We did go to MERCHANT SQUARE ANTIQUE MALL, the Flea Market was in full swing, we didn't buy anything from it, but inside the Mall we got a few Smalls. I also got a Metal Ornate Hand Held Shopping Basket from the 1920's, never seen one like it, the Vendor had 30% Off. Then we went to another Antique Mall in the East Valley called CALL IT NEW CALL IT ANTIQUE. I got an African Trading Bead Necklace and a 2011 Starbucks Mug, both Vendors had 25% Off.
I finished the Pay Period very Strong, the new Locations I'm Renting are certainly paying off immediately. I brought in some more Specialty Tees. The Graphics from a Line of Tees called "Iconic Arizona" are some of my new Favorites. We had Lunch at the BBQ Restaurant at the Antique Mall and it was a Breezy Cool and Beautiful Day to be out and about, in the high 70's most of the Day.
When we got Home we had a House full of the Adult Kiddos Friends and they had done a BBQ and had Dinner ready for us when we arrived. We had Grilled Mexican Street Corn, and a choice of Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, or Brats... plus several Sides like Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Chips and Salsa, Coleslaw, Potato Chips, Fruit Salad, and Jalapeno Poppers. Andrase had been the Pit Master as he'd promised. Everyone was either sitting around the Pool Socializing or inside Binge watching NetFlix together.
Below is the Antique Hand Held Metal Shopping Basket:
Everything else was Smalls that I didn't bother to Photograph. I liked the Graphics on the Coffee Mugs Below from a Diner, but, the Vendor wanted more for them than I wanted to pay. The Diner is in Gila Bend, AZ and actually turns out that the Mugs were far below what the Diner's Gift Shop charges for them, so, perhaps I should have bought at least one. *Le Sigh* Often I Google Product to get a sense of Price Point, but, the Store was getting ready to Close so we were short on time to marathon shop thru it.
If they're still there whenever we go back, I'll get one. Every once in a while I do get Non-Buyers Remorse. *LOL* I did get my Fuggler with Three Eyes Online and it got Delivered Today... Below:
They just make me Smile and this one was my favorite and I couldn't find it at any Store, but Online you could order it and have it delivered. Of coarse for more than they Sell for, plus Postage, but... I'd picked up the ones at the Stores on Markdown, and had found my 1st one Secondhand at a Chazza... so, he's the only one I paid full price plus Postage for of the Collection. Sometimes you just can't hold out and be stubborn to save a Buck.
This Head Planter with False Eyelashes was so Cute. Since both Antique Malls were having Sales and Special Events they were way more crowded than ours, which wasn't having any Trade Stimulators going on this Weekend. I keep telling Management they need to step up their Game with the Trade Stimulator Dates on the Calendar at our Antique Mall, they have far too few. People really do want a Destination and a reason to go somewhere that has something going on.
While I was Sourcing Specialty and Vintage Band Tees I did find some for myself. My fav being a Tie Dyed Grateful Dead Tee. {Below} I've been Selling Off some of my Wardrobe in order to fund some new pieces I can Source for Fresh Looks. I like rotating Wardrobe in and out regularly and so does Princess T. I Keep my Statement Pieces, but most Wardrobe I have zero Attachments to or Sentiments about. In fact, I'm getting less and less Sentimental about Stuff. Below is Front and Back of my Grateful Dead Tee I Scored for a mere Two Bucks!!!
Some of the other Tees I Photographed for the Post are ones that will be up For Sale in the New Showroom's Garment Section. We're really Selling a lot of Tees daily, so, they're a big hit and so much Fun to Source with The Family. I'm starting to notice the other Garment Resalers, just like I notice the Book Resalers, all trawling all the favorite Haunts looking for Retail Resale Gold. *LOL* At our Antique Mall, the other Garment Resalers have a totally different Aesthetic than Princess T and I so we're not really competing against them and draw a different Client Base.
The Client whose Our Customer and digs Graphics like the Above Tee, isn't Buying from the other Garment Resale Vendors in our Mall usually. Their Customer isn't likely Buying from us either, if they're preferring what they Sell. I have never seen a Tee that the Garment Vendors at our Mall are Selling that I'd Buy or Wear, Princess T either, so, we know we're drawing a different Crowd of Our Tribe and Aesthetic. I think it's what the Mall needed, since, Our Customers are seeming to be thrilled we've set up our New Space for them to Shop at. The other Garment Vendors do well too, it's in demand to have Vintage and Specialty Wardrobe and Accessories.
