Ten Times Brighter

For the rest of that first summer of Mad Munch in San Diego, Kate & I juggled three markets every week:  OB, Golden Hill & the Third Avenue/Gaslamp Quarter market on Sunday mornings 9am-1pm.

I liked setting up downtown, walking distance from the convention center & the ballpark.  I knew I'd never hold an office job in one of the tall buildings there, so this was my glimpse to what it was like to work in the heart of a bustling city.

It reminded me of when I did bicycle deliveries for Jimmy John's in downtown Orlando.  A lot of business professionals taking their dogs on a morning stroll, checking out the fares on our one block cluster of tents.  

Not as fast paced or as stressful as OB, Gaslamp market gave us a chance to actually talk to Dave, the market manager.  And, he liked our sandwiches.  "I just want a plain old grilled cheese," he said.  "At the end, when I bring the slip."

The sales there were so-so & one week on the way there, we took samples over to the Hillcrest market.  People were still setting up but that market was already bumping & we wanted to be in it.  

"We've already got a grilled cheese vendor," the market manager said.  We gave him our samples anyway & were put on a wait list (we're still waiting).

So, we kept doing Gaslamp & one week the sales hit an all-time low.  Somewhere under $50, I think.  It was embarrassing handing Dave our slip-  "Ouch," I think he said.

That afternoon when we got home, I told Kate I wanted to quit the Sunday morning market altogether.

"No, we can't quit," Kate said.  "Let's just tough it out a few more weeks until football starts.  Then we'll just be off Sundays for good."

"Ok," I agreed.  Cruise ship season also started in September, which would bring me some extra cash.  I pictured myself waking up later on Sunday mornings, making breakfast & having coffee at our apartment before heading over to watch football at Sunshine Co. with my friends.  

The future was bright.  Ten times brighter actually.

The next Sunday was the final day of Comic-Con, the annual gathering that brings in more than 130,000 people to the San Diego Convention Center.  With the Gaslamp Market only steps away from the entrance, we had a line of super-heroes & swag-bag toting dweebs hungry for Cheezers!

It was our best day yet.  Better than our first day at the OB market.  And, we were more efficient since Kate had buttered all of the sourdough beforehand.

"You guy's sandwiches are like half the price of the food inside of Comic-Con," one of our customers dressed like Wonder Woman told us.  

Price & value, supply & demand.  Location, location, location.  These things are all important factors in business.  But, perhaps perseverance & constantly showing up give you the best opportunity for success.