Month: February 2016

I did it! Mission accomplished, guys. And a hell of an experience it was!

Last week I wrote about the excitement and anxiety that surrounded the preparations for selling at a flea market in Germany and I promised to follow up with you all on the outcome.

D and I approached this event as seriously as we could. We dressed to the nines! He put on his suit jacket and Budapest loafers, and I wore a fashionable blazer, silk top and high heeled leather booties from COS. You wouldn’t believe how many people stopped just to tell us how “in Ordnug” and how chic we looked compared to the rest of the sellers in the room. While most twenty-somethings that sell at these flea markets were drinking half liters of beer straight from the bottle to get them through the 6 hour event, we brought a bottle of prosecco and plastic champagne flutes to match our duds.

Dressing better than anyone else in the room helped particularly because we were pretty much only selling clothing. Every time they looked at us, they saw our brand. At least that was the goal.

And it worked! We sold only about 15 items each and came out with almost 300 Euros! Keep in mind, these were worn out, second hand clothing that had pretty much no value to us.

I have to say that the most fun part of executing the goal was getting to negotiate. The customers in the first hour are the fiercest barterers. They come ready to attack and low ball you, which I have to admit some of them got the best of me. I sold an angora sweater for 6Euros within the first 30 minutes, which was definitely a beginners mistake. However, after that I got my wits about me I was ready to shake them down (in the politest way possible).

I must say I feel accomplished. Before, I was intimidated by the daunting work and mindfulness that would need to be utilized. I found out though that, although it took effort and preparation, it was completely worth it in the end. I got to rehash my sales skills I learned in retail, but apply those skills in the German language! Chasing your fears and wishes can be so rewarding, no matter how small.

It feels great to have carried out a promise you’ve made to yourself. Which promises to yourself would you like to keep this year? Signing off on a proud note 🙂