I'm so excited to have Jennifer here today.
And I met Jennifer,
I think you were one of the first people that I met
when we sat down for dinner the very first night.
And she was sitting,
you were sitting to my left.
And we had the best time.
And you have a job that is really kind of like,
aligns so well with jewelry makers
or any kind of entrepreneur maker
because she has an amazing business.
We're gonna learn all about it here in a minute
that actually puts on outdoor markets,
which would be something,
and I'll tell you my story about them later.
And so we wanna hear all about you and your business
and also how it pertains to what you've seen in the business
as far as like what works really well for people.
We'll kind of talk about that a little bit more
because setting up a booth and outside area
is a little bit tricky.
And I bet you have some good tips and tricks.
So welcome to my show, Jennifer Perkel,
we're so excited to have you and let's get started.
Welcome to my show.
Enjoy your time at the pool with Sugar Gay Espresso.
I should have said that part, but here we go.
That's right, thank you so much for having me Sugar.
I appreciate it.
So guys and girls, my name is Jen.
I'm the owner of Hear Hear LLC.
I am a market organizer and farmers market manager.
Currently I'm organizing and managing three farmers markets
in my little county area and having fun with all of that
that entails.
It's kind of crazy, it's kind of fun,
and I really love doing it.
It was a big change for me.
How did you get into this?
Because it is something it makes me kind of think,
well, this would be kind of a fun job,
but I know it's hard because you're dealing with so many people
and so much money is on this table and blah, blah, blah,
outdoor weather and is it going to work
and just renting the events.
So how did you get started in this?
So I was a music teacher for 32 years.
Wow, I didn't know that about you.
Thank you.
Like the college level or high school or elementary?
No, elementary band and orchestra,
elementary and middle school band and orchestra
and a little choir in there too.
But mostly band and orchestra,
my main instrument is a violin
and my degree is in music education.
Oh, this is such a great conversation
because I know the other people,
we enjoy our musical instruments,
we have great memories of our choir teachers.
I do, like, oh my God, I could name them all,
starting back at like, well, I think I was five
when I joined my little choir at church
and it really meant the world to me
throughout all of high school.
So, you know, that's a hard thing to teach is music.
It's only hard after the first year.
So if you learn the basics,
then it gets really, really difficult.
It's better when you don't know anything.
So she said.
Yes, a lot of things I think are better
when you don't know anything.
Well, you know, I'm sure it was really trying
because being in a school district,
I can't even imagine now.
Like, you know, I teach at a college level
and it's right now we're having problems
just getting kids to come back after the pandemic.
Nobody wants to do anything in class.
It's like the pain, everything has changed.
We've even made it all free.
It's like, what else can we, childcare?
Like, what can we give you to come back
and put your butt in the seat?
Nothing, nothing, we're not interested.
It's really hard.
So that must have been like a turning point for you
when you said enough of this.
Well, after teaching just through COVID,
I said, you know what?
I've got to get out of the house on weekends.
Things were just starting to open up
where we could have outdoor shows.
As long as, you know, you did your six feet apart,
12 feet apart, whatever it was.
So the farmer's markets finally opened here
and I would go to the markets, craft markets.
Everybody was reinventing themselves during COVID.
So lots of crafters came out of the woodwork.
Lots of artisans, people who said,
hey, I can make money with this thing
that I've been doing while I'm cooped up.
Or they think that-
There's a lot of bread.
Remember the sourdough bread?
Yes, and banana breads and yeah,
crocheting little animals, we have a lot of that.
But I said, let me go out and take pictures
of what everybody does and I'll post it online.
And then I realized, hey, you know what?
I have a lot of friends who own restaurants or farms,
things like that.
Maybe I could find places for everybody to sell their,
whatever they're making or doing.
So that's how I started to become an organizer
by finding places for my friends to set up and sell.
Yeah, it's not so easy because you gotta think about parking
and do they have a restroom and is there enough space?
And then you gotta rent that space,
probably from somebody.
Like not an easy thing to take on,
but we need people like you to open up the world to us
so that we have places to sell.
Like I know when I first started,
I started doing really large paintings
and I was in Toronto and they would have these great
weekend markets, you had to like be vetted to get in there.
And then I would come down to this very windy
because it's by Lake Ontario at the distillery,
which is the most beautiful location
because it's just all this red brick.
It's an old brewery for, you know, during the,
during the prohibition, this brewery got really big
and it was all sat on the waterfront
and was kind of like falling down.
So they turned it into like a destination for people
to go and have really good meals and be outside.
And these giant pieces of board that I was carrying around
were like sales and they just like pie away.
I was like, oh no, what am I doing wrong?
I was looking at everybody else with their little things
and I'm going, oh, it's the jewelry.
So, you know, I started off doing really large paintings
and trying to haul them around and then realized,
oh, it's the jewelry everybody wants,
but it really was a great outdoor market,
even though, you know, I learned so much
at the beginning of my career, just, you know,
through that venture.
And I met so many great people and so many great customers
and it really did open up the world to me.
