Ladder Display Stands and Updated Show Booth

I have spent the last year visiting as many farmers markets, craft fairs, and flea markets as I possibly could.  My hat is off to the people (mostly women) that run the various shows and booths that I fell in love with!!  What an amazingly creative bunch of people!!!

5ft ladders with boards for shelves

One of the special (and somewhat rare) things I've seen and loved is Ladders as display shelving.  In fact, I loved it so much that I am creating my own.  A table-top version for smaller items, and a stand-alone version for my globe-based products.

I originally bought two tall ladders and two short ladders (all purchased separately) and of course I thought they were the same sizes, but as it turns out -I bought slightly different sizes (oopsy!).

To remedy the problem of the different sizes, I simply laid the shorter ladder on top of the longer ladder, matched up the rungs (which is the most important thing if you're going to use them to hold shelves!), and marked the leg-length.  I then cut off the legs of the longer ladder.  It worked pretty darned good if I do say so myself!

step-stool ladders (behind the jewelry displays)

Then to give the ladders a shabby-chic look (and have them compliment my booth decor), I painted them a medium-blue color and did a bit of distressing of the finish.  I also painted the boards I am using as shelves.  The overall look of my booth looks really nice (at least in my opinion!). 

Here's two pictures of the booth layout and color scheme/decor.  I LOVE it!   Now I just need to do my first Farmer's Market (next Friday, the 7th!).  I hope to see you there!

My finished booth (although I will have a white tablecloth covering the right table and legs!).  I LOVE my booth!

 

Another view of the booth.  The round table probably won't stay (I need a smaller table there)

Working on my booth set-up and review of Costco's Undercover 10x10 canopy

I am so excited! (I've been saying that a lot lately - isn't that great!?)



I will be standing between the tables and the ladders, and
yes! All the tables will have coverings and the ladders will
be painted (probably blue or white)

I received my Undercover 10x10 White Canopy from Costco via UPS today! 

Of course, I just HAD to go set it up.  First I tried in my front yard and ended up whacking (and breaking) some of my favorite Iris's so I had to move.  Finally I ended up on the slight hill next to my garage.



I did take my tables and a few display pieces out to play around with basic layout - here are a few of my options:





This is my real favorite, but I think it would be easy for
customers to feel trapped

So the positive things about the canopy are:

• Relatively easy set-up (I did it all by myself twice - both times less than 15 minutes - and that includes the initial set-up).
• Nice roller-bag with big pockets to hold the side-walls
• 4 Side walls were included
• Height of legs has at least 2 settings (maybe more, but the 2nd one was more than high enough for me to walk under comfortably)
• Nice no-pinch features
•  Instructions included a 1-man set-up flyer

And now for the less pleasant aspects:

• The instructions DIDN'T include how to initially set-up the canopy -- meaning it came with the tent/canopy part seperate from the framework and no directions on how to easily put it on
• There are snaps mid-strut on all 4 sides to snap the canopy to the frame and nothing was mentioned about that at all (luckily I've done a lot of camping and am pretty handy so I figured it out pretty easy - but I think some people might miss that part)
• No instructions on how to attach the walls.  YES, they attach to the canopy with velcro - but they don't appear to line up nicely and they don't seem to quite meet at the edges where the sides can zip together.  I didn't have time to play with that.
• Take-down is basically in reverse of set-up but nothing much talks about that either
• You do have to be a bit flexible during setup if you are setting it up alone.  You end up doing quite a bit of climbing underneath the struts to get the canopy to open.



If you look closely, you can see that my ladders are two
different heights (I'll be cutting one down later)

• And last, but not least - it is sad that for $200+, Costco or Undercover didn't waterproof the canopy itself.  The walls are a different fabric (more of a tarp-type) than the canopy (which is more of a canvas).  So I will be buying a few cans of Scotch-guard when I get the time!

Now I just need to get my table coverings done (and about a million other things) and the booth should look pretty darned nice if I do say so myself!  :) Stay tuned for more updates!

I think I like this best, People can see everything and won't feel
trapped - but are still protected from the Seattle-rain





 

 

 



North Bend and Bothell Country Village Farmer's Markets!

Hi All!!

I am SO excited!  I received confirmations that I have been accepted to be a vendor at the North Bend, WA Farmer's Market and the Bothell Country Village Farmer's Market!

 
I will be appearing at the Bothell Country Village Farmer's Market the 1st Friday of each of the months that it's open (June-October).  They are open from 12pm-6pm and are located in Bothell's Country Village, 23718 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA  98021.



And,I will be appearing at the North Bend Farmer's Market the 3rd Thursday of June, July, and August. They are open from 4pm-8pm and are located in the heart of North Bend, WA - at Si View Park, 400 SE Orchard Drive (98045).

Please stop by and say hello, I would love the chance to meet you!  I'd love your opinion on my booth set-up and decorations.  

And if you stop by my booth, feel free to enter the drawing for a fabulously, stylish, (and eco-friendly) Coffee Belt!  (Similar to one of the Coffee Belts pictured here!)