I just got back from my very first vendor show for Auntie Bee’s Market. I went into it feeling excited and nervous, and I wanted to share what the experience was really like—from setting up my booth to how the day actually went.
Getting Ready the Night Before
So… I was up until 3 AM the night before.
Why, you ask? Was it nerves? Excitement?
Actually—neither. It was determination.
There was this specific fabric I had been trying to get my hands on for weeks. I had used it before to make a few cosmetic bags in preparation for the show, but once I ran out, I couldn’t find it again anywhere. Every week I checked the store, and every week it was gone. I guess it was a popular pattern.
Then the day before the show, I checked one last time—and somehow, it was finally there.
I had already spent the entire day working on different things to get ready, and by the time I remembered the fabric again, it was already midnight. I looked at the clock and knew it was late… but I was so convinced I needed to make one more tote bag out of it.
I don’t know how to explain it other than I just knew—if any of my tote bags were going to sell, it would be that one.
So I stayed up and made it.
And sure enough… it ended up being the very first bag that sold.
Setting Up My Booth
The day before the show, I was able to go set up my booth between 2 PM and 4 PM. My boyfriend came with me, and together we set up all the tables and displays. It actually didn’t take as long as I expected, and once everything was in place, I headed home.
The next morning around 8:30 AM, I came back to finish setting up—this time bringing all of my products to place on the displays.
At first, everything felt pretty easy since the main setup was already done. I was just adding the final touches and deciding exactly where everything should go.
But then… about 10 minutes before the doors opened, I realized I still needed to set up my card reader and tablet.
And of course—my card reader would not connect.
For a moment, I definitely felt a little panic. I’m standing there, watching the clock, trying to get it to pair, and it just wouldn’t work. But I ended up disconnecting it and repairing it, and literally with about a minute to spare… it finally connected.
The relief I felt in that moment was immediate.
The Moment It All Started
Once the doors opened and people started coming in, everything shifted.
I had been anticipating that moment for so long, but once it actually happened, I started to settle in. Everything felt… normal.
I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be. It became less about “this is my first big show” and more about just being there, talking to people, and enjoying the experience.
It felt calm. It felt natural. And I was finally able to just be present and take it all in.
As the day went on, I started to notice something I didn’t expect.
All of my booth neighbors were so kind. Everyone was welcoming, helpful, and supportive in a way that made me feel like I belonged there—even as a beginner.
And throughout the day, I had several friends come out to support me.
That meant more to me than I can fully put into words.
I felt loved.
I felt accomplished—that I had actually put my mind to something and followed through with it.
And most of all, I felt relieved… relieved that I did it.
Because for so long, this was just an idea. Something I talked about, planned, and worked toward.
And then suddenly, I was there. Living it.