saying good bye to Sugar Derby Mobile.....

How do they say it? All great things must come to an end..... well, I guess "they" are right.

I have put off sitting down to write this post for the longest time... I mean, clearly I have put off a lot of things.. my last post was April 1st... inviting everyone to come celebrate my one year anniversary... and then 3 months later I follow that with a "saying good bye to Sugar Derby Mobile" post.

*sigh*

Well..... here goes.

I started SDM one year and three months ago with enough excitement to fill the big ol' state of Texas. I was going to do something no one else was doing... have an actual vintage shop inside of a mobile vintage trailer... yes, there are people that have mobile vintage shops... i love all of them and have been so lucky to have met and befriended several of them on this excursion... BUT what I was going to do differently was really try to sell the vintage things i loved most....

and that was... and still is... housewares. no other mobile shop does just that...

so i started... way back on April 11, 2012 in the sweet little Double Wide Bar parking lot.

i stuck with my original concept for quite a while.... packing and unpacking all of my cute little vintage housewares each and every time.

you see... having a mobile shop that is 90% glass is NOT a real smart idea. it was literally like moving a small apartment every time i set up and tore down at an event. BUT... it was fun... and it was original... and people loved it... and i was having a blast.

as time went on though... i started to realize... people don't really buy vintage housewares and decor when they're out at a music festival or a car show... they just don't want to carry that stuff around... so i started selling vintage clothes... and shoes.. and purses... things i don't really have a huge "passion" for... but things that were easy for people to carry... and they did... they bought that stuff hand over fist... above and beyond the housewares.

but time after time, i packed and unpacked all my precious little housewares. because... those are the things i love.

my goal for sugar derby mobile was to do "it" and do "it" right.... i had a great concept, a great look, a great "brand".... and a ton of amazing friends to support me... my goal was to go at it full force for one year, have an amazing one year anniversary party... which i did... and then start to evaluate the whole business model... going into my second year, it was easy to decide what events were profitable from year one and which weren't... which events to participate in a second year and which new events to try out...

so... just 3 months into my second year... here is what i know:

1. mobile shops are very very hard work.. the packing and unpacking alone is killer

2. i can't transport and set up my shop alone.. i'm always going to need a dude with me.. and sometimes i don't have a dude :)

3. people LOVE my trailer.... love it.... but they aren't always interested in the vintage stuff

4. people don't generally buy breakables... it's weird.. but true

5. everyone thinks i'm a food truck.... everyone

6. SHOCKING NEWS: mobile shops pay vendor fees and must buy permits on occassion.... and believe it or not... those things are expensive

by the time i pay the vendor fee... get someone to help me get there, set up , etc.... buy food and drinks at festival prices all weekend and then sell my stuff for mere cents over what i buy it for.... 90% of the time i lose money....

do not get me wrong!!!!!! this whole thing has never ever been about money.... i have had some of the funnest times sitting out in front of my trailer talking to people... making new friends.... sending some of my favorite vintage finds to a new home....

but not making any money and LOSING money are two totally different things....

losing money is stressful. it makes my stomach hurt a little more everytime.... eeeeek.

sugar derby mobile should not be stressful... it should be fun.

and so..... after lots and lots of thinking... i've decided to take a different direction with the trailer.

the trailer itself is my baby. it's the tangible thing that helps me to feel like i'm doing something cool and fun that my dad would have loved to be a part of.

the vintage stuff was my thing... my love.... but it just don't work y'all.... and if it don't work... i can't make it.

i will be having a big liquidation sale next week/weekend...

thursday july 18 11am-7pm full price

friday july 19 11am-7pm full price

saturday july 20 11am-7pm 25% off

sunday july 21 11am-4pm 50% off

at 2650 Main St, Dallas Tex.... this space is an empty store front in deep ellum next to Taboo Tattoo.... my trailer WILL NOT be there.... just look for Taboo Tattoo and we'll be next door

i am selling everything at estate sale prices... basically what i bought it for.

my goal was to give new homes to these great vintage pieces.... so that's how i want this whole thing to end...

like i said.... the trailer is taking a new direction... and i am super excited about that!!!!! super super super.... don't worry... i'll tell you soon enough.. just doing a little prep work right now.

so here are a few pictures of some sale stuff.... there is a lot more.. and more clothing... and again, it's estate sale prices... just trying to break even at this point... so... come see me!!!! i want to hug you and smile at you!

oh and.... thank you.. thank you... thank you... times a million for supporting me in this adventure.. and coming to see me.. and telling me your story... and listening to mine :)

it's been a good ride!