As I sit down to pen this account of my recent experience of my macrame stall event organized by Samskruti Groups, Bengaluru, I find myself hesitant, unsure if I even want to share this story. But perhaps by sharing my experience, I can shed light on the importance of integrity and trust in business dealings. Unlike my other stall blogs, I would not like to get into the details of the three-day event, though it's still afresh. The event left me feeling drained, with my peace of mind disturbed.
Before diving into the chaos of the event itself, it's important to address the expectations I had going in. I didn't harbor grand illusions of overnight success, nor did I expect booming sales. I did my due diligence, verifying details before signing up, and approached the event with cautious optimism.
Unfortunately, the reality of the event fell far short of even my modest expectations. The organizers failed to attract footfall, leaving the venue eerily quiet for the duration of the event. But it wasn't just the lack of visitors that disappointed me—it was the blatant dishonesty and manipulation exhibited by the organizers.
As the event unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the organizers had misled both myself and my fellow vendors. When I and another vendor were told that a minimum of three days' stall space was a must out of the seven-day event, they inexplicably handed out stall space to other vendors for just a day or two as well. When questioned, they offered flimsy excuses and outright lies, claiming last-minute changes and special treatment for favored vendors.
The realization that the organizers had repeatedly fallen short of their promises left me feeling betrayed and emotionally drained. The organizers' audacity reached its peak when they attempted to deflect blame onto the vendors, labeling legitimate concerns as "vendor politics" and accusing me of negativity. Refusing to let their baseless accusations stand, I demanded that they take back their words, which they did—however, the damage had already been done.
Despite the overall blues, there were a couple silver linings. I would like to express my gratitude to the fellow businesses present at the event who chose to shop from me, supporting each other in our endeavors. Additionally, I got to build connections with a few of them. Special thanks to a student friend, Rithvik, and a fellow small business owner, a lawyer turned baker, Ruchira, who came to visit me at the stall. Though I told them not to, they came by to cheer me. Their unexpected visit provided much-needed encouragement and reminded me of the importance of supportive friends and fellow entrepreneurs during tough times.
As I reflect on this harrowing experience, I'm reminded of the importance of trust and integrity in business relationships. Though the organizers offered apologies, their repeated lies, false promises, and attempts to shift blame have left me wary of future dealings with them, nor will I recommend them to any other businesses. Moving forward, I'll tread even more cautiously, knowing that not everyone operates with honesty and integrity. While I won't dwell on the past, I'll let bygones be bygones and focus my energy on preparing for my next event, determined to forge ahead with resilience.
-Archana Harish
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