This just cracked me up. I was in a boutique this weekend. I did this same one last year and it didn't go well but decided to do it again as it seemed the group giving it had a better handle on advertising, etc.

Well, it still did poorly. I sold more than anyone but I have a lot of really inexpensive stocking stuffers and people are always looking for that sort of thing. The boutique didn't do poorly because of the economy, it did poorly because of bad planning and strategy.

I had a good time though and the group putting it on, although clueless, are a really nice bunch.

Anyway, the gal in charge came around to each of our booths and asked us to donate something to their raffle. Not an unusual request, but they had neglected to mention that a donation was required when they sent out the flyers to rent a space so some people were not particularly happy with them, but I think everyone gave them something, including me.

Well, apparently they were unable to sell any tickets to what few buyers came into the boutique, so they decided to make it a "vendor raffle drawing" and they were walking around selling tickets, 6 for $5 ( no, buying 1 ticket only was not an option). So, what in effect they were doing, was selling tickets to the vendors to participate in a raffle where all the prizes were donated by them.

Can you believe that? And no, I did not buy any tickets. I don't think the gal was very happy when I said no, but really, you rent a space, donate an item, do lousy, then spend $5 on raffle tickets to possibly win back your item?

Still cracks me up just thinking about it.

Go figure...lol

I don't think I would go back next year.

I guess this is one of those live and learn pages of life.

Yeah, I've done shows like that in the past...I can't believe the way some of the women think when they are planning the fair. A definate blonde moment for some of them!

Now I'm scared, doing my first event on Nov. 20. I feel like canceling out. It is too hard to haul it in, set it up and then not sell anything. Maybe all my Christmas sewing is already done.

Similar thing happened to me a couple years back-I have organized many charity fundraisers-benefiting our local hospital, our ambulance charity, my son's school and even our animal shelter charity where we lived(overseas in Vanuatu) and I was approached by a couple ladies wanting my advice for holding a large second-hand/yard sale to benefit the local Red Cross. Since I have also done a few very large community second-hand sales, I was happy to meet with them and give them advice on how to organize it. After taking notes (and about 2 hours of my time), they thanked me and left. The next month they held the sale, and didn't even follow one of my suggestions! Needless to say, it was a complete flop-I had friends who participated (paying for a table) and ended up haulig 1/2 their stuff back. A few made less than the table cost them. Plus, they didn't even bother to have refreshments for sale-cold drinks etc-and it was during the really hot-humid season. No proper advertising was done (and I arranged it for free for them with the local paper who always does my advertising for free). I mean, I guess you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!!

Several years ago we had a donated Cabbabe Patch type doll for raffle for a Heart Association fund raiser. The girl that brought the doll (not the maker) sold the raffle tickets. She then left with the ticket money and the doll. The nerve of some people.

Don't be scared, and don't base your upcoming experience on mine, this was the 2nd time I had participated in this boutique and I knew it was "iffy", last year was so bad they refunded everyone's space rental money. I was willing to try it again because the circumstances had "success" written all over it, and a good friend who belongs to the organization was encouraging me to participate. But they didn't take advantage of the circumstances and it flopped. I won't go back a 3rd time because they obviously don't "get it".

Has this sale you are going to be in done well in the past? Have you heard good things about it? Are they already advertising? Did they give you flyers to pass out to your friends, family, coworkers? Do you know someone who has done it and spoke highly of it? These are all good signs.

I knew this boutique could go either way and I was willing to give it a chance. The space rent was very low and it only went for 5 hours, I sold more than anyone else so it wasn't a total disaster, but it could have been a monumental success had it been handled properly. Really a shame.

Had similar happen to me a few years ago. Ended up earning more than most -- some didn't even get the cost of the booth--- which was only $30.00 for the weekend! We were crammed in a small room, where we had no room in front of us when we sat down, and absolutely NO room behind us either. The room was off to the side and people didn't know we were in there! Others were in a large auditorium...with HUGE wide aisles! They had us donate....then did a drawing - we didn't see the drawing - it was done behind closed doors, but I know I got the ugliest donation!!!! I noticed one of the buddies of the organizer got a BEAUTIFUL Christmas arrangement! And then had the gall to ask us if we wanted to come back the next year....Uh NO!