Weathering The Vendor Storm And Forecasting hope

The fastest way to feel crazy as a small business owner is to do “everything right” and still watch people walk by with empty hands. We just got back from the Eastern Maine Sportsman Show at the University of Maine in Orono, and we’re giving you the unfiltered recap: booth cost, hotel, fuel, meals, the sales goal we set, and why landing at about half of what we hoped for still didn’t make the weekend a total loss.

We dig into the real-time signals we’re seeing at vendor events, fairs, festivals, and sportsman shows, especially the bag-to-person ratio. When you stop seeing bags in a crowd, you feel it at the register. We also talk about another trend that hits hard for traveling vendors: more people putting purchases on credit instead of paying cash. Pair that with rising costs and shrinking breathing room, and it explains why so many entrepreneurs are carrying the same two feelings right now, uncertainty and nervousness.

From there, we connect the dots with what we’re hearing from other small business owners across totally different industries, and we deliver a needed shot of hopium. I share my forecast for where things are headed, why I believe we’re going to see relief, and how to keep your head straight while you weather the storm. We close with gratitude, a big shout out, and a story about getting surprised with WWE Monday Night Raw tickets that reminded me why joy and community matter just as much as the grind.

If you’re building a brand, selling made in the USA apparel, or simply trying to make the next right move with your money, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow business owner, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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