|
|
|
|
Despite poor economy, festival vendors don't see poor sales |
|
|
|
Local Content -
Local News
|
|
Written by Justin Brown
|
|
Thursday, 02 July 2009 |
Saul Glick, a body jewelry vendor, sets up his booth at the Groundhog Festival. (Photo by Justin Brown/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The global economic downturn has taken its toll on many businesses worldwide, but vendors and coordinators of this year's Groundhog Festival have not seen such drastic changes.
From body jewelry to local artworks, and from soy candles to kettle corn, you can find an array of vendors at this year's festival.
"We have about the same turnout (of locals and vendors)," said Mary Steele, entertainment chairperson and treasurer of the festival, who has been working with it for 23 years. "The rain tends to keep people away, but today is beautiful; the turnout is great."
The festival vendors are comprised of local businesses and organizations, and according to Steele, it is also sponsored by local businesses.
According to Steele, there are about 80 vendors at this festival.
"We get some locals, some from the east, and some from out of state," she said. "The amount of vendors is about the same as its been in previous years."
Steele said that funding the festival, after vendors' fees, is made up by souvenir stand sales. The only real problem the committee faced was looking for entertainers.
"We were late booking entertainers," she said. "We were all looking at the economy, and prices for entertainers."
Steele said that despite the booking problem, the festival is "going real well this year."
There are some vendors that have seen the economic slump make slight changes. Joan Setree, a Punxsy middle-school teacher from Rossiter, said the Punxsutawney Garden Club's booth has seen some degrade is business.
At the Garden Club booth, members who man it offer information about the club, and raffle items and numerous plants that are up for sale through donations.
"We sell out of plants almost every day, and we sell a lot of garden gloves," Setree said.
Saul Glick, a body jewelry vendor, sees different struggles as a sole proprietor.
"I do this and malls two months out of the year, and the malls raise their prices, but the festival stays about the same price (to rent space)," he said. "What they charge here is reasonable, but some festivals are just ridiculous."
Glick is the owner of Ottbear Jewelry, a body jewelry company in Butler. His booth offers various rings, studs, loops, gauges and even Steelers body jewelry.
He has been working the festival for eight years, and said that the business coming in "has no rhyme-or-reason."
"It's erratic," he said. "One week, you do well, and think you're going to be rich; the next, you think you're going to be on welfare."
Bryan Sutter of Covode, who sells colorful and aromatic homemade soy candles, is another vendor fairing well.
Dave Bottenhorn, who runs the stand with Sutter, said that they are just happy to be able to see nice people every year.
Sutter said last year was his best year, and won't know how the economy skewed sales until the end of the festival.
"So far, sales are above schedule," said Sutter, who has been a vendor at the festival for four years. "You never really know with different weather patterns."
Sutter said that a few years ago, the festival committee raised the rent for vendors, but other than that, not much has changed as far as business.
He even has a theory of getting rich despite global economic hardships.
"If I could get paid by the smell, I'd be rich," Sutter said. "People come up, and I say ‘Smell the candles,' and they say they can already smell them."
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 03 July 2009 )
|
|
Click to Compare Cards online for special deals on the business credit cards that meet your needs. |
|
|
|
