5 Lessons I Learned from the Market

Business

29 Nov

This is my stall at the Melbourne Cheeky Monkey Market at CS Square (Caroline Springs)

I am out of the box.

Last Saturday was my ‘Unboxing Day’, the start of market life for me. I came out of my virtual store to meet you and more clients to test the waters of Melbourne’s opening up. It was a challenge because I am a one-woman show. And I guess in my tribe, they felt the vibe and came out to see the stall. I feel grateful for that, to all who dropped by and did their early Christmas shopping. But for me as a newbie in the Aussie market scene, I have learned 5 lessons during my ‘debut’. Read below.

1 | Do not underestimate your strength.

I was surprised how much stuff I carried from my upstairs craft room to the car. There were so many to bring for the setup of my market stall. Bump in time is serious business. I am used to setting up candy buffets in my previous gigs, but I dictate the time. So I thought this should not be a surprise to me. Market organisers only give you 1 hour preparation before opening. It is just a 2-minute drive to the mall. It took me 30 minutes to load my super Swiftie car. Imagine if I do a Geelong market, it means I need to wake up very early. Well, bring it on. This is just a start. 👊

2 | Asking an expert or experienced person for help is so fine.

I am no superwoman. I promoted my unboxing debut to the world. And I got an offer from a local creative to help me. There really are good people still. I know I ask around too often. I would do a lot of research but I still ask an expert to sound off my ideas. Why? Well, that's me. I second guess myself all the time. But asking the right questions and taking on good advice from people who came before you, only proves I care about the endeavor and have full respect of other's expert opinion and success. I still believe on independent thinking, and this is not like you are stealing ideas. It is more like respecting someone’s opinion and a lot of people are willing to help. We just need to learn how to ask.

3 | You win, we win.

My friend, Manny Sison, a local paper artist, has coined this line that day. I am grateful for a supportive tribe. I realized I built strong connections in the past. It can come from your friendships or community. Filipinos are tribal in a sense. They easily help out their ‘kabayan’ (comrade), we call this ‘bayanihan’. If used properly, we are strong in community spirit. Some naysayers say it is just bandwagon-ing. I’d say it is instinctively helping each other out, that’s all. But what I am gushing about yesterday is there's so much love going around from people I know since first grade to people I met last year on Instagram. They’re all there. They are just simply rooting for the success of the day. My heart is full.

Here’s a bonus. I don’t have a float. I can only accept card payments. So my neighbor stalls (Well Natured by Vicky and Style It Up Jnr) said if I need change, they can help me out. Isn’t that nice? They just met me that day. Kind people are all around.

4 | Reward yourself for a hard day's work.

If you are an entrepreneur, you don’t harvest right away. You keep everything and save. The ideal scenario is, you have a day job and the business is a side-hustle. But this is my only income stream at the moment so every little win, I celebrate. I rewarded myself, not with expensive stuff, but with 2 scoops of ice cream. That’s all I needed. And I got it. 🍦

5 | People see you differently than how you see yourself.

I am passionate in whatever undertaking I am faced with. I always give my best effort. When customers saw my stall yesterday and said ‘YOU ARE SO CREATIVELY GOOD’, I just want to believe it. But I always put this limit on myself so that I am always learning. I want to try new things, new skills, and that’s why there are a lot of makes in my shop. During my old business pitch, I said in the beginning, I was making things that I love and value, like writing (journals, cards, stationery) and being sentimental (handmade gifts and keepsakes). Hoping to find connections through them. That’s what is happening for me now. I welcome the connection. It is what we are after anyway. A home for our inner self. A sense of belonging. Looking for purpose.

Check out all the pictures during the Christmas Market. Thanks Ernie Reyes for the pictures.