Thoughts, Opinions & Last Show Update (Long)

March 19, 2000

My show last weekend gave me many insights and I thought I'd share.

To begin, it was one of my favorite show spots. I'd had my very best show

there before and, although I was realistic that it was a Spring show and

thus slower, I was unprepared for what happened and how I handled it.

With my show promoters, I had had competition from fellow soapers (which I

enjoy! there are so many wonderful soapers out there, I have no problem

referring customers to them if they carry a soap I don't, will be in a show

I'm not, etc.) but not from my ... I want to say sworn enemy but that's not

totally accurate. Close, tho. I'm unsure how to term these people. Let's

just say that they irritate me greatly and I strongly disapprove of their

business tactics (they sell uncured soap! some less than one week cured!).

So, as you can tell, I was quite worried when I saw them there - and in a

better booth position than I was in! =o( I fretted and worried for a good

portion of Friday that I wouldn't get good sales, I couldn't compete, etc.

How was I going to win?? To top it off, I did the unforgivable. With

urging from the customer, I actually bad-mouthed the enemy to a customer.

I've never done that, never intended to and am utterly and thoroughly

ashamed of myself. Gor, how could I do that?? *feeling guilty*

It finally hit me on Friday evening (after a most busy Friday sales-wise).

This ISN'T a competition, I don't have to " win " , I needn't worry about my

sales dropping because I'm much more diverse than they are AND I'm not pushy

in my sales " pitch " , etc.

I was then able to relax and enjoy the show. Oddly enough, I'm quite sure

that I did better than they did and know that I gained quite a few customers

because of my relaxed attitude (the others are a in-your-face, pushy type) -

they told me that they liked me " better " !!

And, once I relaxed and let go, I discovered many things had befell my

" sworn enemy " - they were kicked out of the farmers markets (or suspended -

am unsure which) for selling products that weren't theirs, they were grossly

unpopular around the local soapers ... Kind of like the " great soaping

goddess " giving me the " See? Told you to relax and trust that all will be

well " type of feeling.

I guess that if you approach soaping without honor and integrity, you will

get your butt chewed in the end. We shouldn't sink to their level, maintain

your honor. So, there you have my moral for the day. Thanks for listening.

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