The Pilot Point Farmers Market returned on Saturday in conjunction with another sip and stroll from the Pilot Point Chamber of Commerce.
After testing an evening market to round out the season last year, Main Street Director Wendy Adkins shifted gears to better align with the heat index.
“Doing the first two in the evening means that it’s a little warmer, not as chilly, and doing the last two in the morning means we’re getting everyone out of here before it gets too terribly hot during the summer,” Adkins said. “We’re always glad to partner with the Pilot Point Chamber, who does a sip and stroll with this, so we were working both with the weather and what their schedule was to make markets that are mutually beneficial for all.”
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Evon Lusk said 42 of the 50 offered tickets for the third Mint Julip Roundup had been sold as she sat at the Chamber booth halfway through the event.
“We’re still at 50—it’s a comfortable number for our businesses, so we’ve stayed at 50,” Lusk said before explaining the merits of the event. “It draws more people in. It’s a specific event that pushes people into the businesses for a reason and that’s shopping local.”
While retail focused shops like Notoriously Yours and Martin’s General Store often see an influx of customers during the markets and strolls, Rachael DeJernett at The Purple Door explained the events attached to markets are not often “Money Making Days.”
“It’s a PR day, not a money-making day,” DeJernett said. “This year I chose to participate and mingle, which is better for my business,” DeJernett said. “When it’s this, I want to walk around and participate, because these guys have paid for a booth and I want to support them, plus, people aren’t going to buy $300 skin care at a farmers market—they’re just not going to do it.”
She touted the more shopping focused events like Christmas in July as being better for her business in particular when it comes to driving sales.
“With Christmas in July, being a retailer in my part of the business, those are good because people are coming to buy,” DeJernett said.
She further explained that, even for dedicated retailers, the markets and strolls can be a tossup.
“They have to hire extra hands to help, hoping you’ll make extra money,” DeJernett said. “Like tonight is a slow crowd, so you’re paying extra people but there’s no guarantee you’ll make extra.”
Adkins agreed that the opening market was thinner than some in the past have been on the vendor front, though she said more, including a produce vendor, are lined up for May.
“I think the weather earlier this week scared some people off, but we have a good mix of vendors out here and we’re happy with the way things turned out,” Adkins said. “AME Produce is our produce supplier and is already on for May. The April market is always fun because there are things that just aren’t ready to harvest yet.”
