I love going to market, I really do. I adore finding fresh products and new lines for our shop, and I get excited as a kid about all those special finds and orders placed. My mind starts churning with ideas and thoughts on displays and events for the new year (and wondering where it's all going to fit). Sensory overload starts on day one of market, and you just go with it. It's all good: the visuals, the scents, the sounds (including interesting accents from every region in the US and beyond). The possibilities.
The other things that start on day one are hunger, sore feet, and frustration at getting lost in the maze. Constantly. It's a shopping marathon, and you have to dress (a) and eat (b) appropriately... and keep a compass handy.
(a) Be comfortable and wear layers, because it's cold outside and in the hallways, and warm (sometimes hot and muggy) inside the showrooms. Do not wear a big jacket, unless you want to spend 45 minutes morning and evening waiting in the coat check line. Suffer, or wear a light jacket you can roll up and carry all day. Girls: do not wear heels. Your dogs will be screaming in no time (and no one cares how chic you are – there are too many people to even notice).
(b) Eat breakfast, because it may be hours before you find another morsel. Stuff an apple and an energy bar in your bag for the same reason. The meager convention-food offerings are hard to find, and not always open, even at the peak of market (Chik-Fil-A should be considered emergency rations only). You may always eat lunch standing up, balancing your plate in one hand, as there are rarely places to sit down. Thank god for that one showroom that was serving the most delicious albondigas on Saturday night; I am now a meatball convert.
Oh, and be prepared to give up good coffee for a week. Just when you most need it. There are various coffee kiosks around, some even purporting to use Starbuck's coffee. Beware. You may get a bitter, watered-down version of your morning favorite, after waiting in line for, oh, 40 minutes. I would have killed for a good latté.
Now does this sound like I was unhappy with my experience? No, not at all! Just that I ran on empty for a week, end-capped by two loooong, sardine-packed flights (and on the way home, I nearly ended up in Missoula, having boarded the wrong plane – long story, ending in wanting to kiss the ground when I finally arrived in Redmond).
I saw amazing designs and so much talent and creativity. Some of the displays were absolutely breathtaking. One company had constructed a hanging, ten-foot tall bird cage out of reclaimed materials (metal, twigs, wood bits), wrapped it with chicken wire, and stitched burlap up around the base as the bottom of the cage. The birds inside were cooing and fluttering about. I stood for a minute and enjoyed the moment of peace and loveliness before rejoining the stream of buyers in the hallway.
Did I take photos of some of this wondrous and inspiring stuff? No, I did not. First of all, it is strictly verboten, unless the vendor gives you the okay for it (for instance, if you're taking shots of things you're ordering), yet everyone was snapping away anyway. Most were using their smart phones to do the deed. Which leads to the second reason for giving up on pictures: I am still hanging on to my dear old dinosaur flip phone, which doesn't really do the job very well. But I would have loved to have a photo of that hideously ugly, scary resin/plastic clown lamp, just to prove that bad taste is not dead.
Meanwhile, some of my finds are already shipping and due to arrive any minute. Bike baskets (so cute! arriving tomorrow!). Teapots, vases, planters, ribbon, jewelry, tea towels... It's very exciting to have some new product coming in to start the new year off right, and transform the shop once again. Stay tuned for more on market, including my take on some of the noteworthy trends in design.
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| Adorable bike baskets for your cruiser... spring is coming soon! |
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