Like I got to do a chandelier for the head of H&M
in his chalet in Switzerland because he came down
and saw these amazing bracelets as I was making
and bought one and he's like, oh, what else can you do?
I'm like anything, you just have to be open.
You never know what's going to work
because you're doing real public.
So many great things happen there to me.
So many great things.
I can't tell you, I have just amazing memories
and of course I've done it a million other times,
but nothing was like that just because it was such
a first time experience of, you know, taking that on
and there's a lot to it all, right?
Like a lot of people work really hard to get ready
for the weekend.
So that's another part of, you know, being a seller
is there's a lot of prep involved.
Just, you know, what do you see about that?
Like what's, what do you see?
You must see people come in and they're not ready.
And then you see some people that are like super ready
and tell us about that.
So I do see a lot of people who it's their first time venting
and I kind of pride myself.
What sets my company apart from different
from other companies, I should say from my almost competition
is that I help vendors and take them step by step.
Here's what you need.
You bring your 10 by 10 canopy, you bring your weights.
You make sure you have a table, a table cloth
that goes all the way to the ground, you know, your,
so your table, your table coverings,
make sure you bring a chair.
If you have one of those little jackery external batteries
to charge your cell phone or whatever lighting you need
because there might not be proper lighting there
to showcase your items.
Make sure you bring all your displays.
I always recommend bring a dolly or a wagon
to cart your stuff because I can't tell you how many,
oh, I have to carry these bins by myself.
Well, sweetheart, go to Home Depot
and get yourself a wagon because carrying bins back
and forth over the grass, tripping on the curb,
dumping your bins, like it's not fun.
It's, so a wagon is, I think a huge thing to get started.
Make sure you have enough product
where your table looks well stopped
without being overcrowded.
So I've seen that before.
I'm like, oh my gosh, what'd you bring?
Where's your kitchen sink under the table?
And sometimes there's, you know,
two or three sinks on the table
and people tend to pass those by.
Yeah, it doesn't look very, it doesn't look very,
like a lot of energy has gone into that table.
So keep walking.
And you also have to find your people.
So like people who follow me on social media
are wondering where's the next market?
Where is Jen going to set up next?
What venue is she going to be at?
But we're not looking for sugar jewelry.
So I always make sure you post on social media
and tell your people what you have
and where you're gonna be.
I mean, social media is the key of all this.
And I know that's another thing is that
you do really great on your social media.
You do really great.
And I try really hard to, when I see it,
when it pops up to my feet or go and hit your button,
you know, to comment because we do need to support each other.
And that's kind of like one of my pet peeves is like,
if you're on social media and you're getting likes,
who are you liking?
Because it should be everyone of those people
that are liking you because it's a community
and we need to work together to keep it vibrant,
to keep it going and to keep it relevant.
Else if it's just an echo chamber, what's the point?
But you do a great job.
And I know that this is hard.
So wait, oh, oh, would you rather be teaching
classroom full of eighth graders?
Which I love being an eighth grade,
but you know, I'm not dissing eighth graders.
Or would you rather be outside on the weekend
corralling and managing all of these people?
Because it is a lot of work.
Like it's the same difference of eighth graders or cats.
Like, you got a show of cats.
It's like all the same.
And when I would, I'll say put together a big show,
like the band plays and the orchestra and the choir
and there's an art show and the PTAs do
and spaghetti dinner, when I can coordinate
600 and 700 people altogether,
or that was very much easier task
than herding 40 adult vendor.
Oh, I need to remember there's selling tickets.
Because that's another whole part of what you probably had to do.
Oh, OK.
And you try to cruise the subway.
Yes, and to sell the tickets.
Yes, and to sell tickets.
Like, and get your family to do it.
It's crazy.
But it's, you know what?
It's so much fun because I like being outside,
even when it's like super hot.
I'm out there with my, my hair all twisted up
and my shorts on, putting up canopies.
You know, well, people.
I had copies delivered. Sorry.
Very nice.
Yeah. Well, it's hot.
I press it here.
Like it's a little bit different.
Like yesterday, I literally just go sit outside to be still.
Like, don't have to go do anything.
Just be still.
Sweat pouring off my face.
I could have timed it.
It was like, OK, in two minutes, I'm like,
because it was 105.
Wow.
With 80% humidity.
So you're just like, you can't even move.
So we want to move closer by you.
It's like next on the weekends, because it's in Texas right now.
There's like nothing that is.
So, and, and inspiring.
You just, we have this beautiful place.
We're at the ranch and we'd love to be outside working,
whatever the work is, whatever it is.
We have a million things to do and it's like death outside.
Like if it's after 11 o'clock, you can't do anything.
It's like, OK, now we're just inside now.
I have a day job, so I'm also doing that too.
So it's, I can't see.
But yeah, now tell me one of the things that I,
I can kind of go back and forth over is whether or not to have a tent.
And I know you mentioned tents and I know everybody likes to have a tent,
but I don't like to have a tent.
I'm a jewelry maker and I like that Sunday camp.
