Blue Skies in 2017... Veteran Flea Vendors Share Their Goals for the New Year
It's far from strange to hit refresh on life come January 1. So, it's probably pretty expected that business people set new goals for their work life, too. We got on the horn with some of our seasoned vendors to hear what they've got on the books for 2017, and a peek into what you might find from them during this year's outdoor Flea season... which starts April 22!
Marissa Mele of Maroozi
"My business goals this year are to expand my footprint and attend a few fairs outside the Northeast Ohio area. I would also like to experiment with different production methods to streamline the creation process of my Maroozis. Lastly I would like to find a booth attendant to help me to be able to attend multiple craft shows on the same day."
Robin Sweeney of Cosmic Girl Goes Home
"First: Vintage home decor mobile boutique rolling out May/June. Second: expand my show horizons and incorporate more urban markets, ie Chicago and NYC. Third: focus on honing my brand, look, logo. Fourth: get my name out there more and double my sales. Fifth: enjoy the journey."
Maria Hristova Smith of Clear Blur Design
"One of the primary 2017 Business goals for Clear Blur Design is to make more items available for purchase online. We'd also like to explore cost effective ways to ship overseas and figure out options to meet retailers needs on wholesale demand. Ryan officially joined Clear Blur Design in September to help with production. I'm taking strides to go down to part time at my current corporate job. A new studio that will provide the space to grow is in the works as well. Taking our little creative venture from hobby to a financially stable business without sacrificing style and fun will be our main goal. "
Kelly Pierce of Great Lake Outfitters
"I have a small ton of goals for 2017, most would bore anyone to tears. But pertaining to the Flea, I want to focus on sourcing a more diverse selection of vintage/antique goods. I'm downsizing the amount of shows I do for 2017 so I can really focus on the Cleveland Flea and my online business. This will allow me more time to deliver better goods, better prices and better customer service. A lot of my customers ask if I have a brick-and-mortar, (which is too much of an undertaking for me at my current stage) but I'm working on a proper website that will be the best of my on-line and flea market goods all in one place in addition to a open communication channel between myself and my customers."
Get inspired: Join us for our "Veteran Vendors" panel on Wednesday, January 18 from 6PM-9PM.