Despite our hard work, and your good wishes, Saturday's event did not turn out as planned. We arrived and set up just after 10, Here's a picture taken at 1pm, Saturday, as I sat beside Bob, under the Men's Shed Gazebo. Just seven people on the field, and about thirty more milling about by the bar and the tea point.
Only eight stalls were there, and I forgot to take pictures. It was quite a surreal event really. The ice cream van left early, as so few people seemed to be buying ices.
And as for the eclectic mix of stall holders... There weren't many takers for unusual pink plastic creatures produced on a 3d printer, pyrography, WW2 memorabilia, earrings, or jute baskets.
There was a poet who tried in vain to sell his books - he had written poems about Bloomsbury and Tavistock Square. Bob mentioned TS was close to our daughter's office. But the poet said he had never actually been there!
Publicity had not been very successful, which contributed to poor attendance I think. There were more people first thing, and a few more later - many said they couldn't find out the details anywhere and a lot of the information on social media omitted the time.
One bemused lady had come from Norwich with her dog for the Rescue Dog Event [what? where?]
But most did stop at The Shed Display. We had positive conversations with about 40 people I think. Bob and his mates sold £50 of stuff, including just two of my aprons, plus bug hotels, model boat kits, door wedges and tealight holders. And a few blokes took leaflets about the Shed. We packed up around 3.30 [no sign of the Community Rounders Match] £50 will help with the next insurance premium. I hope to sell my aprons elsewhere [I shall put some in my online shop later this week]
When people talk about "Normal for Norfolk" they just have no idea.
Oh dear! The best bit might have been people taking leaflets... it might have been just what they needed. (Spam on crackers? And what's the relevance of the talking chicken? I can just imagine the Have I got News For You report...)
ReplyDeleteI think most through the door advertising goes straight from the mat to the recycling, unread!
DeleteOh that is a shame. Things can sometimes be like that in Suffolk too! Publicity is a problem now - once it was easy when everyone had a local paper that had lists of weekend events.
ReplyDeleteAn advert in the Parish Magazine would have been a good idea, but apparently it would cost too much
DeleteHow frustrating and disappointing after all that work. It sounds very much like how it is in rural France! A lot of events have minimal advertising and you have to do an amount of detective work to find out what's going on.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made some sales.
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DeleteOh that is a shame. At least you sold some things and spoke to quite a few people. My sister lives in Norfolk and she says there is no "normal" for Norfolk! Regards Sue H
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DeleteOh dear, after all the hard work put in that must have been so disappointing. But you never know, there might have been just one person who will have benefited by finding out more about the Shed project.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Spam had a 'Sell by date'? And really? Would anyone fancy Sapm on a cracker??
If only one person joins, it will have been worth it
DeleteWhat a shame. When people put in an effort, like you did, it is a pity that the organisation/advertising lets you down.
ReplyDeleteIt was sunny, our guys helped other stallholders erect and dismantle gazebos, lots of good things ...
DeleteOh gosh, that sounds like such a disappointment. I hate it when events aren't advertised enough. One thing our town is good at is having a couple of Facebook groups that overlap with news and What's On type posts. There is also our Green Book which like a Parish Newsletter is distributed once a month. Local companies pay for their advertising and this funds it. Any What's On type things are in the regular columns for each group and are free to publicise. The only drawback is that occasionally it gets delivered just after the first weekend of the months events have taken place ... but they do their best.
ReplyDeletePublicity is hard work ..
DeleteHow disappointing! Glad that the Men’s Shed stall had visitors and made some sales. Your aprons will sell from your shop although it’s a bit more work having to send them off by post. Fingers crossed for me today as I start the quilting of the baby mat/quilt. Catriona
ReplyDeleteBlistering Hot here 🥵 Hope you can find a cool corner to quilt in
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that the event was poorly attended, but publicity is everything, and needs a dedicated person to cover it. I think you would have sold more aprons with better attendance, but at least you did sell 2, and they don't have a sell by date, unlike canned Spam!
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DeleteIt's a shame fewer than expected turned up, but 40 people is a lot to have positive conversations with. I have been to charity events and not spoken to a blessed soul!
ReplyDeleteWe certainly managed to publicise The Shed
DeleteThat's too bad the event was so poorly attended, but, at least some people stopped by and you were able to sell two of your aprons.
ReplyDeleteI like Spam and would probably have eaten it on crackers if I had been there. :)
I'm sure the gentleman would have been delighted to find another SpamFan!
DeleteA retired doctor friend says when he did his GP training in Norfolk (over fifty years ago) the doctors in the surgery he was in used to put NFN on the notes of some of their patients.
DeleteJill
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DeleteSounds like poor publicity let the event down. Our Mens Shed group has it's own FB page or you can find out what's going on on their local town page. Sorry you put all that work in for little return. Good experience though?x
ReplyDeleteOur Shed has a Facebook page. But that is not really read by non shed people. Chalk it up to experience
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