And I like that Sunday come down and I don't like the cave aspect of people
having to come into my cave and come see my way.
You know, so tell me about that.
I know some people are like, no, you have to have a tent.
It's like, well, it's not going to rain.
Can I just have an umbrella?
Like can I send more inviting than because you're a person like,
I don't want to run away.
Well, it's a lot of work to keep a tent so it doesn't fly away.
I've seen that a million times too.
Yes. So there are some little tips and tricks for that.
So I do ask at all of my shows.
See, in New Jersey, we have this big difference between
Flea Market and Farmers Market or Flea Market and Artisan Market.
Right.
So I like to tell the story if you've ever seen the movie Catty Shack.
Yeah, yeah.
So Bill Murray and Chevy Chase are standing in the room.
Chevy Chase is making cocktails in a tuxedo and Bill Murray comes in
in his messy groundskeeper outfit and he says to Chevy Chase,
hey, I think I need to clean up a little bit.
Do you have a pool or a pond or do you have a pool or anything around here?
I could clean up and Chevy Chase goes, we have a pool and a pond.
Pond might be better for you.
Well, it's and I know it's not a very nice analogy,
but the flea markets in New Jersey are usually associated
with one giant flea market that we have called English Town.
English Town is a dust bowl.
It's all dirt with wooden plank tables and you come up and you pay
six dollars for your table and you plop your stuff on the table
and you leave when you sell out.
Some people just leave their stuff on the table and leave.
So that would be the flea market kind of association.
Yeah.
But if you're an artisan, that's a whole other story.
What distinguishes us, the artisan market from the flea market is that
we have the canopies to make it look like something is going on,
not just a sheet on the ground.
As a lot of our flea markets are.
Yeah.
So most of our flea markets and yard sales are, you know,
you put a flatbed sheet on the ground, you put your stuff on it
or on just a table with no covering here in New Jersey.
That's like a very, I don't want to say snooty thing,
but yes, all of our people have to have canopies because it distinguishes
the artisan markets.
Yeah.
An elevate thing.
Right.
But there is a way that we get around.
I know I can completely understand wanting the sun to shine on your gems
because I've seen them and they're gorgeous.
Oh my gosh.
So we take the front of the canopy where so here's the front
and there's a kind of a a lip kind of a thing.
Yeah.
A thing that hangs down.
We flip that lip up and we hang things from the canopy using it as a
to as a place to show you something from above.
Exactly.
So aesthetically, we see canopies from the top from the street.
But once you come into the market, you can see the sun shining
and everything glistens.
Everybody who has.
I have a lot of vendors who do sun catchers, wind chimes, things like that.
And they have outside of their tent.
One of those it's shaped like an X.
It's an X shaped clothing rack.
Oh, okay.
And they hang the wind catchers and sun catchers on those clothing racks,
which is beautiful.
Some of them hang them in the middle so their canopy can be kind of over to the
side to allow people to walk through.
But in the center of our little encampment, they put all their shiny things.
So it kind of allows people to move through and still walk around and see them.
Yes, we'll walk around and see them.
I get that.
Like, you know, I remember I was driving through Kentucky.
This is years ago.
I was driving down from Canada to Austin to do some jewelry shows here.
And I drove by this really big.
It was a Sunday morning early because I like to get up early and and I'm driving by
and it was a gigantic flea market.
I'm like, well, wait a second.
I've got stuff in my car.
I can sell.
So I walked around the flea market and I thought, okay, what do I have to do?
It was like $7 and I, I didn't.
Maybe I had a sheet or a table.
I can't remember, but I had enough product to put out there and, you know, make it all.
You know, these hillbillies did not need my jewelry.
Like they were literally hillbillies.
And the guy next to me, he was a little, he was mentally challenged, but really he was selling dried poppy heads.
And we had so much fun.
The two of us like this guy and we were like laughing.
We were having people like try on the jewelry and take their pictures.
And then at the end, he's like, well, I could give you a tour of the town, but I only have a
bicycle.
Is that okay?
I'm like, yeah, no, that's totally fine.
You're like smitten.
We were like bonded because we had great experience of just laughing all day with the customers
and, you know, hustling and, you know, just hustling.
It was just so much fun.
So great memories.
That's the only time I've really done a truly a flea market.
And I didn't sell anything.
And I don't think I did sell anything, but it was the joy of being with another.
It's that community.
That's the thing about it.
You've got to get out of, you got to get out of your own way and get out there and meet
people and see things and, you know, meet the person next to you and meet the person
next to you and see what they got going on.
And yeah, I definitely understand that as a, definitely part of the whole journey is
that you've got to be, you got to be flexible and be outside sometimes.
So I wish you would come down here and put on some flea markets so I could be part of
your tribe.
I'd be part of your tribe.
I wish you would.
Yeah, we have a good time at the market.
I bet you do.
We always have something going on and I've made some incredible friends from these casual
acquaintances.
Yes.
That want to support you and help you and be part of you and also follow you so they
know where to go to go get all these great little things that people are selling.
