The Numbers Verify This
Although August 2020 was a five weekend month, we did pretty well each weekend. Our slowest day of sales was Sunday, August 9 when we sold just 5 jars. However, the day before was strong and our Watkins sales were good on both days. Our best day this past month was Saturday, August 29 with a total of 44 jars sold. That set a new single-day sales record since the market reopened. The total jar count for August 2020 was 135 which matches our typical monthly average. The market has just been open ten weekends since the COVID shut down and we are enjoying the weekly routine.
Keeping It Fresh
One of the things I am known for at the Oliver Indoor Flea Market is constantly changing around our display. Vendors and management comment on it as do customers so I know it is working. Early in the month, the manager suggested I bring our 10-foot by 10-foot canopy we used for outdoor vending inside the market building to use as part of our booth display. George liked that it meant he wouldn't have to deal with the canopy setting up for outdoor markets. We have pretty much eliminated outdoor markets from our schedule this year, anyway. Once I got the canopy where I wanted, with help, I like the look it has created.
Other New Things
Speaking of keeping our booth interesting, I've added a few new items to our inventory as I continue to tweak what we offer at JamBusters! Early this past month I introduced Haskap Beast Jelly. This is made from the Beast variety of Haskap berries. I've never used Haskap berries before and was pleased to find a supplier located just out of Princeton. Later in the month, I introduced a very limited run of Pickled Peppers. I used Banana Peppers and may expand on that product. One other new thing I added this month is honey. We get asked for it frequently and I searched for someone with a South Okanagan product. I found Okanagan Wildbrush Honey and entered into a partnership with them. We've only had their product on display one weekend and already have had sales.
Like They Say, Time Flies
On August 12, 2020, we marked our third year of weekly vending at the Oliver Indoor Flea Market. There are a handful of vendors who have been there longer than us, but few travels as far as we do to be there (135-kilometres one-way). We had been customers of the market for probably a couple of years before we had an opportunity to vend there. It was on April 1, 2017, when we did a one day blitz to see if it was worth our while to try to get into that market. Sales were strong and feedback was tremendous. Space opened up that August and we jumped at it. George and I committed a full year there to "test the market" and it proved to be worth it for us even with the trips back and forth from Princeton to Oliver.
George Continues To Improve
George's congestive heart failure recovery is still moving forward. Although he has been building his strength by walking and lifting weights each day, he still only joins me at the Oliver Indoor Flea Market on Sundays. His ghostwriting business is back on track and he likes to be able to write on Saturdays to finish his week. He takes Sundays off of writing to be with me helping out in the JamBusters! booth. He continues to deal with AFib and the many complications that came with it but he hasn't let it slow him down too much and is currently waiting on the next move his doctors will have planned for him.
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