Global Attic A Year Review, 2
Once I returned from the Spark & Hustle 2018 conference, I immediately started to devise a plan of action. To address the visibility issues, I started to record videos of myself and share them on social media. I also started posting and engaging more frequently with our followers. This strategy resulted in a gradual, but steady increase in our followers. Next, I started to vend at local markets.
My first market was Randolph Street Market (RSM). Vending afforded me the opportunity to join a community of creative vendors who, like me, had a dream of being self-employed and were prepared to grind hard to realize their dreams. Vending also allowed me to meet incredible people, network, get feedback on our merchandise, work on my staging AND make sales!!! It was the perfect situation. Each month, I made more and more sales and received several compliments on our tent staging. My confidence grew like crazy and I actually started to believe that Global Attic had teeth.
We received so many compliments on our tent setup at Randolph Street Market.
By the end of the summer, I had sold items to customers who included stylists, interior designers, independent movie makers, and even the buyer for the hit FOX television show Empire! Global Attic had also developed a reputation for having one of the best tents at the Market!
Our custom-made in Bali feather and shell necklaces was featured on the hit television show Empire (S5, E8: Master of What Is Mine Own)!
Among our many highlights, in September Global Attic received nine ribbons for Best Booth, two ribbons for Best Booth Runner Up, and eight Top Picks for merchandise from the team of editors and designers who participated in RSM’s seventh annual Editor’s and Designer’s Choice for Charity event. Adding to this highlight, just this month I discovered that Tom Stringer Design Partners, one of my favorite Chicago design firms, had chosen our candle holders and feather wall décor in their list of favorites from the Choice for Charity event as well. Although I don’t do this for awards, it was a huge honor to receive this recognition for all of our hard work, especially when I consider the way the year began.
The collection of ribbons our tent and merchandise received at the Designer’s Choice for Charity event at RSM. So very proud and grateful!
Stumbled across this one day on Instagram and was pleasantly surprised and honored!!!
Not only was our market season a great success, but other aspects of the business also began to follow suit. We were able to find sources who could produce quality, custom-made products quickly and our online strategies to expand brand awareness/visibility began to bear fruit. We achieved our goal of reaching 1,500 followers on Instagram, organically. We were featured on Take Flyte.org for our charitable donations and on Fashion Trendsetter for our products. We were also contacted by a media buying company who wanted to include me in a feature they were doing on Chicago business women for OWN and Forbes magazines. I passed on the feature because I knew we weren’t ready for that kind of exposure at this juncture. However, I know that with continued passion and hard work we will soon be ready.
Snippet of the feature that was done by FLYTE and appeared on their website.
Was featured on the Fashion Trendsetter website.
When I reflect on the path that I’ve taken to get Global Attic together, I think of the number two. This number resonates with me because I started this business two years ago; two years after the loss of my two parents who passed away two months apart. In numerology, the number two represents resilience. Due to my resilience, I have been able to make something positive out of all the negative things that life has thrown at me - both personally and professionally, and with less than two months left in 2018, I am determined to continue this trend.
To close out the year, we have a lot of special promotions, events and our first Instagram giveaway planned to celebrate our success. We have new and exciting inventory. We’re also conducting our annual fundraising campaign to help the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation purchase toys for less fortunate children. We’ll make our vending debut at Covet Market on December 9. Lastly, since it was our first and most successful market, it seems only fitting that we will close out the year at Randolph Street Market on December 15 & 16.
After a successful year vending at Randolph Street Market, we'll finish our market season there December 15 - 16. Please come out to support us for great items and deals!
As far as 2019, and beyond, I definitely want to continue building upon the momentum we created in the second half of 2018. We will focus on collaborations with other brands, designing more new and exciting products, sponsorships and popping up at more events throughout the city. We may even take the show on the road. Who knows? I’m not entirely sure where this company is going, but I can finally say that I like where we’re at! Whatever happens, I hope you will continue to ride along with us as we embark on this incredible journey.
Kabria, Founder
Global Attic LLC, Exotic Home Decor