Yeah.
What is a new product that you've seen hitting your markets that you could share with us?
Because I know people are really venturing out and making really good livings on their
side hustles.
So let's see, what is the best thing?
It's probably a food item.
So New Jersey has this thing called a cottage law.
I think that there are in many other states too, but cottage law allows home bakers to
sell what they have to sell whatever they make.
So I have seen an incredible amount of candy coming out.
So it's not just you go to the market and you buy your bread or your cookies or your
rolls or cheese.
But these vendors that are coming up with incredible candies and cool things.
I've also seen a lot of hair products lately.
So I have this friend, her name is Gail and she is my heal and go and she sells products
for curly hair.
Your hair looks great.
Thank you.
I was going to say that's why you could actually see my, yeah, today it's a little
busier than I would like, but it has a moisture to make those curls activate your natural
curls.
Wow.
Is it like a shampoo or a spray or she has some shampoos and she has it's a lot of lotions
and things you you take a little scoop you put in your hair and you squish it up.
So I've seen a lot of skin care products and hair care products lately.
Innovative stuff, innovative packaging, non aerosol, aerosol cans.
Yep.
Like there's incredible things like this aerosol can that you pump up the bottom.
I guess maybe you could use it for olive oil or other things in the kitchen, but just innovative
cool packaging.
So food and skincare are the new trendy things.
People are trying that people are trying when they're there, they're like, Oh, I could
use some curls.
Like I would go for that.
I would try that because it does require some product.
I don't know what that's about.
But it does require some, I was just friends while here in some human is like, I just friends,
but yeah.
So that's definitely something you have a lot of jewelry people.
What's my competition?
Who do I need to get skill if I move up there?
So I have not seen, I have only seen, let's say there's one other fine jewelry person
that I know.
And she works a lot in Asbury Park.
So she's an actual, actually, no, I know two of them, metal Smith's.
So that's kind of a cool thing.
So we have a whole bunch of different kinds of jewelry.
I'm sure you're familiar with all of them.
We have the gemstone jewelry.
We have wire wrapped jewelry.
We have beaded jewelry.
Then we have, there's a lot of people doing make your own jewelry.
Oh, like kids are selling kids or.
Yes.
Like there's a little bowls all over the table with different kinds of beads and you come
up and you make your own.
Oh, wow.
Right there at the thing.
At the thing.
Yes.
And there was a vendor who had kids clothes and she had make your own baby teething bracelet.
Oh, wow.
So these like rubber balls that you can put on a, a circle, a plastic circle, unbreakable
thing and hook it together and you give this to your baby to teeth on.
I would be so scared of that.
I'd be like, no liability insurance in the world would make me feel comfortable.
Like, I got it.
You make sure my people will have insurance when they come to the market.
So every vendor has to have, has to be insured because my insurance basically covers me on
site and my, you know, getting, getting $3 million insurance.
You would think that that's like a ton of money, but all the stuff that can happen at
a market is not really a lot of money.
Yeah.
I mean, it's a true, that's a whole other thing that you have to think about, isn't it?
So even if I was at an outdoor market with you, I still need to have my insurance involved.
So that's kind of, you know, you must have a link to tell people how to get that because
a lot of people don't have that.
That's what makes me, you know how there are teaching hospitals?
Well, I'm a teaching marketer.
Yeah.
So, so you have, so it's a process.
So you have it all written out, but people don't write, read what you write because that's
natural people don't do that.
I did see somewhere where you wrote to your, your audience or your guests that were coming
here vendors like, read this.
Like I'm not going to, I can't remember what you said, but I was like, yeah, that's exactly
right.
Most people don't slow down and read the fine print or at least just the basic rules like
what time to get there and how to set up and is there electricity and, you know, all those
things because that's something they just want to have spoon fed or have organically
know.
And unless they're not going to know that, so they got to read it.
So that's kind of like your first thing to tell people, read what I write because it's
important.
Yes.
And I have a lot of friends who are, who are attorneys and you got to read everything
everybody sends you and don't just like most people scan in the letter F they scan across
down a tiny bit, down a tiny bit.
But if I'm giving an as a teacher, I like to give extra details like please make sure
your weights are at least right down.
So things like that for outside because it does get quite windy at the beach or if we're
in a park someplace, one big gust of wind that tent goes up and over and it's dangerous.
And it's about your product.
It's like my, my big, my big canvases that were like floating or like sales.
You have to go run down the brick lanes to go catch up because you're finding things
different locations like for sure.
Yes, but yeah, people don't, people really don't stop and read, do they?
No, not at all.
I even have an FAQ on my website.
So everything I do is pretty much done through the website where people ask me, hi, can I,
how do I get into this market?
And I say, well, let me send you a link.
Can you go on and you apply?
In fact, for just, just such occasions, I have made my applications now $5 to fill out
an application.
Like one vendor, it was 43 emails back and forth before we even got to filling out an
application.
And I pretty much just said, please visit the website.
Like I can't, I just can't.
But that hook is back to why you left school.
Yes.
