My Little Pony Fair Prep

[windinthemaples]

Slowly, but surely, I'm making progress getting ready to vend at the My Little Pony Fair. I've bought a table the exact size of the vending tables so I can rehearse my set-up. My current plan is to build some foam core risers to display as many ponies as I can. I can't bring it on the plane, so I think I'll figure out the dimensions, test build one, and then plan to arrive in Orlando a day early so I can buy the materials I need to make an identical one there in my hotel room.

I dug through everything I have yesterday to make a rough count. I have about five shoeboxes filled with small accessories that need to be individually bagged, labeled, and priced. I also have about 378 ponies, at present, that I plan to bring to sell. Less than 200 of those have been cleaned, and only 125 have been given inventory numbers and logged. I have an enormous amount of restoration and months of hair conditioning that needs to be done between now and July. It's kinda crazy. On top of that, I'm still actively buying ponies, so by the time of the fair I expect to be vending *at least* 500 ponies on 5' x 30" of table. (Not to mention getting everything I need into suitcases and bringing three family members along with me.) It is fun to work on but also a bit 0_o. :D

I guess my next step is to design the foam core build, whip out my x-acto knife skills, and see how many ponies I can accommodate at a time that way. I also need to find a good place to buy pre-strung paper price tags and small ziplock bags for the accessories.

Comments

[wldhrsjen3.livejournal.com]

WOW. 500 ponies. I can only imagine! It sounds like a challenge of epic proportions... I think you need to keep a few ponies for yourself, as a reward. :D

(Also, are any MLP's blue? Mine were all pink and peach and yellow and lavender and white. I find myself coveting a pony with blue or red to match my kitchen. Maybe I need to spend some internet time this afternoon looking at ponies! :D)

((((hugs))))

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

WOW. 500 ponies. I can only imagine! It sounds like a challenge of epic proportions... I think you need to keep a few ponies for yourself, as a reward. :D

Ha! That's not counting my personal collection. I have quite a few for myself. ;) :D

Also, are any MLP's blue? Mine were all pink and peach and yellow and lavender and white. I find myself coveting a pony with blue or red to match my kitchen. Maybe I need to spend some internet time this afternoon looking at ponies! :D)

There *are* blue ponies. This is a fun website to browse pony pictures by color, here (http://www.strawberryreef.com/Index/G1/G1index.html). My favorite blue pony is Tux n' Tails (sometimes called Coat n' Tails) the blue groom. He's a draft horse with adorable feathered feet and is a rich, true blue.

[aerialmelodies.livejournal.com]

Jo-Ann sells the prestrung tags! I was making my own but it's SO TEDIOUS and they're only $3. You can find them in the jewelry section. They also sell little bags in the jewelry section if you're looking for something a little smaller than a sandwich bag depending on accessory size.

Sounds like a lot of work but I can't wait to hear about how it all comes together! How are you creating a foam core stand? I've been wanting to make my own stand but can't seem to get the power tool-wielding Ryan to hop on board... ;)

[aerialmelodies.livejournal.com]

I also purchase from Uline - they have TONS OF STUFF and if you're buying multiple items, it's not too bad with the shipping.

Here's some tags:
http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-8573/Retail-Marking-Products/3-4-x-1-3-32-2-Merchandise-Tags-Prestrung (http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-8573/Retail-Marking-Products/3-4-x-1-3-32-2-Merchandise-Tags-Prestrung)
http://www.uline.com/BL_5654/Merchandise-Tags (http://www.uline.com/BL_5654/Merchandise-Tags)

And here's some bags (this is all of their reclosable poly options):
http://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSearchResult.aspx?KeywordTyped=bags&keywords=Poly%20Bags%20Reclosable%20 (http://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSearchResult.aspx?KeywordTyped=bags&keywords=Poly%20Bags%20Reclosable%20)

Hope that helps! They also sell paper bags, displays, boxes... of course you have to need a ton of whatever it is, but everything tends to come in cartons of 500-1000 which would be perfect for what you need. Whatever you don't wind up using I'm certain could be sold on eBay or Etsy as I see sellers doing this all the time (and making a profit on it to boot).

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll look around and try to figure out what size would work best. :)

[aerialmelodies.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! 500 tags you're probably better off buying in bulk since I think Joann's bags are only 100 tags. I just bought one so you'd think I'd know... :x

[willow-cabin.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a super-huge undertaking but also very exciting!! So many ponies! Your table will be a beautiful rainbow. :) Good luck with all of your preparations! ♥

I love your icon so much. :)