Holiday season is coming and that means it’s bazaar season again! From the time I started my online shop in 2008, I was only able to be a concessionaire in four bazaars. That’s three in BF Homes Paranaque and one in A.Venue in Makati City. Why only four? That still does not include my dream bazaar. I love joining bazaars to showcase my products and to interact with different kinds of people including fellow bazaaristas whom I eventually became friends with. I graduated as an engineer and worked as an IT professional but there’s an entrepreneur inside me.
I’m not capable yet of joining the bazaars that I want. The factors that affect my decision in joining a bazaar are the cost, venue, date and time.
Cost is a big factor since a bazaarista has to consider the amount needed to earn in order to breakeven first and then enjoy the profit. I can only afford a certain amount for a space for rent in some bazaars. In two of the bazaars I joined, I only paid half since the other half is from the funds of a mini business my close friends and I built up.
Inventory must also be considered because if you don’t have enough items to sell, how can you breakeven? I don’t have a problem with these since I have enough products of my own and a few items that I resell. I’d be happy if my items would be sold out 🙂
Another factor is the venue since I have to plan how I can go to the location. My husband always drives me to the venue. I’m from the South so I prefer bazaars in either Paranaque, Las Pinas, Alabang and Cavite. My daughter also goes with us to the bazaars since we don’t have a nanny/helper. I’m lucky if my mom can watch her over for me. Venue is also important for me since only my husband and I do the logistics which includes carrying all the stuff for sale and chairs if they’re not provided, setting-up/displaying the items, and preparing the things to be used like change, receipt, pens, plastic, electric fans, etc. But it becomes manageable when family or friends give a hand.
Date and time must also be considered. There’s a bazaar in North Cybergate in Filinvest Alabang that I want to join but the time is at night ’til dawn since the target market are those working in the call centers. I also prefer weekends since my husband and I have full-time work Mondays thru Fridays (and him on Saturdays).
Now that many bazaars will be inviting concessionaires for this season, I’m now again thinking of joining. But do you know which is my dream bazaar? It’s the St. James the Great Christmas Bazaar. We usually go there to check out the items, buy a few gifts and EAT!. It has VERY HIGH foot traffic and you must be ready to squeeze yourself in to the aisles. Now on they’re 20th year, the bazaar is still located beside St. James the Great church and extends even up to the Cuenca Courts. It will be on November 26-30, 2011. The rental space for 5 days are as follow: Php16,000 for dry goods, Php16,500 in the food row and Php25,000 if you’ll set-up a food court.
When you compute it (for dry goods), it will be Php3,200/day. This means I have to breakeven this amount everyday for 5 days. And an entrepreneur does not settle only at breakeven. We want to earn even a little. I’m wondering if my products will sell more than that amount per day. But still I can’t afford the Php16,000. Not unless there will be four of us sharing a booth which I think is prohibited. I can also have my products consigned but what I’m also after is to face clients showcase the products myself.
Well, there goes my dream again! But I won’t stop dreaming. Someday, I know, Shopping Spells and Glamma Momma will hopefully be in known bazaars in Ayala Alabang and in Rockwell 🙂
To inquire about the St. James the Great Christmas Bazaar, email Ms. Juliet at stjbazaar@gmail.com.
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