Because there's a lot of idiots out there.
I just read what I wrote.
Yes, go to the website.
There are every single detail, including the market agreement where it says, you know,
bring your canopy, bring your weights, bring your blah, blah, blah, blah.
Make sure that you show up on time, make sure that you advertise, no sharing tables like
no smoking, no vaping.
So there are a lot of rules at the markets that I need to comply with.
So having those all written down and, you know, before people apply for the market,
they say they have to check a little box or in their application.
I have read and agreed to buy, buy the market agreement.
So before they can even pay for the market online, they have to say, I read the market
agreement.
Right.
I'm going to tell you how many times I've had to go back and refer to the market agreement.
Like you're breaking, not just breaking my balls, you're breaking the rules.
Right.
That everybody else is trying to, uh, sustain.
So it's very important.
Sorry, I was looking for my phone because I thought, oh, I need to get a picture of you
too.
But you can, will you just send me a picture so I can make sure I add it to this?
Because I thought, oh, but you look so good.
I was like, oh, thank you.
I love that and you should have that.
Oh, you're talking.
So we'll add that.
If you can take a screenshot afterwards, we'll get that.
Let's talk for a few minutes about the blocks because that's where I met you.
I never would have met you.
Like that was the thing that we, so we, um, will you talk about it?
Because I don't, this is your show, but what do you tell me about the blocks?
What are you, because we need to be talking about it still because it hasn't gone live
on Amazon.
We still are really connected to a lot of the people.
Have you heard from very, like, give me, give me your rundown on how your feet are on it.
So it was really scary to me when I am in my comfort zones, like here I'm in my kitchen,
I'm talking about my business and I feel so comfortable speaking to you and telling you,
you know, things about my business.
I wasn't there to win a prize.
I was there to, first of all, because as a, oh, sorry, I'm going to backtrack for a second.
So as a cancer survivor, I was just like, when am I going to get a chance in my lifetime
to be on TV?
Do it.
Just do it.
And I couldn't afford it.
So I did like a, like a GoFundMe for part of it.
And it was really nice.
I raised $2,000.
I didn't realize it was going to cost that much money, but, you know, it was what it
was.
I was excited to get there and meet people who were just starting out like me.
In July, it'll be my third year in business.
It will be my third year scaling up my business.
So first I started managing someone else's market.
And then first, my first year, I had my own market.
My second year, I had two markets.
Now this is my third year in business and I have three markets.
So how do you do that on the weekend where you've got to be in three different places?
Do you have some people to help you?
No, it's just me.
I actually have one market is on Wednesdays from one to six.
One is on Fridays and one is on Sundays.
Perfect.
So it gives you three days out of the week where you have to be in one place.
Got ya.
And I also have my cottage license.
So I'm baking a couple of days to make food to sell at the market.
What kind of things are you selling?
What are you selling?
I want some.
I make candy sushi.
So I've been doing like candy stuff.
I baked cookies.
I make rice crispy treats covered in chocolate and sprinkles.
So everybody likes this.
Like those are just like bake sale gotta haves.
Gotta have a couple bucks or what are they selling for five bucks now?
A beast?
Oh no, I just do three bucks.
Chocolate covered Oreos, three for four dollars.
I'm good like that.
Oh, those are great.
I haven't had those in forever.
So do people still have cash when they're out there or do you see that most of your
transactions go through an app like a cash app or Venmo or whatever?
Do people bring money?
Well, not so much cash.
A lot of people are PayPal, Venmo or Zell.
Right.
Now, Zell is really cool because they don't take any, there's no fee for Zell.
Right.
So on your Chase app, I think it's, or somebody, I got it.
Yeah, so on whatever your bank app is, Zell and PayPal take almost 4%.
Right.
So, yeah.
But so sorry.
Do you have QR codes that are there to take you to Venmo or wherever?
Yes.
A lot of times many of the vendors have QR codes and stuff like that.
I asked people how would you like to pay?
And I am, you just always have your phone or your device ready.
Yeah, it's crazy.
I'm fortunate.
Yeah.
I've been fortunate enough to have places to vend.
My markets are always in a place with a flush toilet and always in a place with wifi access.
Oh, very important.
Yeah.
And really you need one of my QR code rings.
Just tell me, just send it to me and I'll make you one.
I made one for Joanne for Glampkin and I made one for another friend of mine who has a booth
with me, has a booth in the same indoor painted tree location in San Antonio.
I made a ring for her, but I definitely just send me your QR code and I'll make one for
you because I would love to.
If you want that, like it doesn't, it didn't have to have the sparkles ready.
It could be just real plants.
It's very scannable.
Like I always tested before I send it out so that I know that it's scannable on something.
So it could be Instagram, it could be your whatever or just your pay app.
Like that could be kind of a, a cool right here.
Pay me.
Bam.
Pay me.
Or what on each fist?
Like here, game this one.
Here, game this one.
Yeah, it's so funny.
Like make it a thing.
Like why not?
Cause you know, I made this for you.
So that's kind of fun.
