I was thrilled about Knot Square's 25th stall. Meanwhile, I came across an opportunity at Byg Brewski Sarjapur, a venue that exclusively supports women entrepreneurs to showcase their handmade items. The fact that they offer stalls at such a nominal rate made it even more exciting to participate in this unique market. Although the event presented some challenges, there were also moments of genuine connection that made it memorable.
On Saturday, we got the table at the corner end, and we had only three visitors the whole day. However, I feel that it had nothing to do with the stall positioning, as a couple of tables positioned at the front didn’t make a single sale, which demotivated them, and they did not return the next day. The brewery had good footfall, but unfortunately, the number of people visiting the stalls was quite low.
Our first customer of the day was the husband of a neighbouring stall lady, who bought a copper bell from us while I was still setting up. His purchase made me look forward to a great day ahead. But, as it turned out, I was wrong.
I had an upcoming soft skills training program to be delivered. So, I used the quiet moments to glance through the content and prepare for the session. I even planned and recorded a few content for the social media.
The day was brightened by a couple who stopped by after seeing a macramé Christmas tree hanging at my stall. The gentleman was very kind and mentioned that he had seen my work from afar and came directly to my table. Despite hardly having any visitors since morning, his words, “You are doing a good job, beta. Keep working on it. Not everyone understands the value of this art. Don’t get disappointed,” really made my day. It felt like an affirmation from God.
There was a flash mob by the brewery staff, and it was really fun to watch them. Throughout the day, I found that the staff were very energetic and friendly, contributing to a nice vibe overall.
Later in the evening, my dad, who was in town for a function, came by the stall, even though I had told him he might not need to. He came to spend some time with me and later helped me wrap up the stall along with my husband. We had snacks together, and then he proceeded to the event.
I didn’t have great expectations for Sunday, but I didn’t want to skip it, especially since I had already paid for the stall. Even though the amount was small, I still wanted to give it another chance. I also requested the organizers to put up a visible board mentioning the market for the next day, as on Saturday it had only stayed for a couple of hours. We told them we understood if the customers didn’t choose to buy, but the least we expected was for them to come and take a look.
As there were only two stalls that day apart from ours, I chose a table at the front, hoping for more visibility. The day started off slowly, but I was grateful for the couple who stopped by to buy a car charm and a fridge magnet. The gentleman returned later to purchase two more pieces, which felt encouraging. I spotted another lady who had bought a pair of ear hoops from us a while back; she told me she was an artist herself and wore the earrings proudly as she spent her time at the brewery. Additionally, two other women came by, and purchased a plant hanger, expressing their appreciation for my work. A little girl also visited my stall with her mom and purchased a headband after I introduced her to macramé. Seeing her happily wear it around was a delightful sight and brought a smile to my face.
While the sales were modest, the kind words and enthusiasm from visitors made the day worthwhile. The atmosphere remained positive, and the friendly interactions helped uplift my spirits. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with customers and share my passion for macramé, which is ultimately what I cherish most about these market experiences. I also shared my feedback with the organizers, and they were open to receiving it. Currently, they have stopped hosting these pop-ups at their Sarjapur outlet. However, they continue at their Hennur one, which seems to be thriving, as they keep hosting markets every weekend. The active participation there is encouraging, and I hope to try that venue in the future.
As the day wrapped up, I reflected on the journey so far. Each market presents its unique challenges and rewards, and I’m learning to embrace both. I look forward to participating in more markets at different venues, hoping to continue growing my business and spreading the love for macramé.
-Archana Harish
Click here to watch the reel on our Instagram Page @knotsquare.in or here to watch the shorts on our YouTube channel @knotsquaredotin
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