1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,160
Welcome to the Vegan Report. My name is Ryan and today we kick off the holiday season with

2
00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:12,960
a returning guest of the show Anne Fan, the entrepreneur behind Body Gourmet, Boida Outwear

3
00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:19,040
and of course the Vegan Christmas Market. What I offer you today is a behind the scene

4
00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:25,680
look into the organization of this once a year event that gathers vegan entrepreneurs

5
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:32,640
from everywhere. But more than that, I want to use this episode to promote the idea of

6
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:40,640
bringing carnists to vegan events, to show them how plant-based food is far from being

7
00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:49,800
boring, bland or tasteless, to show them that vegans are real ordinary people, not social

8
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:57,560
media memes and allowing them the opportunity to understand you better. So for this holiday

9
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:04,600
season, find the carnist, friend or family member, take their hand and drag them to the

10
00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:12,320
nearest vegan event. And please follow Anne on social media, see the links provided in

11
00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:17,320
the episode notes.

12
00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:28,360
I went to the vegan Christmas Market so last year I remember how artistic the food options

13
00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:37,120
were like I was eating some mock meat chicken nuggets and then chocolate and then cheese

14
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:48,640
and then tea and then special soda and then more cheese and it did not feel wrong. Like

15
00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,800
it's the only opportunity I have to just indulge in food.

16
00:01:54,800 --> 00:02:02,440
Yeah, and we encourage that. I mean we actually host before the event on our social media that

17
00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:09,040
you know come with an empty stomach, that's what we tell people. So we're glad that you

18
00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,440
follow the instructions.

19
00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:22,200
And to do like to go through the entire vegan Christmas Market, it takes I think an hour

20
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:31,120
and a half at least. So it's a challenge, like it's a big food challenge and also at

21
00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:41,400
every vendor you have many food samples. So it's not just one cheese, it's like different

22
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:48,040
flavors of cheese and you spend like 10 minutes, 15 minutes with that one vendor and then you

23
00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,040
go to the next one.

24
00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:56,800
Yeah, it's an event where you can't be rushed, you know. Like at the festival a few weeks

25
00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:03,400
ago I went with a couple of friends and we all three of us we stopped by a vendor that

26
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:08,080
was selling some sort of, I can't remember what it is, some sort of powder or something

27
00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:12,840
and the two girls that were with me, you know she was listening to the vendor explaining

28
00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:17,760
the origin of that product, the whole history of that product basically and they were so

29
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,620
fascinated by it, you know, and they were just listening listening and I had to go and see

30
00:03:21,620 --> 00:03:26,520
somebody else so I just left them there and I just went to the other vendors elsewhere

31
00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:34,040
in the hall and half an hour later I walked back and they were still standing there listening

32
00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:40,000
to the story of how they came about with that product. So yeah, all this to say that

33
00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:46,280
you know it's a kind of event that you just want to have time ahead of you to really enjoy

34
00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:51,200
you know the tasting and the learning of the history behind the product, you know meet

35
00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:57,320
with the creators of the product, yeah it's an event where you need some time to enjoy

36
00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:06,160
really. I swear that after listening to their story like why they created that company and

37
00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:12,920
all of that, the product tastes better and usually it goes this way, you come to the

38
00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:18,320
vendor table, you taste their product and then they tell you the story and you just

39
00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:25,160
want to taste the product again. Yes. Okay, here's a question for you, a very sensitive

40
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:35,640
question. Yeah, go for it. Sometimes the product tastes horrible, like let's be honest and

41
00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:45,080
there was this one vendor who was again cheese, you know, who was you know giving giving cheese

42
00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:55,200
samples and one of the cheese was just so disgusting. I don't know how to describe it,

43
00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:07,920
like it was like so strong like of a taste so bitter and I did not because I had a conversation

44
00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:14,120
with Molly Elwood and she said you need to give them the true feedback like because how

45
00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:20,200
else are they going to make better products? Like you need to be honest but I have to say

46
00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:29,320
I did not find the courage like to compliment them or like I did not lie but I just you

47
00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:40,320
know silently took my distance from that cheese. I think I came back to a vendor, a soda vendor

48
00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:48,920
because I wanted to just rinse the taste from my mouth. So how do we handle that? As a visitor

49
00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:53,040
or you mean how I would like a visitor to handle my product if they were to not like

50
00:05:53,040 --> 00:06:01,400
it? Yes, that's the question, you know, how can we offer honest feedback without you know

51
00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:08,800
being offensive? I think you can always talk about your experience of it like from your

52
00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:14,680
perspective. Let's say if I thought something was too salty for me you know or if I thought

53
00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:19,440
the product was altogether too salty I would probably just say hey you know like I for

54
00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:26,880
me personally it's too salty so I didn't really like this. I would just put it as you know

55
00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:32,240
from my experience I didn't like it because of X reason and you know it's for them to

56
00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:38,120
deduce whether that's that comment would be applicable to all of their clients or just

57
00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:51,240
you. Well, they should have like an anonymous comment box. You just read my mind because

58
00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:58,040
I don't want to express that like openly because other people will hear and they then you know

59
00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:04,440
will just avoid that vendor and I don't want that because might be the case that like you

60
00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:09,800
said it's just my personal taste. Yeah, yeah, no, you're right. I think the comment box

61
00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:19,880
is probably probably more diplomatic way of handling that. And also coming back to that

62
00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:27,800
story you know they tell you their very always very touching entrepreneurial story and how

63
00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:35,200
they put so much efforts, work, sweat and tears and blood in making that product and

64
00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:43,520
then how can you find in yourself you know the courage to say actually tasted horrible

65
00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:52,040
like you yeah you put lots of efforts in that but not enough like.

