I can’t believe the Wildflower trailer has been on the road for one whole year!
Renovating a vintage trailer was a much bigger task than we ever imagined but our first trailer baby has a special place in our hearts.
In the first year, we travelled every weekend until it was just too cold! We drove across Ontario visiting Grand Bend, Niagara Falls, London, Fenelon Falls, Cobourg, Durham Region, and so many more… we honestly ran out of time to visit all the places on our bucket list! We had thousands of people through the tiny door and made memories with the kids we will never forget.
We kept her a secret for so long during construction that having a reveal party was a must!
If you want to learn more about the build see here.
My favourite things definitely outweigh the obstacles. Seeing the boys make memories around me while I work was always the goal. They hit every food truck, beach, fair, and festival last year. I loved meeting so many people and exploring new places. Collaborating with some of my favourite businesses has been a highlight too! You can usually find Aspen Florist popping up with me for some gorgeous flowers.
Keeping it real here. I learned some valuable lessons along the way.
Logistics- My first market I arrived early however my neighbour was already set up. How was I supposed to load in the trailer without running them over? That was my first lesson, be proactive and load in before everyone arrives. This added hours to my set up, sometimes even going a day in advance to set up safely. The same goes for leaving. I am often the last one to leave so this adds extra hours to your day.
Heating and Air Conditioning– It’s a tin can essentially. It was either an igloo or a sauna. I quickly learned the value of space heaters and fans. Summer markets are no joke with humidity. I was more often a sweaty mess than a cute salesperson. In the winter I had so many layers I could barely move. Also snow inside your trailer is messy! I likely won’t do any markets beyond early November going forward in Ontario
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Towing– It’s a slower process and lots of extra time is needed to get to your destination. Plan accordingly! Your product stock also has to go in the truck so you have limitations on how much you can bring, Unfortunately you can’t just load it all into the trailer. Proper weight distribution is essential and I learned a lot here.
Cost– This wasn’t really a lesson learned but the cost to be at any market is more. There are also permits and insurance for each event and that really adds up!
We are grateful for our first year of adventures and many more to come! With 2 more trailers under construction there is a lot more to see!
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