The Comb Through | Vendor Events and Pitching Ideas to Strangers

My First Vendor Event – A Little Nerve-Wracking, A Lot of Fun

Well, I did it. I survived my very first vendor event. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure how it would go. I had about a week to throw everything together, and my booth was a mix of Dollar Tree frames, a mission statement print-out, and a whole lot of “I hope this looks okay.” Spoiler: it wasn’t Pinterest-perfect, but it was mine.

Carrying everything in, I felt like the new kid walking into the lunchroom — nervous, overthinking, and trying not to drop anything. Other booths looked polished and put-together, and there I was fighting with the wind because apparently, my signs thought it was a kite-flying competition. Note to self: bring tape, clips, and weights next time.

Talking to People (aka the Scary Part)

When someone asked, “So what made you want to do mobile hair?” my brain short-circuited. I stumbled and rambled... but then I remembered why I was there: to talk about Shear Comfort and the heart behind it. By the third or fourth conversation, I found my rhythm. Turns out, people don’t care if you have a perfectly rehearsed pitch; they care if you’re real.

Little Wins

1. People did stop by my booth.
2. I had genuine conversations about hair, dignity, and accessibility.
3. I walked away with ideas for how to make my next setup better (and maybe a sturdier table).

What I Learned

1. You don’t need the fanciest booth to connect with people.
2. Having a short, clear way to explain what you do helps (I’ll work on that one).
3. Showing up matters more than being perfect.

At the end of the day, I felt proud. Proud that I showed up. Proud that I talked to strangers about something I care so much about. Proud that Shear Comfort had a seat at the table — or, in this case, a spot-on Main Street.

To my students (and fellow baby business owners): don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Sure, you'll word vomit a stream of words that make no sense, your pretty signs will blow halfway down the block, and you might forget to use the bathroom for seven hours... but, you'll find your rhythm, your "why" and your motivation to keep going. I know I did. 

Messy but proud, 

Kelli