Autumn Fair Part 1

I eventually got a jump start for my car yesterday so took it to Pershore for a spin.

I got up bright and early (well the sun was bright and it was early but I didnt shift myself til 8am) and got ready to visit the Autumn Fair at the NEC. For those that don't know the Autumn Fair along with its sister the Spring Fair are two of the biggest international trade fairs for the gift and retail industry. Thankfully I took my car so that I could leave when I wanted to without having to faff around with trains. I was home again by 1pm as my back had started to sieze up - its still stiff now :(

I met with some lovely suppliers so soon I shall be selling gorgeous wedding memory boxes, guest books, photo albums and organisers (these organisers look like posh handbags). I have a contact with a company that sells minature trees - they never thought of wedding favours (I think I should start charging for my business advise lol). Another good contact was with an australian company who sells hessian/jute bags - they also sell bunting but I am particularly interested in their bottle bags because I have an idea.

I also found a wholesaler who sells tiaras and haircombs although I am hoping tomorrow that they will sell some items off their stand. Soon, (read that as when I start having paying clients) I shall have the most gorgeous umbrellas which are handmade in Italy. One of them was gorgeous - think of black silk (I think its silk) with a cream underside with swarovski crystals on the top of the black bit, with a black handle and swarovski crystals on the handle, it would retail at £120. The minimum order value is £200 and for that I would get 4 umbrellas. Why do I always pick the most expensive and disregard the cheap tat?

I also fell in love - I know that its love because I visited the stand 4 times - 3 times to stand and stare and the 4th time to ask the price. I have fallen in love with a table lamp. Its not any old table lamp either - it is a gorgeous work of art made from aluminium. Think of a woven vase with leaves and flowers all in aluminium - there was a choice of flower head - like an allium (pompom) or a teasel - inside the flowerheads is a tiny low energy halogen bulb which is easy to replace. The whole thing positively gleams and I love it. The equally gorgeous man on the stand - shaved head, gorgeous aussie twang who is called John told me that they were selling the lamps off at the end of the show so I am hoping to pick one up for £20 or so....swoon.

I also have a date tomorrow with a stranger...again at the Autumn Fair this time in Hall 2 stand C30 (I didnt venture into Hall 2) - this chap is a facebook friend and someone who tried to get me to sell some dodgy american acai berry drink but I said that it didnt fit in with my business model.

On the bus back to my car, my phone rang and I had somebody offering me advertising space in a magazine called Oracle which is sold and given away to help our local boys in blue - I carefully explained that I was a start up business and didnt have a bottomless pit of money and was told that the advert would cost £150 plus VAT. I said that I had never seen the magazine and that I wanted to see a copy first before I committed to anything. All around me were posh business types who smirked when I said that the banks weren't lending and that I would only pay what I wanted for an advert and not want the publisher wanted. After the call finished, the chap sitting next to me shook my hand - I thought it a bit odd but he had worked out that I was funding my business myself without relying on banks and loans...I thought he was going to offer me a job but I gave him my business card anyway and said that if he was in the line for some corporate entertainment and team building then he was to call me...LOL.

Wish me luck for tomorrow - I am going to need it - tomorrow though will be a casual day and not suited and trainers day (trainers are needed as you can walk miles).