Have you met very many people?
Or have you since the blocks, because let's go back to that because that was where we
met and it was such a monumental week for us to, did you come prepare?
Like what did you do to prepare yourself for?
I was, I was just open to whatever they were going to teach me, but not, not to be a big
fan of grass.
I was just open to whatever they were going to teach me, but not, I think the first couple
days were so beyond what I was, what my brain was capable of grasping.
Like I'm exhausted.
That was the first time I had, or I was exhausted.
Like I don't get to go on vacations.
I don't do that.
I would love to, but yeah, that was my first time away from home in like six years.
So I was not prepared to like, oh my gosh, do I have this?
Do I have my stuff with me?
Do I have everything?
And then I had to take notes.
When was the last time you take notes on stuff?
I was not mentally prepared.
I have to tell you that first night after I met, yes, yeah.
That first night when I was on stage, like that I picked as a, a block sir.
I remember that.
I was so happy for you.
I was so proud of you.
It was such a big deal.
It was a big deal.
I was so proud of you.
It was huge.
And like my phone was dead and I wanted to call my son, but I got off after I got off
the stage, I just kind of like broke down and I was thinking, I got up there and I am
totally not prepared to, hi, my name is Jennifer and I'm the owner of blah, blah, blah.
No, but I didn't think anybody cared.
I am a farmers market manager.
There's a girl and other guys running million dollar companies.
Like the doctors.
Like Amanda, all kinds of people doing important things.
So when I got off stage, I just broke down.
I couldn't stop crying.
I was like, nobody cares.
I do.
And how do you make somebody care what you do?
So it, I was like an emotional mess.
It was, here's the thing.
You never have to cry alone because that's what I tell everybody that I met there is
as entrepreneurs, we're alone a lot of the time and that's really hard to be crying on
your own.
You can reach out to me anytime and I'm so honest about that.
Like a hundred percent.
You just say, oh my God, look at sugar.
Look, tell me what I should do.
Like talk to me, talk me through this because I get it.
It was so overwhelming.
I was so nervous the first time I had to just speak within my pod.
My voice was like cracking like I was going to cry.
I'm like, what's that about?
Like I don't have any problems speaking to people, but it was such a buildup.
I think it was so much pressure.
It was a lot to take in and it was hard.
It was very hard.
So I got back.
We got to it.
When I got to the round table, I just said to Rob, I said, I hope I didn't disappoint
you when I got on stage and he's like, what?
And they made me feel better.
But I was like, I was a wreck.
And then I was embarrassed because I was a wreck.
It was just, it was very emotional.
It was very overwhelming.
I understand you.
I totally understand you.
And I feel for you and I, I know what that was, but I know it got better with time, right?
Because.
Absolutely.
It was just the emotion of, okay, now we're in a casino and like, where do we go?
And the place was like really big and like there's so much to it all.
And are you dressed right?
And are you, like there was just a lot of variables that went into it.
It was a lot of thinking it through.
And then you get up there and you're kind of like, well, I got up there and I, you saw
me, I made it to the table.
I made it to the.
You were great.
You were well spoken.
I just, I had to stop because I thought, okay, well, I just love that answer.
So I'm just going to talk to the audience.
And, you know, I did apologize to the twins after that Carla and, uh, uh, I should.
Smile, smiley girls, because they were my judge.
And I said, I'm, I'm sorry I failed you because that was, you know, it was a hard, that was
a hard moment to process.
And so yeah, but, you know, I had everybody dancing in the back in the green room and
they all came out dancing and so that was kind of fun.
Like, you know, you just kind of like turn it around and just make it a thing.
It's like, oh, well, it is what it is.
And, you know, sorry, you're still crying.
No, I'm just like, because I, that resonates with me.
And I just was like, you know, I'm, I'm alone here.
I live in the house by myself.
I've run my business by myself.
Yes.
Like my, my son, I've been divorced for like 12 years and my son lives in Philadelphia.
So I go and visit him whenever I can.
And I had a market Saturday and he drove an hour and a half just to hang with me for a
little bit at the market, which was so nice.
How old is he?
He's 24.
He just turned 24.
Okay.
So he's now grown up and like, yeah, he has a job and he's living on.
He's on his own for like seven years now.
You did good.
You got him out of the house.
Like that was a good thing.
Oh yeah.
He's fabulous.
So he went to college.
He's a mechanical engineer.
He has a, he's like a very important kid and a very important man.
He's my kid.
Yes.
He's a functional adult in society.
And you did that.
So check that off your list.
Great mom.
Check.
Thank you.
It's a thing like, you know, you didn't kill him.
They grew up and he's not in trouble.
Yeah.
Yes.
True.
So what were your takeaways from the blocks because we all, we all brought something back
from the blocks, whether it was right or something.
Mine was to be a little bit more proud of who I am.
And I went in thinking nobody cares what I have to say.
And then coming out thinking, you know what?
My stuff is just as important as everybody else's.
Yes.
You know, you might have a very fancy job in a medical office or something, but I am
just providing an amazing service to the community and giving people access to food
who may have food insecurities.
