I woke up at 6 am every Saturday for 7 years and I learned a lot in those 7 years. 

 My mom was a vendor at our local Farmers Market. She’s a long-time seamstress and she’s good at it. 

The main items she makes and sells are pillows, pillow quilts, good ole biscuit quilts, log cabin quilts, pot holders, kitchen towels, and the list goes on and on. 

Listen, I still have the pillow quilt she made for me when I was in the first grade. 

It lays in between our pillows in the master bedroom. 

What? I love my pillow quilt and it has sentimental value. 

When my younger sister was due with twins, my mom made two baby quilts with their names on them. 

The Farmers Market 

Fond Childhood Memories

My mom has epilepsy and doesn’t drive. Interestingly enough, my mom and my 3rd-grade teacher, Ms. Van Schaik developed a budding friendship. 

She volunteered to pick us up, load, and unload the car with my mom’s immaculate quilts and things in her small teal 1998 Toyota corolla car. 

SN: At first, I was embarrassed to see my teacher this much. The students knew it too and would ridicule me every chance they could. 

Once we unloaded, set up the tables, put up the tent, and properly arranged (to my mom’s approval) her quilts, pillows, potholders, and things, we waited.

Waited for potential customers to walk up to our table and inquire about the cost of the particular item.

My mom was persuasive. In the beginning, she would waver in her prices but then started to firmly state her prices with tags or stickers. 

We helped out too.  If we had a customer that was unwilling to pay full price, we would mention the care and time it took to make the piece. 

We even mentioned that they were reasonably priced compared to what other less seasoned seamstresses were selling similar items. 

Why Are Childhood Memories So Important?

Childhood memories are so important because they are the foundation of our lives. They are the memories that we look back on and cherish.

They are the memories that make us who we are. They help us to remember our childhoods, which were some of the best times of our lives.

The Farmers Market was a weekly Saturday ritual for me. My sister and I woke up early, helped my mom set up, and then we waited patiently for customers to come.

It was interesting to see the different people that would come. There were the regulars: the older couple who always bought a quilt, the man with the cowboy hat who always negotiated with my mom on the price.

Things My Mom Taught Me

 I learned a lot from my mom. One of the things she taught me was how to be a good saleswoman. I learned how to haggle and to be firm on my prices.

I also learned how to take care of my customers. I would make sure they had the right size, that the product I sold was of high quality, and that they were happy with the product before they left.

3 Entrepreneurial Values My Mom Taught Me: 

1. Stand firm in your value: Don’t buckle your knees when someone questions your product value. 
2. Not everyone is your customer:  The folks unwilling to see the value in what you create aren’t for you anyway. You’ll be able to spot the ones that do. 
3. Consistency is important. No one knows who you are or what you’re known for if you don’t put yourself out there.  

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