The “Tableware” section.

The popular “fragile” rubber bands I use for packaging. I was surprised some people were interested in purchasing them!

BDB Packet

A mix of “Home Accessories” and “Paper Goods”

Brand new: Dotted Card. A spin off the “Happy Holidays” Card. (Same design on notebooks as well!)

Useful Towel display!

BDB Notepads were handed out so people could test the paper we use for all our notebooks. 100% recycled paper in natural white.

BDB Postcards

The gift fair was amazing. It was very intense and mentally exhausting but I enjoyed every minute of it. A huge step for BDB and I’ll have some great news soon! Thank you everybody for stopping by!

(more info)

We moved into a bigger studio, welcomed our new office manager (announcement tbd) and have been preparing for the New York International Gift Fair. It’s hard to believe January is practically over and in just a few days I will be at the gift fair.

Today we went to the Javits center (1st day prep) and brought over all the furniture. The AMAZING furniture: tables, benches and shelf that DM made for BDB!!!

It (show/space) has (obviously) a totally different ‘feel’ from the holiday market. Of course, holiday market: retail, gift fair: wholesale. Holiday market: outdoors, freezing cold, cheery, apple ciders and ginger cookies; gift fair: indoors, ac cold, halogen lights warm, bottled waters and tootsie rolls. Holiday market: shopping bags; gift show: catalogs. I’m only comparing these two events because these are the only two major things BDB has ever participated in so far.

I’m eager to experience it, learn from it, meet a lot of people, get through it and of course, make some deals Then next year… no, this year, I’ll be less of a ‘newbie’ on the next round of markets and shows. What I’m trying to say is that the ‘not knowing’, newness,… anticipation is KILLING me. I’m looking forward to the time when there will be less nervousness and more excitement, more experience, less f-ups…

We have a few more days to set up, though there’s not much more to do to our booth. The NYIGF starts this Sunday, January 31st (more info). Please make sure to stop by our booth (4110, Studio).

Thanks husband and dans for today.

It was a busy, bitter sweet, day. We were supposed to close at 4pm but the market stayed open until… we left? There are truly a lot of last minute shoppers out there! Everybody (vendors) seemed to be relieved it was all over though many (many) wished sales were better. Blame it on the weather, blame it on the economy – I kinda blame (part of) it on me. I can’t even convince you to take something for free… Someone once told me it should be easy to sell your own work since your truly passionate about it, well… I treated customers like I’d like to be treated (as a customer): the “I’ll leave you alone while you look and stay busy so you don’t feel uncomfortable” approach… Anyway, I’m sure I’ve gotten better at it however, I’m seriously considering hiring a proper salesperson for my next “market”. There are many other things I’ll do differently on my next market adventure, but I don’t regret one single thing about this past one. Despite my lack of selling abilities, sales were good, the reception of our products was excellent and I have gained a great amount of experience. Getting to meet my customers in person and receiving “on the spot” feedback was priceless.

Packing up was FAST. In a matter of minutes, the BDB booth was gone and we were in a taxi on our way back home.

Now, moving on to the next chapter…

None of this would’ve been possible if it weren’t for you.

Tomorrow is our last day

It (the month at the market) was freezing cold, it was long, it was exhausting, it was dusty… but I will miss it. I will miss chatting with my neighbors, meeting my customers, drinking hot ciders, eating (compulsively) chocolate truffles, visits from friends, listening to my neighbors sales pitch (and singing), hanging out with Sinead and Laila….. We’ve endured rain, snow, wind and crowds (and no crowds) . I gained a few (?) pounds, earned some experience, made new friends and of course: sales! It was – fun.

I look forward to the 30th day – when I’ll get to sleep in – and I’ll make the most out of the 29th.

Bare booth

Booth Set Up 1

Booth Set Up 2

Booth Set Up 3

Booth Set Up 4

Booth Set Up 5

Paul – thank you for stopping by!

For more information about our booth at the Union Square Holiday Market click here.