66
00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:59,480
Yeah, it's hard. I mean even even when I organize like as the organizer. I've gone to other

67
00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,200
events where you know sometimes I do a little bit of a prospection where I visit you know

68
00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:08,040
vendors I can kind of think who could be a good potential vendor for the Christmas market

69
00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:14,680
for example. And sometimes I don't like their products you know and but then they want to

70
00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:23,400
participate you know. And I try I really try to put my taste aside because I'm thinking

71
00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:29,240
you know it's it may not be for me but it is for somebody else perhaps you know. And

72
00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:35,120
so I don't necessarily give my input in that regard because it's always a possibility that

73
00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:41,600
it could be a product that somebody else likes. But I think it could be helpful your suggestion

74
00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:46,040
of having a comment box actually that's something I could consider in the future because even

75
00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:50,720
me as a vendor you know that could be helpful if someone just I could read a comment and

76
00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:57,120
say hey you know this could be sweeter or more salty or less salty. If I'm open and

77
00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:01,320
if I'm open to changing or modifying a product that's certainly something that I would want

78
00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:06,920
to hear you know and those people those vendors who are not and maybe they just don't need

79
00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:14,640
to read the comment in the comment box you know. Just continue on with the way they've

80
00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:21,840
been doing their stuff. Yeah I mean there should be they should be thinking about the

81
00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:32,000
structure not to make us you put us in that impossible situation like don't look for

82
00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:47,800
trouble. And by the way you're behind this incredible line of vegan Asian sauce sauces

83
00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:57,880
this is that the right word. And you know I have to say in all honesty I love them every

84
00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:07,640
one of them like I came back I went two times to your table at the last vegan Christmas

85
00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:14,400
market and then I had to get that again after the festival I had to get more of that blue

86
00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:26,840
bottle with the fish like beautiful. Oh I really loved this option like I was I didn't

87
00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:34,040
know that I needed that in my life. So you don't need me to tell you a sappy story to

88
00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:41,360
convince you to buy it. I can tell you one. Absolutely not but I want to still hear the

89
00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:47,880
story. Well you know because I think I think we all have those stories because because

90
00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:53,720
I think I think as entrepreneurs we need the motivation to actually do all of that work

91
00:10:53,720 --> 00:11:00,360
so sometimes that story is what is behind that motivation to begin with so a lot of

92
00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:05,080
times when you hear those stories I think there's maybe yeah they are trying to sell

93
00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:10,400
to you to the product but the other part is also that is what pushed them to you know

94
00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:16,640
to move forward despite all of the work and despite how that's really is you know like

95
00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:21,200
if if you're a sane person I think nobody you know one would really want to do any type

96
00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:27,920
of entrepreneurial project but if you have some other reasons that motivate you to do

97
00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:35,120
so that's often the sappy story that you hear. Well mine is not really sappy it's just that

98
00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:43,840
my product it came from like in 2018 when I when I became vegan I started like an Asian

99
00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:51,000
vegan catering business and that's also how I realized how there was such a lack of alternative

100
00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,760
fish sauce in the market because a lot of Vietnamese cuisine is based on fish sauce

101
00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:01,320
and there was no alternative so either people would replace fish sauce with soy sauce which

102
00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,480
is okay but it's not really the authentic way of cooking a lot of the Vietnamese dishes

103
00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:13,000
so that's how I came up with the idea of launching the fish sauce itself and and a big part of

104
00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:19,280
that sauce coming to life is thanks to my mom she was the person who you know because

105
00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:24,600
she cooks a lot when when we grew up at home and it's always her recipe that I kind of

106
00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:29,960
fall back on and I try to imitate the vegan fish sauce trying to make it come as close

107
00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:36,560
as possible to her her cooking her real fish sauce the way that she she would make them

108
00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:44,080
so so she's sort of my my measuring stick for for the taste of the fish sauces the ones

109
00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:50,400
that you like is basically I made a first version without I was a little bit of a mistake

110
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:55,560
without actually getting her approval on the taste because I tasted I thought okay it's

111
00:12:55,560 --> 00:13:00,080
good enough you know so I launched the first version of the product and when she tasted

112
00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:05,400
she's like you know it's not it's not quite right you know it's missing this and this

113
00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:10,280
and this and and so I went back to the drawing board but that time I knew that it had to

114
00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:15,560
I had to have her input in the final product and so we went to another battery revision

115
00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:21,400
of the recipe but that time with her tasting every single sample of it so the version that

116
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:29,720
you tasted last year was the version that she approved so yeah so now I know that if

117
00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:36,600
I do any fish sauce related stuff I really want to have her taste the final before it

118
00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:46,800
goes to production basically yeah I was recently grocery shopping and I was facing that wall

119
00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:55,600
of Asian sauces and you know I tried at least one of them you know one of every brand and

120
00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:03,200
flavor if it's vegan and I was thinking how come yours is not there like yours deserve

