Vending Season is upon us!

Members of Salome's' Suitcase often vend together as a collective, and some of us prefer to vend on our own as our own entities...... ....sometimes we do both at the same events and sometimes we take breaks to pursue our other interests...... but our main mission is to make  unique items, aim for the best quality, give you the best bang for the buck, and utilize the best use of our individual artistic talents to produce a garment, adornment, photograph, accessory - the best that you have ever seen. Customer service is very important to us!

 For those who don't know this, Salome's Suitcase came to be when some of us were invited into a design group on a social network.  On being asked some very straightforward yet simple business like questions, this group didn't seem to be going in the same direction as us and caused those of us who had been invited some disappointment - it had seemed like such a great idea!  This led one of us to have a light bulb appear over her head and she started her own private Professional Belly Dance Designer group that we could "chat" on. We all either knew each other or had been admiring each others work from afar................and this led bit by bit to Salome's Suitcase - similar taste. Similar aesthetics. Similar high standards. Yet with our own individual styles and unique artisan tastes. We just click. Not intending to be a "clique", we just click. We work well together. And as any vendor knows: it is really hard to find the right people who get how hard selling in the public eye to the public actually is.  Many of us have been or are involved in being part of dance troupes..........it feels like much the same kind of thing. Its all a lot of work and the benefits are worth it.

 We are sometimes approached by designers and artisans asking to be included into our group, or wondering how we go about deciding who gets in. Well, the thing is, we are still a fairly young group and you know what they say about a group that grows too fast...........all chaos can ensue.......some of us have seen it happen within dance troupes.  We strive to be taken seriously as business women AND have fun at the same time, but a foundation has got to be laid first. This is what we are doing. We are pouring the "concrete" for our collective. You cannot build a strong house without a sturdy foundation. You cannot look good in many garments without the proper foundation..........its all about the foundation. Our collective has monthly meetings (or more) that require a certain amount of commitment. This requires some travel and expense. We are continually developing marketing strategies plus new techniques to further our individual growth. As small business owners in a highly competitive market, we support each other in our endeavors. Maybe one of these days we can have new members - I think this would be welcomed by all.  It isn't that there are not some amazing artists that would be lovely to work with, but right now, things are as they should be. We have discussed issues like having guest vendors come along with us for certain events. And this seems like a good idea. The event and the number of members involved will determine who will fit and what our booth can handle.

As you can see, our tables and racks are usually very full of wondrous goodies as it is! Minerva's Antennae!

 This lovely photo was taken seeking refuge from a cold snap during our winter road trip to Fort Worth Texas. And I mean COLD - we had no heater! We didn't kill each other. But we suffered. I aged 20 years, and we still found humor in the situation. Well, one of us did. Ok - it was Lee Kobus from Foolproof Studio.

 We stand United: Katherine Summer O'Neal and Fool Proof Studio guarding the store.........here is the gang vending below at Tribal Fusion Fair............

We laugh and sometimes we cry:

 

But we always mean business: Black Lotus Clothing.........don't do this at home!!!!!!!!!

Salome's' Suitcase is group of strong talented women who's aim is to bring you the best of the best: of the best of the best.................for your shopping and aesthetic pleasure!

salomes.suitcase@gmail.com