Virtual Vendor Fair vs On-site Venues – What Makes More Sense?

Recently while driving in the pouring rain to take part in a local Craft and Vendor Fair, I was reminded of the things I did and didn’t like about exhibiting at offline venues. My day started at about 4:00 a.m. on a Saturday, leaving me about two hours to shower, eat, load up my sedan and get on the road. Everything went according to plan until I was halfway there and remembered that I forgot my booth. Fortunately, I allowed extra time to run back and get it but now my stress level was at an all-time high.

Back on the road, I’m pondering whether I really want to do this in the winter months in Minnesota. The thought of future events with potentially bad weather and low attendance was unsettling. Having hosted and taken part in many events over the years, I’ve seen more poorly attended events than good. Regardless, I was hell-bent on staying positive and intent on making this event a productive experience.

Just as I was driving into the parking lot, I’m thinking all is well, I might just get everything set up on time. Then, my heart sunk when I saw the cars lined up at the entrance unloading from the sidewalk. Remember, it’s pouring outside. Efforts to load my little hand cart and get into the building before everything got wet was no easy task. By the time I made my fourth trip inside, I was soaked with only 45 minutes before showtime.

Scrambling to get everything set up was a challenge on a basketball court. The floor was wet and all I could think about is a liability if someone fell. The doors opened at 9:00 a.m. and I was still setting up. Ten minutes later, I was hiding behind my booth drying my hair followed by a few quick curls with a hot iron to look somewhat presentable.

After that I had my act together, I was ready to take on anything. All I had to do was wait for people to walk through the door. Excited to share my business, excited to meet new people, excited to help people save money. A few attendees trickled in here and there, but the rain made a significant impact. Shifting my focus, I started thinking about all the vendors who were there trying to develop relationships and increase public awareness. Based on the activity during that five-hour period, I’d say there must be a better way for small businesses to achieve their goals.

It’s 12:23 a.m. the following Wednesday. I woke up from a dream. The vision of an online virtual vendor fair was so vivid, I had to get up and check to see if the domain name was available. To my surprise, it was! Well, I might be biting off more than I can chew, but if anyone can set things in motion, it’s me.

It takes a big heart, empathy, a lot of work, and determination

to bring small businesses together.

The next day, I had a serious conversation with my dear friend Ana Silva who is an amazing web developer. We discussed the possibility of creating a site that would allow small businesses to get free advertising until the site reaches 100 visits a day. After that, assess a small fee but give them more promotional power and web presence than they had before, coupled with the opportunity to collaborate with each other if they choose. Virtualvendorfair.com is a beta site and is scheduled to be launched on or around December 1st. Right now we are promoting vendors on our facebook page.

I may not be an expert in social media, web design, or even the greatest writer…but neither are the small business owners or professionals I am targeting. There are so many free or low-cost tools out there to help small businesses help themselves, it’s unfathomable. In fact, I’m using a writing tool to help me compose this story. As I continue educating myself, I’ll pass along helpful tips, tools, and resources.

Now that you’re aware of how this site got started, find out if you’re eligible to take part. For now, we are considering small businesses located in the Twin Cities that have been existence at least five years as a registered business entity with the Minnesota Secretary of State. They need to be independently owned and operated. We’ll entertain restaurants, service providers, contractors, retailers, and other entities. Other criteria may apply. Professional writers, content designers and developers, photographers and videographers are also being considered for helping our small businesses.

Think you might be eligible? Find out. Call or text 651-274-0575 or email to have a conversation. Don’t take too long. Only 10 - 20 vendors (one business type per vendor) will be showcased on our site and social media channels. We still have spaces available. It’s virtually possible for you to be a part of something bigger than all of us.