121
00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:14,360
a place there why it's those low quality sauces that are represented and not some really golden

122
00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:23,280
products like yours yeah it's so hard I mean it's it's a hard business to break in like

123
00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:28,560
the big grocery store banners that's been my main challenge is getting it distributed

124
00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:35,280
more widely you know like finding a distributor to distribute it and then even knocking on

125
00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:40,320
the doors of the banners it's hard to get a response so yeah that's that's always a

126
00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:47,680
big challenge for me and a lot of other food vendors you know to get it distributed in

127
00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:53,200
the mainstream grocery stores yeah it's hard to to break in that space especially the sauce

128
00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:58,880
business it's I've been told so by so many different distributors that it's a hard category

129
00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:03,160
to break in because there's so many brands and all the brands are really competitive

130
00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:10,120
and you know it's it's it's hard to break into that space but I'm trying I'll continue

131
00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:18,320
to try because I believe in the product so yes and then it's a rational belief by the

132
00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:26,480
way I have to ask your mother is so cute and the relationship you have with her is just

133
00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:34,080
very touching like she was there at the Christmas the last vegan Christmas market and I often

134
00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:43,560
see her in your Instagram posts and it's just very heartwarming like so how is that relationship

135
00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:52,840
central to your business well I think the product itself has a lot of my mom's input

136
00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:57,640
in them particularly the fish sauces the two on the first one blue one which is the prepared

137
00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:03,440
fish sauce and the the cooking fish sauce they were really my mom was really central

138
00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:10,680
and in in the final product mainly because you know she she's the person who cooks all

139
00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:18,240
the food when I grew up so it has to be her to to approve all the taste of those products

140
00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:23,240
and also she's always very supportive in all of the events that I do the festival the food

141
00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:28,760
markets I dragged her all to all of the Christmas markets in Toronto the one in New York as

142
00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:38,720
well and she's always there next to me she's yeah she's been very supportive you know so

143
00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:44,080
so she's like the the person who tells me that hey this is you're crazy for doing this

144
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:52,040
but then she still stands by me anyway so yeah I mean I remember in the the Christmas

145
00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:57,760
market in New York like back in 2019 before the pandemic we were there I was there like

146
00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:03,120
very late the night before the event still putting on like I mean the venue we rented

147
00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:09,520
had like nothing and it even have a sign for for the washrooms and it's a requirement actually

148
00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:15,520
to have a sign for the washroom so so I actually well like printed out a sign of a washroom

149
00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:20,040
and I was like literally there the night before just like taping it onto the wall to make sure

150
00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,920
that you know people know where the washrooms are and you know and pushing the tables putting

151
00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:30,240
them into their the placement where they're supposed to be and my mom was just exhausted

152
00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:35,680
she was like lying down on the floor in the hall you know it's like it was like she's

153
00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:40,640
always there with me she's like the soldier was walking next to me she's tired but she's

154
00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:51,200
still there that's beautiful we all need that person in our life that believer yeah yeah

155
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,480
really beautiful I don't want to get you impressed the impression that we're always like smooth

156
00:17:55,480 --> 00:18:01,680
sailing though there's a lot of like bickering because she's the type of person that will

157
00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:10,840
tell you exactly what she's thinking even if it like rubs you the wrong way so that's

158
00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:16,640
a little hard sometimes we we we fight a little bit every now and then about stuff just because

159
00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:24,840
of the way she says those things but yeah overall she's been my rock so

160
00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:31,840
and we're thankful you know for for supporting you and for you know giving us this wonderful

161
00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:40,200
recipe again that blue bottle my favorite so let's talk about this current edition of

162
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:47,760
the vegan Christmas market so where is it happening and can you tell us what to expect

163
00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:55,640
yeah so this year we're actually we've moved venue we used to be at another venue venue

164
00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:01,440
not too far from there but this year we're going to be at a venue at 200 Sherbrooke

165
00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:08,400
street west it's close to the Plas Desert metro it's like a five minute walk from there

166
00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:16,000
it's a very nice hall the hall actually belongs to the UCAM University so this is like an event

167
00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:21,960
hall that they rent out for people to organize various events so that's where we're hosting

168
00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:30,200
this year's edition it's so we're gonna expect maybe 30 a little bit over 30 vendors this

169
00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:36,600
year again it's gonna be you know there are some new vendors that we haven't seen before

170
00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:43,640
some some that we have seen but with new products so it's always exciting to have vendors launching

171
00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:51,200
new products at our events yeah so people can expect again a lot of food this year we

172
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:59,560
actually have a couple of restaurants join in so that's a new that's a new type of vendor

173
00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:05,640
this year they'll be serving some you know some small portions of food so that's very

174
00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:11,480
exciting and yeah and it's always like a really festive event so people can just you know

175
00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:17,200
go in and enjoy the sort of festive ambiance and shop in the same time and just eat out

176
00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:25,920
like just eat a lot basically it's it's crazy because you know I was thinking in back in

177
00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:34,480
September you know about my holiday plans and you know naturally the vegan Christmas

178
00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:43,200
market came to mind like now I feel like it needs to be part of my holiday tradition like

179
00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:51,720
I need to attend the vegan Christmas market and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels

