When I started setting this blog up (yeah 6 mos ago) ... I wasn’t sure where I was headed w/ my business. I love to make things, to create art from discarded treasures of the past, and try new techniques. BUT you can only give out as gifts so many of those kinds of things before the lives of friends and family are saturated. (and a lot of them don’t decorate in my particular ‘style’ anyway) Everyone was encouraging me -- "you could sell your stuff."
So I thought “antique booth” … until I researched the cost, time involved to “fluff” the merchandise weekly, time involved in making sure assorted inventory (antique and crafted) is kept up, and the mixed sale results of those I had talked to at the ‘malls’ I was considering. So no.
Then I thought “craft shows” and almost immediately discarded that idea due to time away from my husband. We are an empty nest and no “MOSS” is growing on these grandparents. We are both still employed full time, so evenings and weekends are precious to us. And while he supports this dream of mine … he doesn’t want to drag a trailer behind the SUV and travel cross country setting up and tearing down every weekend of the year. (and frankly me neither)
So then I thought “Etsy”. Got a little further w/ that idea … got a storefront, took 347 pics of my creations, detailed descriptions, etc etc etc … and just couldn’t make the jump to light speed. I didn’t want the hassle of shipments, etc., and just didn’t have the confidence needed to take on that endeavor.
And THEN …. A chance conversation w/ one of my SIL’s resulted in her telling me “just put your stuff in a box and I’ll take it to my booth at the Nashville Flea Market and we’ll see what happens.”
Well ok then – I boxed up all my precious creations (it was like boxing up my kids!), gave her a detailed inventory and pricing sheet, and dropped 3 boxes off at her house.
She called me the last day of the flea market and said “you made $95 and your stuff was well received! Can I keep what didn’t sell and put it in the booth again next month?”
...... uh yeah ........
So $95 was about ½ of the stuff I had sent her … turns out the more expensive things are the ones that sold … I priced stuff well below what I thought the going rate would be so good deals were to be had!!!
I was thrilled, and said to my husband “someone loves my stuff!!!” He smiled. He’s always believed in me, and loved my stuff …. He’s happy I found an outlet!
I went to LW’s (my SIL) to collect my $$ cauz she also wanted me to look at some of the things she had in her stash (she goes to auctions and gets the last boxes that no one wants, and repurposes also) and see if I wanted to use anything she had. I came away from HER house w/ 3 boxes of assorted items to repurpose, update, and beautify in general.
But more importantly I came away from there w/ ENERGY and EXCITEMENT in my new endeavor. She and I struck a deal – and since she’s going down there every month anyway she’ll take my stuff along, and I’ll give her 10% of my sales AND give her a couple of the items I have cleaned up and repurposed from HER stash to sell as compensation for taking her inventory. Since I have no need to ‘get rich’ from this anyway … I thought that was a pretty good deal!
And thus truly begins Moss Creek Lane! Named for my grandfather and dedicated to my mother who’s no longer here to inspire and encourage me, but is living on in my heart … I know she’d be very proud.
