Earlier this year, I decided to turn a hobby into a small business. So, at the end of May, I opened a booth at the El Dorado Hills Farmers’ Market to sell my luxury cloth napkins and unpaper towels every Sunday morning. Initially we had some crazy weather….cold, rain, wind…but that didn’t last long. Then came the heat, lots of heat. It’s been over 100* each of the past few weeks, the heat nearly unbearable, but there are still diehard customers coming out to enjoy the market, and experience northern California’s hospitality.
I got started with an idea and not much else, but I am pleased with how my booth is evolving each week into a boutique style experience. There been many lessons learned as I hone in on my buyers wants and needs, learning how they shop, and what may appeal to them. I even have some repeat customers seeking me out each week!
Since starting the market, I’ve looked at ways to expand my business. I’m using social media to advertise and display my goods, and I’ve even expanded to selling some of my items on Etsy. I hope you’ll stop by and visit my Etsy shop, or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
It is my desire to only source the highest quality cotton fabrics to ensure consistency and durability of my products. I feel it is important for my products to last longer than some cheaper fabrics while continuing to maintain their beauty over time. Some of my most popular creations have been fabrics from Rifle Paper Co. This is a Japanese based company that specializes in a fabric screen printing technique. It seems their patterns have a cult-like following.
Now that I have some experience under my belt, I am happy to announce that I am looking to expand further, and I am booking some fall/winter Arts & Crafts Fairs. My first fairs to book are the Bliss Marketplace Fall Craft Fair and Sacramento Elks Lodge Arts & Craft Fair in October. It’s a popular, well attended fair. Keep up to date on where I’ll be by visiting the Events page of my website.
See you at the market!
-Jill Marie