of decisions will need to be made. It’s on my shoulders and I have to decide. I may get input from others, but the important is to not be afraid to make a decision. It may not always be the best choice, but moving forward is just that; moving forward. There is no movement without a decision.
The next time we talk, Constant Reader, my first show will be over and I’ll let you know how it all worked out. See you then.
I went to one of the supervisor of our 911 center. I showed her a flyer for the specific coloration that I made up for our dispatch. They are affiliated with the police and fire departments, so I added both colors to their paracord items. She really like that bracelets and offered to put up a couple flyers and she bought a bracelet as well. As a matter of fact, she said she was thinking about searching through the internet on how to make the bracelets, but since I was making them, she figured she would just support me. I thought that was very kind.
She asked me if I had done the same and presented a flyer to the fire department or their stations. I told her that was next on my list. She said why don’t you speak to _____. I’ll leave his name out, but he is the assistant fire chief. Doh!!! I didn’t even think about this guy even though we have known each other by name for a number of years. We walked upstairs and went to his office area.
I showed him what I had and what he told me astounded me.
Next time I’ll fill you in Constant Reader.
Remember when I wrote about my letter campaign going completely bust and not getting any responses. Well something interesting happened. In the letter, I was marking the milestone of selling the 100th paracord item. This is around the 2nd week of July 2012. Although I sent out several letters, I kept several back until I came in contact with those people again. When I finally realized that the whole process was a big goose egg, I realized, I was well past the 100 item mark. I was creeping really closely to the 200th item and beyond. Although I didn’t like what happened, or should I say, what didn’t happen with the letters, I kept my nose to the grindstone and kept, making items and selling. That I believe is what is important.
I learned that it is important to stay focused. I can’t let a setback hinder my business goals. I have to press on and move forward.
I’ll talk with you next time constant reader.
As I said earlier about the Bikes on the Bricks, now I have a show to do. Oh @%&*. Now what?
The first thing that came to mind is I have a lot of work to do. I need a table(s), tablecloths, some type of display, and lots of bracelets. Now is a good time to take a deep breath and practice that combat breathing that I’ve learned at work so long ago. I admit, in addition to being excited, not I feel the pressure to deliver. This supervisor was very gracious with the invitation and I want to honor that support and do well.
So I begin the work. I have always liked the process of knowing something is coming and slowly making preparations to get ready. Heck, when we go on vacation, I like to take out the suitcases about a month ahead of time and slowly start putting items in. If it wasn’t for the fact that I would need to wear some of those clothes, I would be completely packed a month or so out. I know, it’s a little OCD, but what can I tell you. I can’t stand the last minute rush thing. I would rather be ready and just sit around watching everyone else scramble about.
As I’m writing this, I’m a few days from the show and have been twisting cord and making paracord items, placards and such. I even have the extra calloused fingers to prove it. I’m looking forward to the show and will definitely be blogging about it here. Hopefully it will go relatively smooth and the weather will cooperate. I’ve even had to remind myself that I won’t have everything perfect and will learn things that I could do better or eliminate completely.
I’m excited about the process and will talk with you next time, Constant Reader.
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