Sunday’s Baton Rouge Boutique Blowout Sale was somehow a train wreck and an epic success all in one.
We had our biggest crowd ever, and our boutiques broke sales records.
Many earned more in those 5 hours than they ever have at any other event or in a single day.
So for that, I thank you for coming out and supporting our local boutiques and making this day one to celebrate.
They deserve it after two hard years.
However, I also know because of the overwhelming number of customers it wasn’t a great shopping experience.
Our space was too small.
It was too crowded.
Some of you waited over 1.5 hours to get in.
Some of you saw the line and left.
And for that I’m sorry.
I know this past Sunday’s event could have been much better if our space would have been larger.
For years we’ve had the event in one ballroom (like Sunday).
But during Covid, The Crowne Plaza generously doubled our space with two ballrooms for social distancing.
It was a great and more than enough space.
Leading up to this Sunday, I assumed we’d still be in the doubled ballroom space.
But I was wrong… and it’s totally my fault for assuming anything.
The Crowne Plaza has been MORE than generous over the years and during the pandemic to help us still host our event safely.
The miscommunication and smaller space is on me.
When I arrived on Sunday and saw that we were back to one ballroom, I panicked.
(Side-note: Shoutout to the event guy at the Crowne for letting me cry and freak out for a minute. I definitely owe him an apology).
I knew we were expecting over 1,000 shoppers.
In a ballroom that size, around 200 shoppers is too much.
Especially when you add in all the merchandise and clothing racks from 20 boutiques.
I had to let in shoppers a few at a time, which resulted in a long line… filling up the hallway.
To make matters worse, the publisher of Weddings With Style International Magazine was preparing next door for her bridal show that started at 1PM.
Around the 10 o’clock hour, she started telling people in line that they had to go OUTSIDE to stand in line.
This was not true.
But it resulted in customers who’d been standing inside for already an hour to go to the END of the line outside… where it was very hot and very sunny.
This was unfair.
She had no business directing traffic of my event.
I did my best to apologize to everyone who came in the door, but in case you left early or didn’t see me, I am so sorry for you having to wait in line outside in the heat when there was plenty of room inside for you.
I’ll do everything in my power to not have a massive line at our Spring event, but in the case of a line I will be better prepared to direct you.
We’ve also officially doubled our ballroom size again to cut down on wait time and to give shoppers more space.
I plan to make other changes during the coming months to make this event a success.
I’m a one-woman-show, and sometimes I need to learn to ask for help when I need it.
This event has grown to that level.
As a blogger and marketer, I am SO proud of how this event has grown (even with all the negatives).
I’m proud that over 1,000 shoppers want to come from all over the state to shop.
When I first started this event years ago, I’d go home and cry because attendance was so low.
I felt like I had disappointed all the boutique owners.
But I’m proud that I kept going.
I’m proud that I’ve allowed myself to feel embarrassed, humiliated, angry and disappointed and then get right back up and try again.
I’m proud of what I’ve built.
And with anything growing… comes growing pains.
Thank you all so much for supporting me and our local boutiques.
Thank you for sticking with me through the good and the bad.
Now, I’m going to get to work so we can continue bringing amazing events to our city.
I’ll see you Sunday, April 3, 2022 at the next Boutique Blowout Sale.
- Leslie