And like what I came away with is be proud of what you do and don't be afraid to tell
people what you do because honestly, if they're going to love it, they're going to love it
if they don't care, then they don't care, but I kind of don't have to worry about disappointing
anybody else because I'm doing my own thing.
And if I think it's important like it's, then that's good enough.
I mean, aside from the learning about pay per click advertising, so that's been a huge
thing.
I do one paper click ad in two weeks, I got 18,000 views.
Oh, wait.
Okay.
You're going to teach me about that because I'm trying to learn.
Are you doing it through Google or?
Google through Google.
Through paid.
So did you get that whole bonus where it was like, if you spend $500, you get $500?
Did you know about that?
Yes.
I saw that.
I'm not quite at $500.
I still like to eat this week.
So.
Yeah.
Oh, wow, what's it hard to do?
I'm lining my ducks up because that's next on my thing.
My ducks aren't all in a row.
I got to get that thing happening on the back end so I can push it to something.
And I think it's just going to be my Shopify.
I've had a lot of meetings with a lot of people since then.
And even one of our other blocksters, Jennifer Lopez and I, we just met last week to kind
of like talk through things.
We were doing a little barter where I did some jewelry to pay for her time, some bridal
jewelry for some friends of hers that are getting married.
So I mean, it doesn't have to be money, but we are friends.
So that was a good thing for me.
Just to have that voice of reason.
She has a really good voice of reason.
And actually it's kind of been very good.
It's been a good thing for me.
So that's good.
But yeah, and I reached out and I had, I made a necklace for Tyler Young for, he's in a
movie and he's just been sending me behind the scenes shots of that.
And actually the necklace, which turned out to be like a prop in the movie where he's
like killing somebody with it and other things happen to this necklace.
So yeah, that was going to be fun.
So it's going to be the necklace that like took over a movie thing.
So that was kind of fun.
Yeah, I did the smiley girls.
I sent them some smiley earrings and then the gelato ice cream lady, the gelato queen.
I sent her husband.
Yeah, you remember.
Yeah, I sent Rex and Karen.
Some him.
He's a letter eight person and some ice cream jewelry for him.
So, you know, it's, it's been an ongoing, and that's just a few.
Like I've got lots of people that I've met with because like I said, I'm here to meet
them.
Like that was, that was my friends and I paid to me to be part of and you just to have.
So we really are now connected at a different level because we went through this thing together
called the block.
Yes.
So hopefully get to see, I don't know, July or through September.
We don't know when it's going to show.
Yeah.
But it's a big deal.
Oh, and I have another one that I, it was somebody that was in eight who won actually
there was runner up in season eight and he was also on another season and then he's going
back to be on the, I don't know why people go back twice, but anyway, he's going to go,
he's going to hopefully be on the all stars.
He has a tourist thing up on Niagara Falls on the US side and he's really great.
So he contacted me and I'm going to do a line of jewelry that relates to that kind of area
that's kind of, it's going to be really cool.
I'm excited about that.
It'll be in his gift shop that he's opening.
So that'll be fun.
So you know, the connections that are, you know, that were made there and that is kind
of, that's just a small sample of who all I've been able to connect with, but a lot.
So, yeah, so if I can make some jewelry for you to throw down next to your bakery, you
say, ah, you know, I'm just saying like, oh, you never know.
I could send you some earrings that have little cupcakes on them or something.
Just something, you know, the QR code ring, whatever I can do to help support you.
It would be awesome.
If I was up there, I would be with you.
I would be like, okay, where's the next market?
Like I don't even know where I would go because I would have fun with you.
Yes.
We, oh my gosh, we'd have a good time.
Oh my gosh.
Yes.
And it is about getting out there and meeting people.
It's the number one thing.
It's so important.
I read something where we actually live longer if three times a month, you'll be happier
person if you get out and do something.
So out of your house, get out of your comfort zone.
So you're doing that three times a week.
Yeah.
I need to do that more.
So I get that.
Like that's kind of a push for me to get out and go meet other people and be whatever
part of the community, but it does help.
Helps for sales.
It helps for your head.
It helps for everything else.
So now you're doing three markets.
Can you see you getting up to four or is it just two months?
Yes.
I can.
Next year, I can take one more market and see another thing that separates me from my
competitors is I stay during the whole market.
So it's, if you have any problems at all or, you know, some, some creepy guy walks next
to your table and, you know, anything I come over and say, Hey, how's it going over here?
Or I'm the one who stays at the market.
I think next year I can definitely do a Saturday market.
So I've been trying to put a little emphasis on being a vendor myself this coming summer.
But I think I would rather just be market manager and take on another market.
Because I get lost sometimes in talking to customers and so happy to meet new people.
And being a market manager, there are more people who come up and ask questions about
the market.
You know, either how do I become a vendor or do you have this or what vendors are scheduled
or how can I find out information or, you know, I have a cousin who does this.
Do you think they would like it the market?
Oh, they just want to talk to you.
