Recap: Christmas in July

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This past weekend, July 19th and 20th, I attended the first annual Christmas in July Vendor Fair in Grandview, MO. And as usual when I make an appearance somewhere, it’s nice to take a moment to reflect on lessons learned which can be applied to future endeavors.

I will start with the venue, which was certainly very nice. The Arrington Place Event Center is actually an old Elk Lodge (#2088, in fact), and so comes equipped with all the amenities necessary to host a nice indoor event with plenty of outdoor space available too, if needed. It was not in this case. All 23 vendors were able to fit in a single large ballroom with a concession window and door to the outside. It was very cozy, if also a tad spacious. The space was certainly ample given the relative dearth of public attendance.

This latter aspect was unfortunately the most prominent feature of the weekend. There was not a single moment, I don’t think, where the number of attendees equaled or exceeded the number of vendors. While the event was advertised and word spread by organizers and vendors alike, I do not think word reached the correct crowd. I can’t say it was entirely the fault of the organizers, however, as they were very accommodating to the vendors and definitely put a lot of heart into the whole affair. And in addition to being their first year putting on this particular event, the location of the lodge does not lend itself to great masses finding it in the first place. This could perhaps be improved upon next year with larger, more eye-catching signs pointing the way from the main roads. As this was an indoor event, weather is somewhat irrelevant, but it was pretty nice throughout regardless, if a tad overcast on Saturday.

My overall assessment: an event that has potential, but needs to take steps to overcome the inherent handicaps of a first-year happening in an out-of-the-way place. Will I be returning next year? Probably not. And not merely because of the aforementioned lack of attendance. I sense that even had word of this event reached the intended audience (i.e. 90% middle-aged and elderly women, from what I observed), it would not have been the correct audience for my products. As it was, despite the very modest vending fee and my being the only book dealer present all weekend, I barely broke even.

So, would I recommend this for others? Well, if small, affordable handicrafts are your specialty, then absolutely. Otherwise, and for my fellow authors especially (unless you write sappy romance novels), probably not