180
00:20:51,720 --> 00:21:00,360
that way okay do you have a favorite one for this coming year you mean favorite vendor

181
00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:09,920
yes I have a few exciting that few vendors and I'm excited to to see them there because

182
00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:17,320
I I think not a lot of people have tasted their products yet so I can't wait for people to

183
00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:23,760
taste their product I don't know if I can reveal their names yet because we're gonna

184
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:32,640
announce the probably the vendors shortly in the next several days but people can expect

185
00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:44,320
I don't know should I name them or should I just do it okay well there's a certain sushi

186
00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:51,240
restaurant that just opened up recently in Montreal so they're gonna be there selling

187
00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:57,120
their products and it's quite good I've tasted their products it's not bad it's quite good

188
00:21:57,120 --> 00:22:08,840
there's also there's well there's the the Green Brothers that do the pogos that everybody

189
00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:17,080
knows about but they're having their new products which is like a pizza pocket so that's gonna

190
00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:22,200
be exciting well they I think they sold out already at the vegan festival recently but

191
00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:27,960
not everyone had a chance to be there so whoever that didn't have a chance to be there can now

192
00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:34,360
get a chance to to taste their products and there are a few other vendors oh and there's

193
00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:41,160
also this is probably my a very good vegan cheese that I I tasted not too long ago it's

194
00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:48,040
called cashew I don't know if you've tasted they make really really good like vegan camembert

195
00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:56,360
and those type of fine cheeses I like their products a lot yeah I think those are are

196
00:22:56,360 --> 00:23:01,640
good examples of what to expect at the market there's so many more I mean it's hard to choose

197
00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:08,560
from from so many good products but off the top of my head I'm thinking of those those

198
00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:17,320
ones that's definitely the most exciting part you know discovering new products and I'm

199
00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:24,720
always you know looking at the different vendors and thinking are those the next like beyond

200
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:32,680
meat the next like international brand am I looking at the birth of like the next big

201
00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:41,880
actor in in the world of vegan food and it's always exciting like doesn't I don't get I'm

202
00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:50,640
not I never get tired of like discovering new companies and new products and you know

203
00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:57,520
a new launch of something yeah I mean that that's also a part of the excitement that

204
00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:04,080
I felt and I still feel I mean the first time that I organized the the market I mean to

205
00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:11,880
discover so many of the vegan brands that I had no like knowledge of beforehand it's

206
00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:19,120
just really exciting to be essential to to discovering them and and like and to feel

207
00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:25,400
like no one else has been has caught on yet but you've managed to find this product that's

208
00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:31,640
so cool and and and to basically create an event where the price is not a barrier for

209
00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:36,240
them to enter you know to have a platform where they can just you know like promote

210
00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:44,800
their products and not have to pay this huge cost to to have a booth that to me was really

211
00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:50,960
important because myself as a small business and a small company a small vendor it's just

212
00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:55,240
so important to be able to get your products out there for people to taste and and to have

213
00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:58,960
a booth that costs so much that you know it makes you hesitate whether or not you should

214
00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:04,640
participate that's that's a bummer you know and it's that's why when I create the event

215
00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:10,960
it's really important to keep the cost of the booth as low as possible so yeah I mean

216
00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:15,680
that's probably the reason why we don't really hand like rent those huge halls like the Palais

217
00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:20,680
de Congru or places like that because that would incur like just too much costs and

218
00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:25,400
that costs would have to be passed down to the vendors and then you know and then by

219
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,880
default that will like exclude so many of the smaller vendors that have incredible products

220
00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:35,280
that I think deserve a platform to to promote their products basically.

221
00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:46,840
Yes 100% and the second thing I love about the festival is the ambiance you know the

222
00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:57,080
coziness the smiles on people's face and I was wondering you know as an organizer how

223
00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:04,680
do you do you have any power over that how do you design you know like the the right

224
00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:10,680
atmosphere the right ambiance for for the place I know that all of the volunteers had

225
00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:21,240
like Christmas hats like Santa Claus hats which you know I love it but you know how

226
00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,920
do you create that ambiance?

227
00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:30,680
I don't know if I like plan it so meticulously I think it's just a lot of it has to do with

228
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:35,040
my own joy of the season because I just love that season so much I mean honestly like I'll

229
00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,720
tell you something that's gonna sound crazy and I haven't told you this a lot of people

230
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:45,800
but I listen to music since June every year all the way until the end of December because

231
00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,960
that puts me in a Christmas mood that's how I organize Christmas events like you know

232
00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:56,560
because in June it's hard to put your mind to working on the Christmas market when it's

233
00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:03,320
like warm outside and it's like summer so basically I play like Christmas music at home

234
00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:13,320
all day long from June until like December and so to me at the market event it would

235
00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:18,200
have to have like music Christmas music because that's put so much that's so much that's so

236
00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:25,560
central to the mood of the event and and yeah I think people just get into it because of

237
00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:34,360
the you know the music the ambiance and and and the idea that we're all there just to

238
00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:37,280
have fun and I think I think a lot of it has to do with just the vendors themselves too

239
00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:43,000
they they know that they're happy to be there and happy to talk about their products and

240
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:48,960
when everyone's happy it's contagious I think so that's how we get that kind of getting

241
00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:55,760
mood that you see at the market because we actually don't do a lot of decorations if

