Back in 2016, I decided to make a patchwork bear or a frankenbear to go with my Halloween costume. Mortimer turned out so cute that my then-fiancé wanted one as well. Then our friends and coworkers wanted one so I made more.
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| Sashi with the very first Bearly Dreadful, Mortimer October 2016 |
By the time he and I got married in 2017, they had grown in popularity amongst our friends that we decided to have them as our centerpieces for friends and family to take home.
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| A sampling of the centerpieces, complete with paper roses I made |
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| Matilda was the centerpiece on our table and held onto my bouquet for me when I needed my hands free |
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| Another centerpiece. You can also see my homemade paper roses and comic book table runners I made. |
I took a small break from making them but by 2019, I had more bears than I could store so I decided to open an Etsy shop called Bearly Dreadfuls. It did okay and at least gave me purpose with the BDs. When the pandemic hit in march 2020, though, I decided to close it temporarily so I wouldn't have to go in public for shipping.
Then, admittedly, I got lazy and just didn't reopen it. That is until I went to my first Goblin Market!
As soon as I walked in, I knew my Bearlies would fit in with the crowd! It got me excited to make them again! So I reopened up the Etsy shop in October and even set up their own website (powered through Etsy). Within days, I already had sales and it felt good to be back.
Then I heard about a Goth Flea Market in Atlanta that was happening Sunday, Nov. 6 so I decided 8 days prior to see how the Bearly Dreadfuls would do in person. It was a week of a lot of work to get enough merchandise ready for a mini-popup showing but I got it done and ready!
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| Mini booth at the Goth Flea Market in Atlanta |
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| I also sold prints and stickers I made |
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| Mini booth at the Goth Flea Market in Atlanta |
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| Better shot of the prints and stickers |
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| We consolidated the product down to one table about 30 minutes before we closed down completely. |
Here is what I learned:
- I need bigger hooks for the ornaments. The ones I had gotten were way too small.
- I will make half of the ornaments into key chains because I received multiple requests. I've already purchased the hardware!
- I need to have e-payments available so I am setting up Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle (the 3 I was asked about multiple times)
- Signage showing that I take credit cards/e-payments should be in multiple places in the booth.
- I need to steam iron out the wrinkles from my tableclothes beforehand!
- Lighting for the booth is not a bad idea. I'm thinking fairy lights!
- Sometimes the Bearly Dreadfuls choose the people instead of the other way around.
