The Pop Up Store Chronicles – Week 2

The Pop Up Store Chronicles – Week 2

Who would've thought?

I honestly believed that when I opened Wild Beauty‘s first store it would be a conventional one. In a nice location, heavy traffic, no where in that equation did a pop up store outside the Sunset/Vermont metro station was even a consideration.

Only one cabinet. It was hot! The kind of hot that says "Why are you thinking of going outside? Don't you know it's HOT?!"

Today I only brought one cabinet.  I carry everything myself.  I don’t have a car and use public transportation. I put all my aroma-therapeutic body oils in my backpack.

The cabinet isn’t heavy. It weighs about 2-3 pounds if that. I’m not far from the metro station. My friend Melissa gave me a ride. She felt sorry for me having to trek through the brutal heat.

Even though I don’t have a car, some people think this is a hindrance. I’m learning that it’s so easy to make an excuse well I don’t have a car so I can’t do this or can’t do that. I change my words to how can I do this and how can I do that. My brain immediately begins thinking of ways to achieve my goal.

What you can't see is another bus right behind it. That one dropped off even more people.

In last week’s blog I wrote about the bus dropping potential customers right off in front of me. A picture is worth a thousand words. This bus comes every 15 minutes. I have more people coming to my store in the 3 hours than the entire 8 months I had my website up.

West Hollywood – Here I come

Not one single customer the entire time.

Saturday, July 9, I went to West Hollywood. Things didn’t go as planned. I was supposed to open at 3 pm but couldn’t open till 4:15 because I had to wait until all of the Bank Of America employees left. I felt out of place because I’m out of my comfort zone. I’m used to selling in my neighborhood, so there was trepidation. Talk about a chilly reception. I had a problem engaging people. I said hello and was completely ignored. Everyone walked right by. It was hard not to feel discouraged. So my assignment for this week is to think of a way to connect to the feel of the neighborhood.

Hollywood Farmers Market – Sunday July 10th.

I'm glad I decided to listen to my gut and go to this farmer's market.

This was an impulse pop up store. Far from planned but something told me I had to go to there. I listened to my instincts and so happy I did.

I set up shop around 10:35 am. Just outside the farmers market and Sunset Blvd and Ivar. I met a very nice woman named Shoshana.

Shoshana on the left. Me on the right.

She sold jewelry.  Most of the jewelry she sold was what she had collected over the years and never wore. Shoshana also made earrings  from broken jewelry. We hit it off immediately and had a great time. Referring people to each other’s stands since we were next to one another. Also critiqued each other, how we talk and approached potential customers. I had my best day so far. I made $100.00.

What I learned:

• Tom Krause the motivational speaker said it best from my experience in West Hollywood. “There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them.” I’m going to change my location come up with new approaches when I go back.
• Trust your gut. I did and had my best day (and so did Shoshana) so far at the Hollywood Farmers Market and met Shoshana. We are both looking to vending next Sunday.
• Treat everyone as you want to be treated. I wasn’t able to take a picture because she didn’t want to be photographed. But a homeless woman came up to Shoshana’s table. Her appearance was a little rough and several people covered their nose and mouths walking by. Shoshana and I treated her with respect. She bought several items from Shoshana and 2 aroma-therapeutic oils from me. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Felecia Scott / Natural Skin Care Artisan

http://www.shop.wildbeautyskincare.com