This year, I will take part in Peoples Gas Holiday Market, a collection of local, national, and international vendors selling Christmas decorations and gift ware in Pittsburgh's Market Square.
The event will run from November 24th to December 23rd, from 11AM to 8PM.
Needless to say, this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.
I have never had a show of this magnitude before. The Duquesne Light Home & Garden Show has always been my most intense show, and it's only 10 days! I've done the Home Show for a number of years now, and pretty much have a routine down. I'm hoping to pull some of my experience at the Home Show for the Holiday Market.
I find myself facing the issue of staffing, figuring out what to do when there are multiple shows at the same time (and there will be), and deciding on inventory.
Pittsburgh has never done anything like this before. The concept is based off of the Christkindlesmarkt which began in Nuremberg, Germany in 1545. Since then, it has spread to many European cities, and, more recently, to the US & Canada. The most popular (in North America) is based in Chicago and has been held annually since 1996.
Here's a picture of Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt in 2009:
Chicago's Holiday Market offers approximately 60 food and non-food vendors offering a wide variety of holiday gifts, decorations, and foreign cuisine. Their market is a template for Pittsburgh's and hopefully ours will be equally as successful. I'm so excited to see how this event will grow.
And it is going to be quite the undertaking.. Small, German-style chalets will be built to house each vendor. The little buildings will have three walls, and an open storefront. Holly and lights (not to mention that amazing, light filled Christmas tree they've been putting up in Market Square the last couple of years) will decorate the square.
Imagine this with small shops and even more decorations.
It should be absolutely beautiful.
In addition to the vendor chalets, Mr. & Mrs. Clause will have their own house. Children are welcome to come visit and get their pictures taken with Santa. Local choirs, carolers, and dancers will perform throughout the festivities featuring Pittsburgh's very own.
But how to staff this giant event? Right now, I've been recruiting friends and family to help out during the show. My daughter and one of her roommates are going to spend their free-time working at the Holiday Market. Many of my friends who have helped at shows here and there over the years are stepping up and taking shifts.
I'm so lucky to have all of them.
With more than one show happening at a time, I will have to split my time between the Market and the other shows. Most likely, I will have others cover the Market while I meet those customers who attend the shorter, single day shows. Hopefully this will allow me to meet and greet as many of you as I can.
The other major question, inventory, has posed a unique problem. I'm juggling framers, printers, and suppliers to make sure all of my paintings and gift ware is represented at each show. I will have to prioritize on what items should be at which show.
Some shows don't require as many items. Based on previous experiences, I'm trying to decide which shows usually sell large paintings and which shows require smaller gift ware items.
Not to mention trying to make sure nothing runs out!
As I write this post, I've had to take a couple of calls to answer questions on this very topic.
The Holiday Market is just a little over a week away (ah!). I'm both excited and a bit nervous, but I know that no matter what, this will allow me the opportunity to meet more customers and here more stories about your Pittsburgh memories.
Hope to see you there!
P.S. - don't forget to leave comments and check back in to see how everything's going on this new adventure.
The event will run from November 24th to December 23rd, from 11AM to 8PM.
Needless to say, this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.
I have never had a show of this magnitude before. The Duquesne Light Home & Garden Show has always been my most intense show, and it's only 10 days! I've done the Home Show for a number of years now, and pretty much have a routine down. I'm hoping to pull some of my experience at the Home Show for the Holiday Market.
I find myself facing the issue of staffing, figuring out what to do when there are multiple shows at the same time (and there will be), and deciding on inventory.
Pittsburgh has never done anything like this before. The concept is based off of the Christkindlesmarkt which began in Nuremberg, Germany in 1545. Since then, it has spread to many European cities, and, more recently, to the US & Canada. The most popular (in North America) is based in Chicago and has been held annually since 1996.
Here's a picture of Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt in 2009:
 |
| This photo was taken by Roland Berger |
And it is going to be quite the undertaking.. Small, German-style chalets will be built to house each vendor. The little buildings will have three walls, and an open storefront. Holly and lights (not to mention that amazing, light filled Christmas tree they've been putting up in Market Square the last couple of years) will decorate the square.
Imagine this with small shops and even more decorations.
 |
| The Golden Glow of Pittsburgh's Light-Up Night |
It should be absolutely beautiful.
In addition to the vendor chalets, Mr. & Mrs. Clause will have their own house. Children are welcome to come visit and get their pictures taken with Santa. Local choirs, carolers, and dancers will perform throughout the festivities featuring Pittsburgh's very own.
But how to staff this giant event? Right now, I've been recruiting friends and family to help out during the show. My daughter and one of her roommates are going to spend their free-time working at the Holiday Market. Many of my friends who have helped at shows here and there over the years are stepping up and taking shifts.
I'm so lucky to have all of them.
With more than one show happening at a time, I will have to split my time between the Market and the other shows. Most likely, I will have others cover the Market while I meet those customers who attend the shorter, single day shows. Hopefully this will allow me to meet and greet as many of you as I can.
The other major question, inventory, has posed a unique problem. I'm juggling framers, printers, and suppliers to make sure all of my paintings and gift ware is represented at each show. I will have to prioritize on what items should be at which show.
Some shows don't require as many items. Based on previous experiences, I'm trying to decide which shows usually sell large paintings and which shows require smaller gift ware items.
Not to mention trying to make sure nothing runs out!
As I write this post, I've had to take a couple of calls to answer questions on this very topic.
The Holiday Market is just a little over a week away (ah!). I'm both excited and a bit nervous, but I know that no matter what, this will allow me the opportunity to meet more customers and here more stories about your Pittsburgh memories.
Hope to see you there!
P.S. - don't forget to leave comments and check back in to see how everything's going on this new adventure.
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