242
00:27:55,760 --> 00:28:00,200
you notice we don't do a lot of like well we did have some inflatables but it's not

243
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:05,760
like it's not like excessively decorated but yeah I think it's just a general mood of

244
00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:13,040
everybody put together it's contagious and it's um puts everybody in the same mood yeah

245
00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:20,320
it's so hard to capture because I've been to some events where that not there like there's

246
00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:26,160
something absent you don't know you can't put your finger on it you don't know exactly

247
00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:34,080
what it is but it's not there like you don't feel the the joy the excitement but June oh

248
00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:40,320
my gosh June I love Christmas music thank goodness I love Christmas music it would be horrible

249
00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:47,040
if I didn't like the idea that I would walk you know street like in middle of summer and

250
00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:58,160
hear from your window like Christmas songs so so then what's your you know perfect uh

251
00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:07,560
Christmas soundtrack um there's every Christmas I listen to this old Beatles album of every

252
00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:16,000
uh classic Christmas song I just love it but what is yours I listen to a lot of compilations

253
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:21,280
from um from YouTube that people prepare like there'll be long compilations if I could

254
00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:27,480
be compilations of like 10 hours of music to non-stop right um I love those but it's

255
00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:32,480
particularly the classics you know the ones from the the oldies I love the the oldies

256
00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:38,520
classic music uh Christmas music it's uh they're my favorites really I don't know there's something

257
00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:45,920
nostalgic about about about those songs when they're sung by by uh by older singers from

258
00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:51,240
back in like you know the 50s or something like that yeah I don't know why I just feel

259
00:29:51,240 --> 00:30:02,040
nostalgic but it's it's a good nostalgia 100 yes um you know if I put myself in uh

260
00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:12,120
in the position of the vendor who has to you know prepare everything and um I guess you

261
00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:22,880
know my question is how do I successfully sell that product that idea that you know brand

262
00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:30,720
to um the public attending um do you have any advice because I'm sure there are some

263
00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:37,920
people who are entrepreneurs who will be listening to this or who are thinking of you know getting

264
00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:44,960
into the the crazy entrepreneurial field um so what's the secret of you know being successful

265
00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:51,960
in the in an event like the vegan Christmas market I think for events I can't speak for

266
00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:57,280
you know the business as you know in general because that's so uh that's much bigger but

267
00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:05,920
for events I think experiencing the product is is crucial um so if people can taste the

268
00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:10,240
product if it's food or if they can you know put it in their hands if it's you know makeup

269
00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:17,040
or body care products that's really good because people need to see to believe it um so if you

270
00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:22,200
are able to have samples or have you know people test stuff on their either on their

271
00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:28,280
bodies or if they can see it visually that's really important um and to have you know like

272
00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:35,440
visual elements to your booth also like the banner is important um decorating is important

273
00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:41,160
how you present your booth um yeah all of those elements they're they're they're very

274
00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:46,880
important to to the visitor because sometimes they make a purchase decision within like you

275
00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:52,320
know maybe like 10 seconds of being there so so you want to put all the chances on your

276
00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:58,040
side by hooking them in with the you know with the with the taste of your product or

277
00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:02,640
at least visually that they they're drawn to your booth in the first place so those

278
00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:07,280
are things that I think vendors should pay attention to when they prepare for for an

279
00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:14,080
event like the Christmas market and and I would add to that you know please don't take

280
00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:22,880
yourself seriously like smile make jokes like uh stand up you know don't stay behind

281
00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:30,440
the table you know sitting down looking at people pass by uh just show some energy like

282
00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:36,600
yeah you're so right I mean the energy is is is a big part of that you know I like I

283
00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:40,520
know that for myself you know if I stand up and I just you know if I'm at the front of

284
00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:47,880
my like you know at the at the table basically um people come to see me you know but the moment

285
00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:54,880
that I get tired maybe towards the end of the day and I sit back you know people's natural

286
00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:58,200
tendency when you're sitting is they feel like maybe you're tired so they don't they

287
00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,840
don't want to they don't feel like they don't feel comfortable approaching your your table

288
00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:08,480
if you're sitting down you know so yeah it's good to be you know forward on your at your

289
00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:17,040
your booth and be smiling and welcoming it's it's a job in itself to be selling at an event

290
00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:20,960
like this I know it's exhausting much of it has to do with you know with constantly being

291
00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:27,480
on all the time you know like unmentally and also like basically um that it could be exhausting

292
00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:32,960
yeah it's uh I know at the end of of a day at whether it's my Christmas market or any

293
00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:37,040
other festival it's exhausting it's because of that you know it's it's a lot of talking

294
00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:43,280
to people but also just just like mentally being alert all the time and just being on

295
00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:49,160
you know ready to greet people that that can be tiring but you know you have to be you

296
00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:57,080
have to be in that state of mind basically too so that people will feel comfortable visiting

297
00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:06,560
your your booth and and you know be ask questions to people be receptive to them like show interest

298
00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:14,000
in them don't just be like you know it's too much of a strong word but like predatory yeah

299
00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:24,080
yeah do you do you feel like that was um uh an issue when you attend some of these events

300
00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:30,320
that the vendors are like trying too hard of too aggressive of a sale or do you feel like

301
00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:38,600
it's it's then more like receptive to to what you're interested in that's a that's a good

