A Day on Broadway

Yesterday I worked the Broadway Sunday Farmers' Market for the first time. It's a seasonal market, but it has a longer season than any other seasonal market in town, running from May until late December.

I tried to get into this market earlier this fall, but it didn't work out. Then the manager called me last week and asked if I wanted to give it a try for the last 2 weeks of the season. I have to get a $226 health permit even if I'm only vending for 2 weeks, and technically I should also pay a $50 late fee if I submit the application less than 2 weeks before the event starts. I nearly said no because I couldn't imagine making any money having to pay these fees, but I decided to give it a try anyway. I called the health department and they agreed to at least waive the late fees, and I found myself thinking that not every business decision has to be directly about money. I wanted to get a sense of this market because I've heard good things about it from other vendors. I also figure that at this point in the season if I even break even on something it's worth doing because it creates extra work, and all of my employees want more work.

I loved the market, though I barely broke even. It was a freak show, in the best possible way. Great people watching. It was also very, very cold, at least for Seattle, and I do love the whole winter farmers' market phenomenon. I love the fact that there are enough of us vendors crazy and committed enough to get out there are create a market, even when it's hard to be outside. And I love the rapport that develops between the customers and the vendors. We're all so grateful to each other. They're grateful that we continue to show up even though our sales are obviously slow and it's hard to stand outside on that kind of day, and we're grateful to them for coming and shopping even though they have so much more to choose from this time of year at the supermarket.

I want to figure out a way to do this market next year. They need prepared food, and I feel I'll do well there. I'm already committed to doing 3 other markets on Sundays. My business has never done 4 markets in a day, not even for special events, and I don't want to buy another vehicle, although I am willing to buy some extra equipment. I'm going to see what I can do to figure out a way. I've got some ideas.