Networking: How to Make a First Impression

Some days are destined to be adventures ~ 

Remember I promised a more humorous tale?

The notice was for a sale featuring military memorabilia, the pictures showed hundreds of items and we had determined to be there before it opened on the first day. Yeah, we missed that. But we were there before opening on the second day, and waited in the car, but then we noticed that people were already going in and out with purchases. 

Not off to the best start...

While searching through rooms for possible finds overlooked by the previous day’s buyers, I heard the Middle One call my name, “I need you over here” she said. “You’ve got to see this” she said.  Uh-huh. There’s a door, marked ‘Keep Closed at All Times’,  ‘Adults Only’, and ‘XXX”.  Ummmmm…. OK.  “We need to check this out for Dad” she said.

Now, let me explain... 

The Major has his own Etsy shop, ( VintageMensMagazines), where one can purchase vintage men’s magazines in one's husband’s (or boyfriend’s, or son’s or whatever’s), birth year and month. This is a real thing. Trust me, I checked it out. A common set for people to collect includes the top magazines from their birth month and year. You know; Time, Newsweek, Ladies Home Journal, National Geographic, Redbook, Playboy etc. The Major stocks mostly 'mens magazines' - vintage only.  

Got it?

Anyway, Back to the sale...

The two of us spend the next 30 minutes closeted in the small, though very clean, bathroom, surrounded by dozens of stacks of ‘vintage men’s magazines’, searching for the earliest and in best condition. Imagine me repeating ‘I can’t believe we are doing this” while she is the phone with the Major confirming what he needs – for the shop.  We did peek inside the shower, only to find a small pile of VHS tape that we chose NOT to explore. We are ladies and do have some limits. Did I mention the A/C was off in the house?And it was stuffy, and that room was small? Ugh. After settling on about 25 magazines, we exited the claustrophobic little room and found ourselves face to face with a total stranger. He looked at us, looked at the closed door with its signs, looked at us, saw what we had in our hands … and burst out laughing.  We smiled, held our heads high, headed to check out then loaded our purchase into a box with a lid and headed for the next sale.

Imagine our surprise when we hear, while standing in the sewing room of the next home, “Hey you were at the last sale! You’re the girls who bought the Playboys, what are you going to do with them?”. Good heavens. Oh my word!  Did I mention he had a loud voice that carried and that every little old lady in the house stopped, turned and stared?  I stopped stock still, blushed furiously, and wished for a way to disappear into the wall. But not the Middle One!

Now, let me brag on the Middle One. She did not miss a beat. She stepped up, shook his hand and proceeded to make our very first networking contact. She laughed and explained why we bought them and he seemed impressed. She told him we were new, just starting, he provided some words of encouragement and some quick advice.  They exchanged information, agreed to keep an eye out for each other and she passed his info along to the Major for further networking.  Wow! So impressed with this young lady!

So, Saturday’s adventure taught us several lessons: 

1. Double check your info as to date and time

2. Don’t be afraid to purchase what they’re selling, head held high

3. Networking is essential & you never know what will help someone remember you
4. You should always have at least 10 business cards on your person

 5. Working with another shop owner doubles your chances of finding the perfect treasures

Who knows what we will learn next time!