This past weekend, we ventured into something new: the New England Made trade show, held in Portland, ME. It felt big(ger), slightly over our skis, exciting, and invited us to think about Urban Pharm from a slightly different perspective—as a business working with other businesses. We had lots of “who knows?” going in, and lots of learning, if not exactly answers, coming out.
Some of our questions:
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Corner booth or not?
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Do we take orders on paper or on the computer?
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Will we even take any orders?
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What are you wearing?
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What actually happens for six hours a day three days in a row?
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Where should we eat?
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How much shrub should we bring?
Some of our learnings:
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We know what we like and without knowing exactly how, manage to put things together in a way that makes us happy.
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There are lots of amazing people out there making things with care.
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Eighteen hours inside the Portland Sports Complex is a lot of hours, and hydration, attitude, and company matter (looking at you, Sweet Monkey Business, Matt!).
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We are talented and speedy at loading in and packing out–as fast at trade shows as we are at farmer’s markets.
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It feels better to talk to people in person than to send emails. Always.
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Eating at the bar is the best.
Amidst all the chaos of packing, logistics, and post event analysis, two things – for which I am almost take-my-breath-away grateful – stand out. The first is what an extraordinary learning and growing experience Urban Pharm has been and continues to be. The second is the magic, depth, and breadth of our partnership – after eighty hours spent living and breathing each other, twelve hours apart feels like a long time.
Xoxo Jill