The Son bought a Specialty Band Concert Tour Tee at both Concerts they attended and paid Fifty Bucks a Tee. When I Source Resale ones, I charge Twenty, and can't keep enuf of them in Stock. I only Buy Artists I know and recognize or like myself, since, I wouldn't 'know' the Customer of Artists Unknown to me or Princess T. Granted, with Binge watching U-Tube Music Videos now I'm discovering Artists New to me that I now Love and would recognize, so, I am not opposed to expanding my Knowledge and Inventory to add any of them, should I Source Tees of their Tours. *LOL* I also Sourced one of Billy Joel's Tour that included Phoenix, that I didn't Photograph for this Post.
I enjoy seeing the Genre of Good Merch that other Vendors around the City carry. I particularly enjoyed a Vendor that had a lot of Authentic Native American Antiquities, Collectibles and Ceremonial Merch. A lot of it was pricy, but, the Real Deal, so, should command what they're asking, to be recognized by a Serious Consummate Collector of it, who would be willing to pay what it's worth. This Vendor also Showcased and Merchandised their Wares well and had lovely Displays of it all. So, I did take a lot of Pixs of their Booths, they had more than One. I actually got my African Trading Beads from them and found it Odd to find them in a Booth with a lot of Native American and Western Wares that the Vendor clearly Specializes in.
Yes, it looked good and went with it all, but, they are African Trading Beads and Native American Beads are different. He did have some Antique Indian Trade Beads too and Fetish Necklaces. Since the Vendor Specializes in what they do, they had the African Trade Beads priced well below Value... clearly not something they're as familiar with the Value of as what they Know. That was to my Benefit of coarse and I was Jazzed at how inexpensively I Sourced my Vintage African Trade Bead Necklace, plus, they also offered a 25% Discount too!!!
Hey, you Know what you Know and you don't Know what you just don't Know, Right? We all have those things we're not as familiar with and don't know a whole lot about. Yes, you can research everything and anything now, but, sometimes people still don't take the Time to delve deep when Selling or Buying. They Buy what they Like, Sell what they Like, and usually set their Margins based more on what they Paid for whatever it is. So long as they're making Money, they're not Losing Money really. And, anything is only actually Worth what someone is willing to Pay for it.
And one thing I did notice in the Far East Valley Garment Sections of their Antique Malls, is that their Demographic will pay a LOT more for a Tee than they would at our Location. *LOL* And, Customers were flocking to the Garment District Section of the Two Antique Malls, it was very busy at both in those Sections. I'm glad my Sales are Strong but if the Mall was better at Stimulating Trade it would be better. They used to do a lot more than they do now and I don't know why they shifted to slacking on Advertising, Trade Stimulating, doing special things for both Vendors and Customers to show Appreciation?
They used to Host more Events for Customers and they used to Host Breakfasts, Luncheons and Holiday Meals for Vendors. They used to have Vendor Meetings so that we could discuss the Industry and get to know one another. They did used to do Flea Markets in the Parking Lot. They used to arrange Themed Specialty Sales for such things as particular Collectibles, Holidays, Seasonal kickoffs and such. They'd have Raffles, hand out T-Shirts with the Mall's Advertising on them, served Complimentary Coffee all the time and even Baked Cookies and Cooked Hot Dogs for an occasional Freebie Day as a Customer Appreciation. Now, every once in a while on a Big Sale Day they will bring in Pizza for Staff/Working Vendors who are on a Shift. Everything else ceased.
Rents kept increasing annually as they did less and less for us, so I can't say it might have been due to Budget Issues. They did more when we paid less for our Rents. And after they quit doing so much for Vendors and Customers, well we got high turnover in Vendors leaving and not as many Customers coming. Before, due to how much like a 'Family' it became people would remain even if they weren't doing that well with their Spaces, becoz, they just didn't wanna leave. It became a Social Outlet for many of them and like an extended Family for a lot of them that might not have had Family beyond the Mall Family. I'd like it to go back to how it was, I think it would make a Positive Impact for everyone, including Management.
I say that becoz initially even the Top Management looked Happier in their Work and bonded with everyone, now it's very Transactional and it shows. Many of the Vendors simply Care Less now that they don't feel as Appreciated and have no Bond with hardly anyone there. Now the only time I do see interaction with Management is when there's a Problem. I'm still very outgoing and Friendly with everyone, but I have to Confess that now I don't know half the Vendors or their Names. I used to 'Know' just about all of them on a First Name basis and made deeper connections and some lasting Friendships. But, a transient population means too many now come and go... both Vendors and Paid Staff behind the Counter/Registers.
I don't know how or why the Disconnect happened, but it did. I've made suggestions to Upper Management, since, I'm one of the few Vendors now whose been there since they first Opened and they know I've not waffled on Renting Space or Working Shifts since the beginning. Never been late with my Rent, always made Money to pay Rent and not get behind, know a lot of the Customers and Industry People beyond our Mall. This is something I truly Enjoy doing and found I was better at than I expected to be.