302
00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:47,000
question and you said that and I had you know some past vendors like two vendors from the

303
00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:52,800
last uh Christmas market I don't remember the their brand I don't remember what exactly

304
00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:58,280
they were selling and just remember they were very aggressive with me like they really wanted

305
00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:10,640
me to taste their product and I don't feel like it's a you know a good strategy um maybe

306
00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:21,320
for short sales but you're just introducing yourself to you know new um uh public so uh

307
00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:29,720
you know you should not be that aggressive uh but there are more of that type at the

308
00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:35,960
Montreal festival vegan festival that's for sure I just think because there are more vendors

309
00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:42,840
in general yeah I think the impression we get as a vendor is that the more there are

310
00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:48,360
the more competition there is we need to be even more aggressive that may be a like a

311
00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:53,960
reflex that we have as a vendor but it's it's counterintuitive to think that you know maybe

312
00:35:53,960 --> 00:36:02,920
you shouldn't be that way but it's all about sale it's hard you know it's like you it's a job of

313
00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:07,880
a salesperson you just can't figure out what's the right amount of aggressiveness or right amount

314
00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:13,240
of forwardness um but yeah it's sometimes I guess you have it's a trial and error thing we have to

315
00:36:13,240 --> 00:36:17,480
try several different ways to suit and adjust ourselves according and it's also according to

316
00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:24,040
the visitor to some visitors or they're like maybe if you don't approach them first they will notice

317
00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:28,200
like eclipse away and you will have missed that opportunity to have them taste your products so

318
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:32,840
maybe it's it's important to be more forward with certain people but then there are other people they

319
00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:41,080
they prefer it if you would let them be you know I guess it I think it's hard it's hard to adjust to

320
00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:49,960
to have just the right amount well I would say let the your setup you know promote

321
00:36:50,920 --> 00:37:03,160
yeah your your brand for you like make it attention catching I attended this event hosted by a tech

322
00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:13,720
company and they created that like a donut wall when people entered the venue they were just like

323
00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:20,200
they flocked to that wall of donuts and you know I was thinking maybe they they will have like

324
00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:29,720
hygiene issues like to see like donuts on the wall not at all like they were so happy and chilled to

325
00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:38,360
get the donut from the donut wall so you know take of your version of the donut's wall like

326
00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:45,960
something silly but eye-catching and and funny and fun to display your product and let it you know

327
00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:54,920
do the work yeah yeah it's it's it's hard to find something that makes you stand out

328
00:37:54,920 --> 00:38:01,960
when you've done like you know several events it is a challenge it's true it's a challenge to find

329
00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:07,240
you know that that one thing that makes you stand out and that is you know it's a challenge it's hard

330
00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:12,040
and sometimes I wonder you know not that you've mentioned it that maybe people are drawn to the

331
00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:18,600
donuts even though there's no actual person standing there vending the the products like I do wonder

332
00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:24,120
if it's not the the human factor that sometimes makes people a little bit reluctant sometimes

333
00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:31,480
product sells better without a person sometimes which brings me back to our previous earlier

334
00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:36,360
conversation about robots I was wondering maybe we had a robot selling it maybe people will feel

335
00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:42,680
less you know less pressure maybe they'll they'll be more drawn to coming over and just being curious

336
00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:52,280
about the robots and interacting with them yes before I press the record button you know I we

337
00:38:52,280 --> 00:39:00,920
were talking about AI and robots and actually you know forget about everything we just said just go on

338
00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:08,600
chat gpd and ask that question to chat gpd the AI knows better the AI will guide you to you know

339
00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:19,080
how to make it a successful you know event and the display of your products yeah I wonder if

340
00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:25,320
sometimes in the future we're not going to have like robots you know like being there as a vendor

341
00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:31,320
like to to to demonstrate your product on your behalf I mean that would be interesting like

342
00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:36,440
it'll it'll know just the right amount of adjustments to make to make the visitor feel

343
00:39:37,240 --> 00:39:43,320
comfortable and be be inclined to buy because it's it's so much more perceptive

344
00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:47,320
you know than a human being sometimes we're not that perceptive with each other

345
00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:58,920
but there's something so silly about it like if I see a vendor with you know a giant robot arm and

346
00:39:59,720 --> 00:40:05,080
that's the you know the arm is the one you know taking the product and putting it in your hand

347
00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:10,520
like I will go to that vendor if I even if I don't have you know a liking for that product

348
00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:17,640
I want the arm to put the product in my hands like there's this attraction to technology that that

349
00:40:17,640 --> 00:40:24,120
is just weird but uh yeah yeah and in the moment that they put a face on that on that robot that's

350
00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:31,800
it you're done you've fallen in love with us you're gonna buy it it's it's so true it's just so

351
00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:41,720
true yeah bring a mascot like to the to the event and make it be a robot yeah I mean it's like

352
00:40:41,720 --> 00:40:47,320
we're drawn to to to things that have faces I think I mean I remember doing COVID there was a

353
00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:53,240
restaurant in Montreal that like there was a shortage of of of waiters basically in Montreal

354
00:40:53,240 --> 00:40:59,240
during that time so I think this restaurant they they just bought a robot to to serve you know the

355
00:40:59,240 --> 00:41:05,960
food and and I remember going to that restaurant and the robot was actually not very efficient it

