I’ve been marketing

Marketing as in visiting rather than attending. As an attendee I rarely get to actually visit markets these days. I love scouring stalls and hunting through boxes to find that special piece. Piece of what? Whatever. I have become better at this and aren’t just picking things up coz I like them, but really making sure I need them. Makes the purchase even more satisfying.
Markets have changed so much in the last few years. They used to be predominately second hand goods with the ‘fancy stuff’, the hand made items few and far between. Nowadays though, that’s what it’s all about. Hand made, niche markets. There is a place for both no doubt about it.

Back to the beginning, I had a day off form markets, so what did I do? Went of to visit some. A little bit of everything today.
I started this morning with a Farmers Market. I went purely to look as this one has a really good reputation and their website is brilliant. We rocked up (I had mr 9 and eldest’ GF, miss 17) and going on the number of cars it looked promising. I was sorely disappointed with what greeted us. It was a strange set up. The stalls were designed as boutique and almost arty but we were in and out in ten minutes, and that included chatting with a stall holder and buying mr 9 a snack.
Next stop, back tracked 20k. On parking the ‘ladies’ was required, then coffee and a wander. This market is like a huge garage sale/flea market/car boot sale, it is stretched out over a large car park and inside the hall. The inside of the hall, was home to most of the hand crafts, or old lady stuffs.
I asked one lady where I could find the coffee and her response was that there was no restaurant on site. What? So I ask again, which direction, is there a coffee van? Another strange answer, so we leave and head towards the visible food vans.
Once coffee was in hand, we wandered up and down the aisles. I found the best bag! Surprise surprise, pink and bright green tulips, it’s gorgeous, roomy and for $5 an absolute bargain. $1 bought me a tiny pink basket I can use on my own market stall.

Lunch was had starting with Maccas drive through and finishing under a tree in a park where we met up with a friend and her two kidlets. By this time the weather was hotting up, around 27C, which for this time of year is just awesome.

Next stop. , a new boutique market in an outer, Southern Hobart suburb.
It’s coffee time again, and oh, look, I parked right in front of the van. This market is at the other end of the spectrum. Nichey, strict application process, but a full on marketing regime.
And that’s where the fun ended. No vibe, bland looking and very quiet inside the hall. There were some very cool, and definitely different products on sale, but there was still the feel of same same.

And that’s where my day ended. We went home, dropped eldest at work, his GF back home and then collapsed on the couch.

Of course, when you picnic, there are usually some hungry friends wanting to join in….