‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE MERRY? ISN’T IT?

There is a seasonal flavour in the air at the moment and at the time of writing; many of our thoughts are turning to Christmas and the festivities that materialise around now. There is an air of expectation and general benevolence. A few weekends ago, I re-visited the site of my last blood donation. This time, there were no nurses or needles as the venue had thrown its doors open to a seasonal craft fair. There we were, in the process of chugging past in our over laden vehicle heading home after a day fighting against the steady tide of people, shopping. Actually it was more like a day multi-tasking as we had to shop and keep all our six kids together and out of trouble. Like a magnet, “Ye Olde Antique Crafts Fair” sign beckoned us and interrupted our journey home.

I smiled as the ‘CAR PARK FULL’ sign proved no obstacle to determined shoppers looking for yet more presents, who scoured the surrounding countryside for a kerb or muddy embankment to double up as a car parking slot. Having disembarked we were not in too bad shape as we queued in the drizzle and fog. What little money we had left was blatantly burning a hole in respective pockets and needed to be spent. After the riot act was read and re-read to the assembled company we gained entry (for a moderate consideration naturally) and before us lay sixty or seventy exhibits competing for our spend.

So there you have it, the ‘visitors’ had been through a not inconsiderable amount of effort to arrive, albeit damp and steamy, ready to spend money. The range of exhibits ranged from a few pence to several thousands of pounds. Expressions like taking candy from a baby and shooting ducks in a barrel should at this point spring to mind. I am both frustrated and relieved to reminisce about what happened next. My frustration is that with no exception, all the exhibitors seemed bored, tired or generally ambivalent to the visitor. A collection were outside watching the queues form whilst partaking of a smoke and a coffee (yes, another fascist no smoking venue) and they were muttering about how busy it was. Inside some stalls were empty (their owners presumably outside imbibing and indulging) and others were populated by people who were reading, knitting and in some way ‘occupied’. Two exhibitors did manage a ‘hello’ as we walked past. Most ignored us, some tutted, others stared into the distance or cowered at the prospect of engaging the visitor.

Is it just me or is the whole point of exhibiting at an event like this, to engage visitors and sell products? We had money in our pockets, we had paid to enter and managed to find a parking space and get through traffic and a nightmare day shopping to be here. We wanted to buy things – and many of us were not fussy about what we bought! We just wanted to buy and nobody it seemed would let us or help us. That was frustrating. My relief was that we left (with purses and wallets still unopened) to get home and recover. Whilst most of the events we might attend are more professional (whatever that means) I couldn’t help realise that Ye Olde Antique Crafts Fair was just an exaggeration of some events I visit and it is good to realise that an exhibitor on a mission can convert a visitor who has put in effort to be there and who typically wants to spend money. Churlish to disappoint I say! Happy Xmas one and all.