356
00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:12,520
was delivering food at the wrong tables basically the whole evening but it was so cute it was just

357
00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:19,240
like I had a smiley face and googly eyes it was just cute so I think yeah we have a tendency towards

358
00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:24,200
liking things that have faces so that's an idea for a vendor out there it doesn't want to

359
00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:31,000
do that for sale themselves for the introvert vendors out there yeah you know that's silly

360
00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:37,880
things from science museums where you put your hands on it and your hair just stand out like

361
00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:47,080
bring one of those things like people will swarm your your boot your table your you know they will

362
00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:53,000
love it it's just I don't know things like that yeah it's gonna be very interesting to see the

363
00:41:53,000 --> 00:42:00,120
markets the Christmas market as well as the other events evolve in the coming years you know how they

364
00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:05,800
will integrate different technologies in in in their booths and also how they promote their

365
00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:11,240
products it's gonna be very interesting times that we'll be facing going forward I think right now

366
00:42:11,240 --> 00:42:16,680
it's still pretty much person-to-person interaction but I think that's gonna change probably in like

367
00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:23,160
you know decade sure things are gonna change it's gonna be interesting to see how things evolve are

368
00:42:23,160 --> 00:42:32,040
you you know you were talking about how vendors perceive this sense of competition but why would

369
00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:42,280
you not create a competition you know for the best like table the best presentation and you know

370
00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:53,000
just have people attending voting for the best vendor display I mean that would encourage vendors

371
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:59,960
to just innovate in you know creating a more original display and bringing their A game to

372
00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:09,320
to the festive to the vegan Christmas market but you know that's an idea that's great idea I mean

373
00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:15,560
yeah I'm sure I'm going to write that down and think about that for our future editions to have

374
00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:25,160
like some sort of contest or award to the best you know the best booth or vote by the public for

375
00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:30,760
the best product or something like that that should be that would be very interesting actually yeah

376
00:43:31,320 --> 00:43:38,520
thank you for that idea I want to steal it you can steal it because I just offered it from you

377
00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:50,440
know my for my big heart okay I had two more you know questions topics I wanted to tunch on before

378
00:43:50,440 --> 00:43:59,240
you know stopping the conversation first of all you participated in that debate episode

379
00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:08,360
you know on the podcast and I was wondering what you know was your feelings what were your

380
00:44:08,360 --> 00:44:17,720
feelings from that debate like and after the the episode was posted it was it was an interesting

381
00:44:17,720 --> 00:44:26,600
debate I felt like I didn't I probably didn't I felt like I didn't say fully what's on my mind

382
00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:34,680
for all of the questions probably just out of like maybe a bit of nervousness and also my thoughts

383
00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:43,400
were you know fully formed on some of the the questions maybe so I feel like maybe I could

384
00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:49,400
have said some things maybe differently or more that's what I felt like but it was a good debate

385
00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:57,240
yeah and in general I'm not a debating type of person also so so it was out of my comfort zone

386
00:44:57,240 --> 00:45:03,560
for sure but it's good I don't mind being out of my comfort zone every now and then so that was an

387
00:45:03,560 --> 00:45:10,680
interesting experience I enjoyed it I just I take it as one experience that I will build on for

388
00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:15,640
future potential debates not that I'm hoping to do too many of them

389
00:45:15,640 --> 00:45:25,080
I'm not a debating person I'm not either but you know you were great you're actually

390
00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:35,320
great and the three of you had like a synergy that was just amazing and you know it's it's so

391
00:45:35,320 --> 00:45:40,200
you know if you haven't listened to the episode go and listen to the episode because we made a bit

392
00:45:40,200 --> 00:45:47,560
of you know vegan history and animal rights history I don't think there are many like debates

393
00:45:49,240 --> 00:45:56,440
between vegans between animal rights activists between people who are active in that space

394
00:45:56,440 --> 00:46:06,600
it's always a debate you know a vegan against a non-vegan and so yeah I felt like we made

395
00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:14,280
history a little yeah I felt so too it's it's nice to like come together for to share ideas of

396
00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:20,520
how to move the movement forward as opposed to just debating against somebody that you're

397
00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:27,640
already know ahead of time it's not on board with your idea that's it's a different animal

398
00:46:27,640 --> 00:46:34,280
altogether pardon the pun but it's a different animal altogether yeah I mean it was interesting

399
00:46:34,280 --> 00:46:39,320
in that sense that we were we were trying to debate basically on how to do things positively as

400
00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:45,560
opposed to just you know bashing at each other for not sharing the same values which is what a lot

401
00:46:45,560 --> 00:46:54,200
of the vegan debates are often yeah so that was that was a nice that was a nice thing to participate

402
00:46:54,200 --> 00:47:01,640
in and it's good that you thought of that which you're a pioneer in your podcast you do a lot of

403
00:47:01,640 --> 00:47:09,080
first every time someone uses the word pioneer I imagine a very old person for some reasons like

404
00:47:09,080 --> 00:47:18,280
dressed in like middle-aged clothes like like in a curly hair yes like with a wig like like

405
00:47:19,080 --> 00:47:29,400
American four fathers or something like that which brings me back to the festival and how this

