Yesterday was my last farmers market of the season of what was my second year at the markets. There are several people that I want to thank later but first I'd like to share my thoughts about market life. Being a vendor is a curious experience that I liken to owning a Jeep Wrangler, once you've tried it, it is hard to not want to return to it. I chose that comparison specifically as it is both something which I have found to be true and because being a vendor is not an unhealthy addiction. I think I can sum it up fairly well with something I said to Sara when I got home:
I believe in the past six months I've met more people, bartered more goods and breathed in more fresh air than some people do in six years.
I also know the experience can differ from vendor to vendor. For instance, a lot of baked goods vendors are up well past midnight getting their wares prepared whereas my wines are bottled months in advance. Conversely they tend to move a lot more volume on market days than most. There are battles of balance all vendors play with, how much to prepare, how much to bring, how fine the margins are, even our market fees all are considered each week.
Then there are the intangibles, the things which we have no control over. The good and bad sales days, the vendors who retire (I'm looking at you Saint John Cupcake Salon) and the bad weather days. Ah the weather, you can read all the forecasts and radars you like but you can never prepare for it. Some rainy days are actually great for sales, some sunny days no customers turn out. Then there was that one Friday in Sussex where we expected an ark to pull up...
Having been a vendor the past two seasons and already looking forward to 2014 markets I think I can safely say I'll always need to be at the markets in some form or other. Even if I sold the winery tomorrow I think I'd look into another product that would allow me the opportunity to participate. After all, how many get to experience this on a chilly Saturday morning:
I won't try and list all the vendors I know but I would like to thank my neighbours specifically. All told I spent a little under 400 hours since May variously in the company of these people and having someone you can chat with, laugh with or scrabble with makes the time go by much easier. Bob and Jackie from the R and J Honey Bee Farm, Ann from Soap Works, Erin and Ian from Totally Raw Dog Food, Keith and Brenda from Wilier Creations and Bob and Madison from Bates Landing. Others include Doyle, Anna, Henrietta, Dan, Mike, Greg, Tom, too many to send shout outs too, suffice to say I've never actually met a vendor that I couldn't at least have a chat with.
I'd also like to thank the market managers. Lynn from the Sussex Farmers Market, Lorraine from the Kingston Farmers Market and Jody and Brian from the Queen Square Farmers Market. Being a market manager must be a hectic job, from constantly promoting the market to dealing with vendors complaints (Oh, we'll complain about anything, weather included!) and these individuals manage to pull it off smoothly every market. My thanks to them.
I save my biggest thanks for you, my customers. My repeats, my newcomers and my old friends, as long as you support us I'll always do my best to bring you New Brunswick's most award winning wines!
