Hey everyone,
Just wanted to debrief everyone on how my plant sale progressed. I made $314 in profit from two days of sales, which is good, since I sold nearly my entire inventory. Apparently, people aren't interested in Rubber trees, but I sold out of Kalanachoe, Brugs, and House Ficus. The local newspaper came to take pictures of me on Thursday morning, and I was on the front page Friday. I really didn't like having my face in the paper, but it did bring plenty of local sales. Everyone seemed very content with their plants, aside from a few grumpy blue-hairs who didn't understand the difference between an individual and a wholesaler ("IF YOU WANT 12 PEACH and 8 LARGE PINK CUTTINGS YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE ORDERED A MONTH AGO WHEN I HAD THAT MANY, NOT GET ALL HUFFY AND SHOUT AT ME WHEN YOU SHOW UP ON THE SECOND DAY OF A TWO DAY SALE!" ) and two snow-birds who didn't understand its not quite as easy growing tropicals in the Appalachians as Southern Florida. Several people who came in on Friday were very interested in my sold-out Brugs, so I let them go home with some cuttings I've been rooting for less then a week. I even sold a few packs of seed, though there are still plenty left is anyone is interested? I'm so relieved to have space in the greenhouse once again, just in time for this season's seeds. Anyway, thanks everyone who encouraged or advised me.
Peace,
Nate
This message has been edited by gardengrove_ac on Apr 1, 2007 3:50 PM
Glad to see it went well. It is always nice to have some space. People are funny that way. I do not like to sell stuff myself for that reason unless it has three zeros or more behind it. I grow Bayan Trees and there is little interest in them. I selectively give them away. They are my babies. What types of seeds do you have? I am still growing on flats. Everything else will have to wait it just gets too hot here.
Linda and Jim, since you're interested, right now I have plenty of things sown or germinating. Things I've started from seed this season which have sprouted are: Datura wrightii, Datura inoxia, my Brug seeds, Papaya, Hardy Hibiscus, Blue Lupine, Clary Sage, and Albino corn for the Biology 102 Lab to use. Aside from seeds, there are plenty of those plants that need more light once taken up by all those Ficus and Kalanchoe...not to mention that my Siam Tulips and other gingers, along with the Plumeria should be leafing out soon. Its still about a month before I'll open the vents 24/7, but spring is definitely here. Hopefully the growing degree days outside are long enough to get some beneficial insects back into the scene and knock down my aphid population.
Peace,
Nate
Nate I'm glad to hear that the sale went well. You'll always find some people who are never satisfied. Even the shops that buy plants from us can be a pain in the behind, especially the ones who don't get that they aren't going to get the same price for 25 of an item as the person who buys 125 of the same item. And the prima donna florists buying cut flowers are even worse! There are customers that you tolerate no matter how much they complain because they order 10K worth of flowers a week but someone who whines and only buys $100 worth of product you can be rude to. lol
Karyn
About 7 years ago I had a rummage sale for a weekend. No potted plants then, but just "stuff". I had folded up yards of Lilly Pullitzer material for only $2.00.
A Russian Jewish woman put up 1 finger for $1.oo. I said no, 2 dollars. This went on & I had to walk away- getting angry. She then noticed my first beautiful bloom of a huge pink peonese (sp) from bush & she said "I pick?"(for free!) I said NO! then she wanted to pick my lilacs & I finally asked her to leave. I saw her coming back waving 2 dollars so I grabbed material & told her It's MINE, & put it in house.
Sometimes ppl can be so rude. If you sell a diamond for $1.00, someone will try to offer 50 cents!
These were Russian Jews new to this country for couple years. They are used to bartering at the old markets. Even grocery cashiers here went crazy .. when a head of lettuce is 69 cents, they offer 50 cents to cashier & they just wouldn't quit trying, or argueing.
We also get a number of people who are fairly new to this country who attempt to barter. Most do know better because they own shops and buy from a number of vendors but they try anyway. I was surprised at how different shopping is in other countries where bartering is expected. They just love the Americans that don't realize that barter is a way of life in their country. lol
Karyn
Well, it never hurts to ask, what you save in one place by bartering can be used to get something elsewhere. When we have yard sales I don't mind the people who want to offer a lower amount, it's the ones who get mad if I make a counter offer... you're supposed to go back and forth until you reach an agreement.
Nate, I'm glad your plant sale went well other than the couple of minor annoyances.
Our weekend plant sales never went well due to lack of traffic (end of a dead-end road) and everyone wanted the plants that weren't for sale, we finally just gave up.
Oddly enough, last week I put the last of the Ipomoea cairica, 4 or 5 one-gallon pots, into one large pot with poles for it to climb, afterward I realized that I missed one and didn't know what to do with it. The very next morning a couple showed up who had bought several pots of it from us last fall, apparently it's growing really, really well for them and they wanted a bunch more. They bought the last pot of it and asked about more, I've decided since that if they come back again, I'm just going to teach them how to start their own and hope they appreciate never having to buy more again, lol.
I think that's great Lynne. It's people that appreciate what you put into your plants that make it fun. The majority of the people we deal with are really great I guess it's just the PITA's that stick out.
Karyn
I grew up in Spain so I was used to bargin hunters. I do not mind them much. But have figured what my time is worth so I just give it all to charity and sell nothing unless it has two zero's behind it. The local charity needs it more than me anyway. It is a shame what used to be fun can turn into a problem. I do believe many garage sale bargin hunters have an hidden motive.
I had a man want to buy one of my rams. He wanted to come in and look. It told him it would be $ 50.00 for a ram. I would catch him at night when I feed them and he could pick it up. He came back 3 more times always wanting to come in and look. He missed 3 appointments to get a ram. The fouth time he came by I told him they were all sold. Now I was going to sell him a Pure breed ram that normally sells for $ 250.00+ for $ 50.00 and he wasted my time 3 times in a row with excuses. I figure he owes me about $ 150.00 for my time. Besides he always got my name wrong and called me Bill.
Jim
This message has been edited by jpotts461 on Apr 7, 2007 5:30 AM
) and two snow-birds who didn't understand its not quite as easy growing tropicals in the Appalachians as Southern Florida. Several people who came in on Friday were very interested in my sold-out Brugs, so I let them go home with some cuttings I've been rooting for less then a week. I even sold a few packs of seed, though there are still plenty left is anyone is interested? I'm so relieved to have space in the greenhouse once again, just in time for this season's seeds. Anyway, thanks everyone who encouraged or advised me. 
Congratulations, Nate! Sounds like you had a fun day! Now that you have space in GH - what will go in next?