406
00:47:29,400 --> 00:47:40,040
festival is such a great you know in my book such a great activism you know pro-vegan argument

407
00:47:41,240 --> 00:47:48,840
this experience is really the best promotion of veganism that we can ever think of and you know I

408
00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:55,080
wanted to have your comments on you know the importance of welcoming non-vegans to that event

409
00:47:55,080 --> 00:48:01,560
and bringing them to that event so if you're vegan bring your non-vegan friends to the vegan

410
00:48:01,560 --> 00:48:08,600
Christmas market yeah I mean that that is so important because I'm not I'm not always looking to

411
00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:14,120
just preach to the converted right I mean it's nice to have your community that's always supportive

412
00:48:14,120 --> 00:48:22,360
of you but the the activists side of me really wants this event to be really attended by non-vegans

413
00:48:22,360 --> 00:48:29,960
because the like the old adage says the idea is you know show don't tell right so to me it makes

414
00:48:29,960 --> 00:48:35,880
sense that you know if they're a little bit curious about veganism you know why not just go to the

415
00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:42,680
market and just try some of the products you know it's a very non-judgmental environment everybody's

416
00:48:43,240 --> 00:48:50,120
very friendly nice there's no you know no one's going to throw you know any bad comments towards

417
00:48:50,120 --> 00:48:56,360
anybody for for not being vegan yet people are very very supportive very friendly very open to

418
00:48:56,360 --> 00:49:01,960
explaining what plant-based products are so this is like the perfect occasion to just you know

419
00:49:01,960 --> 00:49:06,760
to try and see if it's something that resonates with you basically yes sometimes people are on

420
00:49:06,760 --> 00:49:14,600
board with you with the ethical aspect of things it's just the the food that you know is a problem

421
00:49:14,600 --> 00:49:23,240
is it nutritious enough and is it tasty enough and this is the best introduction to vegan food

422
00:49:23,240 --> 00:49:29,320
that you can make yeah and when you go to the grocery store I mean it's not it's not easy to

423
00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:33,800
just go into you know the cheese section and start buying vegan cheeses if you don't know what they are

424
00:49:33,800 --> 00:49:37,240
and if you don't even know if they're taste good they're kind of pricey you don't want to spend all

425
00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:42,680
that money you know this this market the Christmas market basically you can sample so many different

426
00:49:42,680 --> 00:49:48,200
products for free so you can really make up your mind if this is something that makes sense to you

427
00:49:48,200 --> 00:49:54,200
right and it's uh it's free the entrance the entrance is free and the samples are free so

428
00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:59,240
this is like so perfect to just try all these products and I will repeat that in the introduction

429
00:49:59,240 --> 00:50:06,040
but I want that to be the you know the the core message of this episode bring your non-vegan

430
00:50:06,040 --> 00:50:13,480
friends to the festival like bring at least one friend it's like that um election thing you know

431
00:50:13,480 --> 00:50:20,840
bring one of your friend to vote yeah that's great okay bring a friend that's our new slogan bring a

432
00:50:20,840 --> 00:50:28,680
friend a non-vegan friend yes yes let's highlight that activism part of it you know and how this is

433
00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:37,560
more than you know just another food exhibition we're making progress in terms of veganism and

434
00:50:37,560 --> 00:50:45,640
animal rights so bring a friend that's one of the best you know activist action you you could be

435
00:50:46,200 --> 00:50:52,280
making for for animals yeah I mean often people feel like you know the idea of activism is that

436
00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:57,160
you have to be out there you know shouting slogans and you know or you know telling people they shouldn't

437
00:50:57,160 --> 00:51:02,040
be wearing fur singing to their face and that is activism and that is very important um but a lot

438
00:51:02,040 --> 00:51:06,200
of people shy away from that because that's not their personality and they they feel uncomfortable

439
00:51:06,200 --> 00:51:12,760
doing those types of actions but you know to me bringing a friend a non-vegan friend to a vegan

440
00:51:12,760 --> 00:51:18,760
event that is activism too and if that's that's I mean that's easier for a lot of people to do so

441
00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:24,760
why not do that that is your part you know and we all have we all should all take part in doing

442
00:51:24,760 --> 00:51:30,040
activism in our own ways and yeah you're right bring a friend bring a non-vegan friend to the

443
00:51:30,040 --> 00:51:38,280
Christmas market wonderful okay so I think this is the best parting message that you know we can

444
00:51:38,280 --> 00:51:47,080
think of so thank you Anne thank you so much for stopping by again and and talking about this

445
00:51:47,080 --> 00:51:57,080
uh wonderful festival as the holiday season uh starts so thank you thank you and thank you

446
00:51:57,080 --> 00:52:03,560
for your good work too thank you for bringing this platform making it uh well making it here

447
00:52:03,560 --> 00:52:09,160
basically for us to to talk about different vegan issues and elements and facets of it

448
00:52:09,160 --> 00:52:17,160
you're a pioneer even though you don't like that word you're still a pioneer

449
00:52:17,320 --> 00:52:25,800
I feel more like a mad scientist doing experiments thank you everyone for listening I kindly invite

450
00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:31,800
you to share this podcast with the vegans you know let's encourage more people to take action

451
00:52:31,800 --> 00:52:39,800
again thank you so much for caring and I will see you next Tuesday for a new episode

452
00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:03,800
so