Getting the word out on Trashy Bags

This past week I have been trying to get in contact with different sites where we can sell the Trashy Bags we plan on ordering. Once we have our 100 trashy bags, we certainly need to be able to make money off of them! So, I have been scouring Austin for potential sites where we can become vendors.

#1 - The Austin Farmer's Market - Website Link
Unfortunately, this Farmer's Market (the premier market in town with over three sites) is highly exclusive and prefers only locally made products. I spoke to Suzanne Santos, the Director of Community Relations, about possibly having Trashy Bags as a vendor and she outright told me we would not qualify. I have the application if anyone would like to take a peek, but it's also on the website.

#2 - Bouldin Creek Brunch Market - Website Link
I have e-mailed Cathy, the woman in charge of setting up the vendors at Bouldin Creek. If you have not ever been to Bouldin Creek, it's a fabulous vegetarian/vegan restaurant on South 1st Street that is absolutely PACKED on the weekends. On the weekends from 7am to 3pm there are vendors in the front lawn selling different homemade items. I briefly spoke to restaurant staff (there is no manager) and they thought that Trash Bags could get a spot on the lawn! I have e-mailed Cathy all our information as well as links to the Trashy Bags website and Dr. Gilbert's e-mail if she has any further questions. This looks like it could become a reality, so finger's crossed!

#3 - Barton Springs Farmer's market - Website Link
This market is more friendly and accepting to vendor's who sell arts and crafts, homemade widgets, etc. I called the individual in charge of accepting new "sellers" and was able to leave a message. I have not yet heard a reply. I went ahead and filled out our application and faxed it in on Friday, so hopefully early this week we will hear something.

#4 - 23rd Street Artist's Market (located on the drag) - Website Link
This outdoor market, which I'm sure all of you are familiar with, is generally reserved for artists and handicrafts. I thought it would be worth it to try and see if we could get Trashy Bags included, though. It always looks so busy! The website has no application and there is no phone number that I could find. If anyone else wants to try and find a way to contact them, that would be great. I had no luck.

#5 - Austin Cooperatives - Website Link
This idea requires a lot of work. I found the directory of Austin Co-ops and I thought that we could contact some and just tell the story of Trashy Bags and see if they would like to purchase some bags. There are many different types of Co-ops, and some grow their own food, some are for vegans only... it really varies. The thing is, everything they do, they do together! They go on large grocery shopping trips and buy things for multiple people  at one time - they could really use Trashy Bags! Also, people in Co-ops are oftentimes interested in initiatives like Trashy Bags.

These are hopefully a few helpful ideas that we can discuss during our teleconference with Trashy Bags.