It's amazing how many people will just like tell you their life story if they get a chance.
Yes.
You find that because I've got three stores and I know those customers when they would
walk in is like, okay, we're not going to get anything done because this person's going
to get it.
Seriously, it was like a daily addiction that some people had like therapy was to come into
the store and just talk to me, talk to me, talk to me.
That's so funny that you say that.
I think at the markets, I think for vendors and for customers, we should have a social
worker on site.
I can't even talk to them.
The talk table.
That's kind of what I turn into sometimes.
Yes.
Like if the market is a little slower or somebody's table's a little slower, they come over and
you know, everybody talks to each other about other markets.
They talk about what's going on in their lives.
They talk about, oh, you know what?
Let's put hot sauce on this product and let's do, let's try it.
Let's do this or all kinds of things.
I mean, it is the public.
Like that's the thing.
The general public is there.
So you got to like be ready for anything, anything.
Like seriously, that's why you have insurance because those people are there.
Yeah.
I mean, it is so much fun, but it's so there.
It is the market managers.
Tent has been everything from a, this is where we process EBT to the come and sit nurse
your baby tent.
You can change your diaper here.
Tent.
Yeah.
That's a really important thing to have a place to sit down, just a chair in the shade
with maybe a fan or something because grandma has hired her here.
Park your buggy here so you can like have the kids run around for a little bit.
Like I can see how that could be really an important thing for a state.
Yes.
And that's exactly, I always have extra water.
I always have band-aids.
I always have like scissors.
I'm have that person with the sewing kit at the farmer's market.
Just in case I always have duct tape and bungees.
You got your to go kit ready.
I do.
I do everything that anybody could need if something breaks or rips or whatever.
At the, at the, at the end of the day, that's like your big giant purse.
You just got to always have it.
It's got to be in your car at all times, right?
Like what else could be in that purse?
Well, we're almost at an hour.
We are at an hour.
And let me just tell you, I could do this once a week with you.
Just kind of have my coffee and just talk with you because it was a great moment when
I met you.
I'll never forget it.
And you're really sweet and I totally get your business and I want you to succeed.
And I want you to do one.
I want people to find you and respect you and know that, you know, your heart and soul
as, as an entrepreneur is in your work.
And so it's not a side hustle for you, but you're helping other people like me that do
have side hustles.
So that's why we had you on today because it is really important to hear from the vendor
side about how to run, how to, how to be present in a market and how to bring your A game and
how to become prepared because you are outside, you know, and that was going to happen.
And then how to be ready with your cash apps and your, all those kinds of things and how
to price things clearly and how to not like load up your boost so much that it's that
whole, are there seven jellies or are there 21 jellies and which ones, how many are going
to sell more?
And if you only have seven jellies, you're going to sell more.
That's what the kind of the, but it's hard when you have your babies in an oven and you
want to bring them all.
I want to bring all my jellies in.
Everybody can choose.
It's like, yeah, I don't know.
I'm sure you see all kinds of things like that's like for the next podcast that we do
and you and I will just sit there and go, okay, tell me the most amazing thing you've
said, start making a file.
Like, because I know you've seen it all.
Yeah, I have some good, the good, bad and ugly of vending at a market.
Actually, and tips and tricks.
Like that could be like the whole thing of while we could talk to again.
Okay.
So now tell people again how to find you, which is your Instagram, your website, your
however to reach out to you, say it's slow and we'll, we'll put a little thing underneath
you so they can find you.
Awesome.
So the name of my business is here here LLC.
Like you'll hear it here first.
So it's H E A R H E R E LLC.
And you can find me at here here LLC and J.com.
You could find me at Jen at here here.com.
There's a few different.
You can email me at H E A R H E R E LLC and J at gmail.com.
So it's always here here LLC and J in New Jersey.
You could find me on Instagram.
There will be links to all of my farmers markets and any other events that I'm contracting
vendors for.
So if anybody's going to be in the New Jersey area, come on over.
And that was Instagram at here here LLC and J.
Which is New Jersey.
It's Instagram, Facebook, Google, everything's all the same.
One, one thing.
That's what I've tried to move it up to sugar gay is for.
So it has been, oh, so good and too short to have my coffee with you on this Tuesday morning.
And I totally have enjoyed my visit with you and just kind of learning from you and thinking
it all through and I love that idea of throwing the tent back a little bit and having a little
bit more light in there that definitely solved my problem.
So if you're a jewelry maker out there, take some of her words to heart.
She knows what she's talking about because she's a professional and we love learning
from that.
So thank you so much for your time.
Send me a picture to the podcast and just you right there.
You look great.
And we will do this again down the road.
I'm sure you're busy right now.
So market season market tomorrow.
So some things and I'll be thinking about you and I'll be sending you best wishes.
So thank you so much.
It was my pleasure speaking to you.
Seriously, you know, I'm happy talking to you for it.
I can talk all day.
It's my heart.
So I miss you.
I miss you.
It's really it's good to see your face and your pretty hair.
So I want to go to work.
Thank you.