I got a Free Lavender Matcha Iced Coffee at the Starbucks at TARGET becoz they got the order wrong. I had ordered a Lavender Iced Coffee and when it was Green, I knew it was wrong. *LOL* They made me the right one and asked me if I would just take the wrong one and try it... their apologies... it wasn't bad, the Matcha kinda overpowers the Lavender Simple Syrup in it tho'. My little Bullseye TARGET Dog Cookie melted before I could Photograph it, so his Eye Target Icing got smeared on the cellophane... dammit... but, still tasted really good. *Smiles* I think the Cashier's Hand was Warm/Hot and she held it too tight whilst scanning it... it had been perfect before I gave it to her to pay for it.
Anyway, I'd taken The Man in tow with me to do some Work at the Antique Mall and bring more Fresh Inventory in. He's not getting along and playing well with others and he's not the only one. The Daughter and The Son have not been getting along either and between the Three of them and their types of Crazy, it's been like Refereeing a Cage Match. Even Princess T had to help me Mediate and yell at them all to go to their respective Corners, stay in their own Lanes, don't Engage if they can't be Harmonious, and Knock it Off when their Moods deregulate and spiral out of control. *Huge Sigh*
They tend to Trigger one another and go Mental, each of the Trio, and it quickly escalates if it can't be successfully Mediated and Moderated by someone with a semblance of fucking Sanity and Voice of Reason. You can't Reason someone out of something that took no Reason to get into. It's usually Psychotic Imaginings that start the whole Situation and they fall like Dominoes once Triggered and Confrontational with one another. I can't afford for it to Escalate to where someone might get hurt or go too far, so you have to be more Intimidating than anyone whose lost their grasp on Reality. We had Guests during this last Episode, tho', they're Lifelong Friends, so, they know how it just is.
Princess T and I diffused the Situation once it became intolerable to where we had to get Angry at all Three of them and send each to their Rooms to Cool Down and get a fucking Grip. Princess T can see why and how each of them needs more Solitude than Sensory Overload, and with too much Activity going on or too many people present, it's only a matter of Time before they have Sensory Overload. I had to send some Guests on their way, it was just too large a gathering for the Trio to stay Calm and Centered, even tho' everyone was having Fun... until... they weren't. I mean, it's all Good until it just isn't, you know? *LOL*
I have to Work Tonight so I needed Harmony Restored and the Household returned to Normal Occupancy Status before I leave for my Shift. I don't need to get any Phone Calls from Home while I'm at Work. When the Lunatics are Running the Asylum, well, things can turn on a Dime otherwise. I firmly told each that they have to stay Solo in their Private Spaces of the House while I'm at Work. I don't want them interacting nor engaging with one another. Since it must be a fucking Full Moon or something with the levels of Crazy they seem to be Boarding the Crazy Train with the past couple Days. Lunar Cycles are Key and relevant, it's not a Myth.
It's finally nice enuf for everyone to use the Pool again, but, we've had some Cool spells move in so it's too chilly for me personally. I have to wait until the Triple Digit Temps take hold before I'm jumping in. *LOL* But, I do like sitting around the Pool doing things, it's a Staycation. So long as everyone is getting along and playing well with others and Drama Free, it's Idyllic in fact. I am glad I'm Working Tonight tho', playing Referee here has been exhaustive, Three different Types of Crazy is just a lot to Manage when any or all of them are not doing so Well. Luckily that doesn't happen very often, but, when they aren't Well, it is a lot of Extreme Caregiving with no real Backup. I stay Calm and Stoic on the exterior, but inside I'm in Emotional turmoil sometimes.
There is no appropriate Alternative Placement for any of them. I know this Fact and I know that the Adult Kiddos would be Homeless and on the Streets with no Services and it could/would compromise risking Sobriety they've successfully attained. The Man is showing more Signs of Dementia setting in so he Agitates easily and for no apparent reason, so can get confrontational, unlovely and Madder than a Wet Hen and nobody would even be able to Guess Why since he doesn't even know Why. Well, then he Triggers the Mental Ones, since, they have Psychosis anyway and so not Personalizing his Mood is almost impossible for them.
The Autistic Bipolar one has no Filter... and the Schizophrenic one imagines all kinds of non-reality based shit anyway. Along with the Signs of early Dementia, The Man already has TBI, so, his Brain isn't Wired Right anymore anyway. Princess T has Social Anxiety Issues and is Bipolar, but, of all of them she tends to just Isolate when she knows she can't be around People successfully and in Peace. I'm Bipolar myself, so, I know I have to be in a Centered Head Space to effectively be a Caregiver for any of them, let alone all of them. So, it's complex and quite a challenge to finesse The Asylum and keep things Zen, which is my preferred State of Living and the Environment I work hard to provide.
Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
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