November 2017

My pop-up shop at Prudential Plaza on November 15th, 2017, was truly an experience of a lifetime. This is a reflection of what I did to get to be able to have a pop-up, what I did to prepare for it, and most importantly, what I learned and liked most about the experience.  

I first started crocheting when I was about four when my grandma, Nana, taught me. I really loved crocheting, and worked on it a lot after my preschool. I was about 8 or 9 when my friend told me about a local summer camp, Little Bits. I was interested and looked at their website. I then saw that they had a crocheting and knitting camp that taught kids how to do fun little projects with their crocheting and knitting skills. 

I went to the summer camp for one week, and I learned how to knit! I honestly didn’t really understand knitting NEARLY as well as I do now, but I did learn the basic skills. After the camp was over, I went home and knit some purses with some inspiration from my friend Tess. When I went to my aunt’s for the weekend, she told me that I should sell my purses at their farmer’s market! At first, I didn’t think it was possible, but then I realized how genius her idea was! I went home and started making purses to sell at a kid’s craft fair in a close suburb.

I went to the craft fair and was really surprised by the number of people who actually wanted to buy a purse from me! Not knowing when I entered the craft fair, I there saw that I could enter a contest to be able to have free shelf space at a local candy and toy store (Main Street Candy and Toys). I entered, and to my surprise, I won! I was REALLY excited to have my items sold at the store!

I had my items at Main Street Candy and Toys from Halloween up until just after New Years. Maybe a week after I took my items away from the store, I got a call from the store owner saying how amazing I did. She said that I had sold more than anyone in the history of that event.

In about May or June, my dad had the great idea of me opening a pop-up store in his office building, Prudential Plaza (it’s HUGE!)! I LOVED the idea, so my dad went to the building manager and the concierge to ask if I would be able to have a pop-up store in their building. The two ladies said that they would like to have a meeting with ME and have ME discuss what I would like to do in their building. 

I wrote a Keynote presentation, and went to the building manager and concierge in a small office room with my dad. I had lots of examples of hats to show them so they could see that I make all of them and really show how amazing they are. I sat in the room with them for about 20-25 minutes and explained the story, and what I would do if they said yes. 

When I was done, they said yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They said that they would LOVE to have a pop-up shop in their lobby! I was REALLY happy! After the meeting, I went home and started knitting like CRAZY! I knit about 260 hats for the sale with each one taking me about 4 hours.  

When I got to Prudential that day, it was 6:30 A.M., and I was already exhausted, but I was SO excited! My first customers came before 7:00 A.M., and they didn’t stop coming until we left at 6:00 P.M.! I came to the sale with approximately 260 hats and left with 30. 

It was a really fun day, and I loved talking to all of my customers and finding the right product for them. But I have to say that my favorite part about it was seeing all of the people smiling when they bought something. That, and when they said, “WHAT!!!!! YOU made these??!!!! No you didn’t. REALLY!!!” 

Also, I loved when one of the workers from the restaurant next to us came out to me to compliment my customer service with a huge plate of my favorite Oreo s'more pancakes. THAT was wonderful!!!!!

In conclusion, I had a BLAST with this adventure! I loved getting to meet new people and give them something that they love. This will always be an amazing memory as well as a great learning experience in the future.