Continuing from where we left off in our previous blog post.
In the evening, the day before the event, I learned that my stall was positioned near the beginning of a slope. Worries crept in about whether this would impact my setup, especially since my display stand had wheels. Upon checking with the organizers, they assured me it shouldn't pose a problem. Despite the reassurance, I couldn't shake off the feeling of disheartenment, added by the negative mood brought on by my period. The initial three days meant managing the stall solo, as Vishal was tied up with office duties.
Upon arriving at the venue, I swiftly located my stall and was relieved to see that the slope had minimal impact on the setup, just as the organizers had assured. Eager to finalize the table placements and get Vishal's help before he headed to the office, I began organizing. I was taken aback for a moment when one of the organizers approached us, asking us to deprioritize setting up the stall and instead help them hang buntings along the pathway in front of our stalls. I declined, explaining that Vishal was only available to assist with setting up my table before he had to leave. Luckily they understood. For someone like me, who has learned the value of assertiveness the hard way, it felt like a personal victory to confidently say no.
My mood still wasn't great; I wanted Vishal to be with me, for emotional support. But, I understood his responsibilities. He wished me the best and left to work. Taking my time to arrange things as I desired, I patiently awaited the arrival of customers. Meanwhile, the neighboring stall was still in the midst of setting up. In their haste, their heavy materials leaned against the stall partition, causing my glass frame – which I use for scanning and sharing social media details – to fall flat on the ground. My heart raced with fear as I slowly bent down to retrieve the frame, hoping it remained intact. Unfortunately, it wasn't the case. Tears filled my eyes instantly. Though the person from the next stall quickly came to apologize, I was not in a state to acknowledge. Gesturing that the frame was broken, I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just the glass that shattered; it was also my confidence, as it's believed that, a broken glass signifies bad luck, further making me feel low.
However, a moment of joy came in when a student from NIFT became my first customer. Her excitement surpassed mine when she learned she was my inaugural sale. It became evident that our ear hoops were an instant hit among the NIFT students, who showed genuine appreciation for the craftsmanship. I soon discovered that macramé was part of the students' syllabus at NIFT, explaining their familiarity and enthusiasm for our products. Many students visited our stall, recognizing the effort put into creating each item single-handedly. While some admired and praised my work, others expressed skepticism, questioning the value of purchasing when they believed they could replicate the products themselves. For some, our stall served as a reminder of their less-than-ideal experiences with macramé classes, eliciting comments like, "Oh! Remember this trauma?". Amidst the mix of reactions, some remarks brought a smile to my face, while others left me feeling disheartened. Adding to my challenges, the relentless sun beat down on us, leaving me feeling dehydrated and drained despite my efforts to stay hydrated. By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted.
Determined to start afresh with a positive outlook on day two, I hoped for a better outcome. However, things took a turn for the worse. I noticed that 1-2 vendors had invested on half stalls instead of full ones, I felt betrayed as the organizers had told me that they don't plan to have half stall options. Tears once again welled up as doubts clouded my mind about quitting my job and venturing into business. Despite the overwhelming emotions, I gathered my courage and resolved to give my best, no matter the circumstances. Returning to my stall, I forced a smile onto my face, determined to make the most of the day. Seeing my dear friend and a fellow small business owner Pallavi, visit the stall brought me happiness. Her presence provided comfort, allowing me to share my feelings with her. Meanwhile, I had also gotten to know the neighboring stalls, finding them friendly and their products impressive.
On day three, Pallavi once again visited me along with her mom who wanted to shop at the event. In addition to her another fellow small business owner friend, Kavya also came by. Their gesture touched me deeply, and I shared with them my apprehensions about the event. Despite my doubts, they filled me with confidence and wished me nothing but success. As Friday afternoon rolled around, the day seemed to progress like any other. However, as evening approached, everything changed. My dad, who was in town, came to visit me at the stall, bringing with him a wave of good wishes. Participants began flocking to the stall for the workshop, keeping me on my feet with continuous activity. Suddenly, my sales saw a significant uptick, both for products and workshop registrations.
While I was busy attending to customers at my stall, a lady came asking if I still had any of our macrame bells available. When I responded that we had just one remaining, she left out a sigh of relief and shared, "We live close by. We came yesterday but couldn't buy it. My son has been asking for it ever since. This morning, he was so persistent that I had to show him near the closed gate at 7, explaining that we could only come back later in the evening. I couldn't resist capturing a picture with this little one. Another moment of joy arrived with the day's final sale. It was a beautiful cloud-shaped dream catcher I had crafted nearly two years prior. For reasons unknown, it had remained unsold, as if it were patiently waiting for its destined dreamer to find it.
I soon realized that investing in a full stall was a fortunate decision. The space not only accommodated the workshop and sales efficiently but perhaps it was the size of the full stall that attracted as many visitors as it did, something a half stall might not have achieved. The overwhelming love and support I received for my workshop deserve a separate write-up to properly convey the gratitude I feel.
The weekend brought a happy note as Vishal joined me at the stall for support. To my delight, one of my former students, Rithvik from my days as a soft skills trainer also paid me a visit. Despite the long hours, they stayed with me until we wrapped up for the day. While I was occupied with workshops Vishal helped me in managing sales. In the evening, my biggest wall hanging was sold, bringing a huge smile on my face. It wasn't just about the sale itself; what truly brought me happiness was knowing that it had found a home with people who genuinely appreciated the art and valued my efforts. As I was in the midst of winding up, a heartwarming moment unfolded when a little girl approached my stall. Upon spotting a cute key tag, her eyes lit up with excitement, and she knew instantly that she wanted it. Urging me not to pack away just yet, she promised to return with her mom, who was shopping at another stall. She quickly came back with her mom, and together they made the purchase. Witnessing her enthusiasm, I just couldn't stop smiling and thinking back on that moment continues to warm my heart.
On the last morning, all the creators gathered together for a group picture, smiling and posing happily. Later in the afternoon, I managed to steal a few minutes to check out other stalls. However, I couldn't explore them all. Nevertheless, I did manage to shop for a couple of things.
Throughout the four days, we were permitted to leave our products back in the stall by covering them up. However, on the last day, we had to clear and pack up everything. As we wrapped up our stall, our final sale was our macramé diya holders. With creators from different parts of the country bidding farewell to Bengaluru, they departed for their respective destinations.
Across all five days, emotions ran high, and I was overwhelmed by the love and support we received. I left the venue feeling deeply grateful for the opportunity provided by A Hundred Hands, enriched by the new connections and networks built not just with customers but also with fellow business owners, cherishing the memories of this unforgettable experience.
I returned home with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to knot the orders that awaited me. While I'm aware of the mountain of work ahead, I can't help but feel a sense of pride in myself for the dedication and hard work I've poured into bringing my dreams to life through Knot Square. There's no looking back now; onward and upward.
-Archana Harish
Click here to watch the reel on our Instagram Page @knotsquare.in
Comentários