A Lesson In Shows/Life - LONG

[Guest guest]

<< When you send your letters certified mail, like

hherbalone@... suggested, include the phrase " cc: attorney " at the very

bottom. Then, even if you don't actually carbon your attorney, put a copy

in a file marked " cc: attorney " for future use. CYA, Lady!!

Sher in Wisconsin >>

She might want to save the big guns for later on if the dispute cannot be

settled in a friendly manner. Putting the cc: attorney at the bottom takes a

neighborly craft dispute into nasty waters. It might also antagonize the

promoter and mall manager into seeing her as a threat instead of a customer

and asset to the mall. In which case she could easily get blackballed. The

main thing is to appear friendly and wanting to solve a problem in a way that

would benefit both parties-why lose a valuable and profitable craft

subscriber due to unprofessional conduct on the part of another party?

Nothing nasty, just a businesslike notice to settle a problem. Might even

ask them for some suggestions, etc., to get them thinking of solutions

instead of litigation.

H.

[Guest guest]

<< When you send your letters certified mail, like

hherbalone@... suggested, include the phrase " cc: attorney " at the very

bottom. Then, even if you don't actually carbon your attorney, put a copy

in a file marked " cc: attorney " for future use. CYA, Lady!!

Sher in Wisconsin >>

She might want to save the big guns for later on if the dispute cannot be

settled in a friendly manner. Putting the cc: attorney at the bottom takes a

neighborly craft dispute into nasty waters. It might also antagonize the

promoter and mall manager into seeing her as a threat instead of a customer

and asset to the mall. In which case she could easily get blackballed. The

main thing is to appear friendly and wanting to solve a problem in a way that

would benefit both parties-why lose a valuable and profitable craft

subscriber due to unprofessional conduct on the part of another party?

Nothing nasty, just a businesslike notice to settle a problem. Might even

ask them for some suggestions, etc., to get them thinking of solutions

instead of litigation.

H.

[Guest guest]

Yeah!! What she (hherbalone@...) said!! You know, , you are the

soaper that I admire the most. You have it all together, Lady!! You have

given up the full-time job, you have shows most weekends (I personally don't

know how you pull that off), and above all, you have pride and integrity.

You don't have to give up the sizzle to keep your pride and integrity.

Don't let them think they have won. Fight back -- but not by their

standards. When you send your letters certified mail, like

hherbalone@... suggested, include the phrase " cc: attorney " at the very

bottom. Then, even if you don't actually carbon your attorney, put a copy

in a file marked " cc: attorney " for future use. CYA, Lady!!

Sher in Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

Time for a little reflection, I think.

I had a show this weekend. In this show were two other soapers. One was a

lovely woman ~ she was a joy to talk to and came at the soaping aspect with

an artistic bent. One example, she took round soap and put a clock face on

it, a few of the long pearlized pins and some ribbon and made the soap look

like clocks. Lovely! I purchased one. I sent customers down to her when

they were looking for scents I didn't have. We soapers must support each

other and lift each other up, don't you think?

The second soaper were my arch enemy (I feel like I'm in a Batman movie

whenever I say that! *L*). I believe I've written about them before. Low

class, no class people.

At any rate, my location was awful. I was at the dead end of the mall,

little to no people. I was devastated by that as I had increased my booth

size and added electricity so my cost was about $220. I had no idea how I

was going to make that back. But, I held my chin up and thought that, with

all my wonderful shows in the past, I've got to take my lumps and have bad

ones, too. So be it.

I discovered on Saturday that my enemy is truly my enemy. They were bad

mouthing me to the customers that were there. Evidence is: 1) told a

crafter next to me (they didn't realize she was a crafter or that she was

next to me) that I put potpourri in my soap, 2) told customers that my

soaps didn't have herbs in there and, 3) that my soaps weren't natural. I

knew complaint #1 was true as I confronted him on it (he lied and claimed he

was talking about Bath & Body Works. Sure.). I know complaint #2 and #3

were true because what were the chances of having customer after customer

after customer asking me the same questions - all with the suspicious glint

in their eyes? Plus, I've come to understand that they have the show

promoter in their pocket (which explains my crummy booth positions in the

last three shows and their good positions in the last three shows!).

I did what damage repair I could to the customers and managed to make my

booth fee plus about $70 " profit. " But I was blown away. I'm a nice

person, why would somebody openly sabotage another? Continually?

Yes, today I know the answer. I'm a threat to them. They tried to knock me

down in order to make themselves seem to stand tall. But it still hurts.

Saturday I was near tears a million times and wanted to pull out of the

show. Almost did it, too.

Sunday I came to the conclusion that I can be attacked openly and still have

dignity. I still have my honor, my integrity and my pride. I do not need

to stoop to their level. And, I do not need to be in such low class

situations. (sounds like a decision has been made, doesn't it??)

I have decided to reorganize my business strategy. I will pull out of the

majority of shows by that bad promoter and thus pull away from my enemy.

However, I will still pound their a** into the ground by being a success. I

will be at farmer's markets in the summer. I will be at the Mall of America

in the fall (they invited me to a booth there and I was toying with the

idea). I will do an occasional craft show in-between - all with a lovely

promoter I've recently discovered.

So, that was the wonderful conclusion that came out of all of the hurt.

Sometimes life just isn't easy, is it? It's so nice to be back from the

show and into this nurturing environment we have on our list. I thank you

all for your open hearts, your willingness to help and your support of each

other. You are good people!

~

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