Dateline 27 September 2016
This year, my mail-order business has been easier to handle due to a significant drop in orders. By September 1st of last year, I had received 4,167 orders, compared to only 2,806 this year. This 32.66% decline in sales is likely due to the struggling economy and increased competition.
Thankfully, we maintain a modest lifestyle and have wisely saved money during prosperous times to support us during lean periods.
With some extra free time, Marlene and I decided to attend the MOFGA Common Ground Country Fair in Unity, Maine. This was a business trip to explore the possibility of having a Planet Whizbang booth in the future. It seemed like an ideal place to showcase products like the Whizbang chicken plucker, cider press, apple grinder, wheel hoe, garden cart, and more.
This trip also provided an opportunity to visit family along the way. My last visit to Maine was in 2005 after my Grandmother Kimball passed away.
Despite my aversion to travel, it was time for a trip.
Two days before our planned departure, our high-mileage Honda Accord decided to stop cooperating – the key wouldn’t turn in the ignition. Unable to find a quick fix, we rented a minivan, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The van provided peace of mind and served as an excellent vehicle for our journey.
To summarize…
We visited relatives in Kennebunkport and Belfast, Maine, and stopped in Nashua, New Hampshire, on our return trip.
Our closest encounter with a Maine beach was this low-tide glimpse of the Belfast Bay shoreline.
However, we enjoyed delicious food. We bought the lobster rolls pictured at the beginning of this post from the oldest food truck in the USA (MaineLobsterRolls.com)…
We indulged in lobster rolls three times during our time in Maine, and the ones from that food truck were the most memorable.
In Freeport, we stopped by L.L. Bean…
L.L. Bean has undergone a significant transformation since our honeymoon visit 36 years ago. It has grown much larger, serving as a prime example of a thriving mail-order business. However, I didn’t find anything particularly enticing to purchase due to the high prices. I couldn’t justify spending $50 on a shirt. Eventually, I settled on a lightweight fleece jacket. Marlene, on the other hand, enjoyed browsing the wider selection of women’s clothing and found a few items to her liking.
The highlight of our L.L. Bean experience was the 1912 Cafe located within the store. We both enjoyed the Evergreen hot sandwich, a delightful combination of roasted parsnip, pesto, aged cheddar, baby spinach, and chicken served on a ciabatta roll.
We explored some stores on Main Street in Freeport, and Marlene was drawn to the Wicked Whoopies store. I decided to sit that one out and people-watch from a comfortable seat outside. She bought two whoopie pies and shared a bite of each with me. They were surprisingly delicious, stealing the show and surpassing L.L. Bean as the highlight of our Freeport visit.
The Common Ground Fair was a wonderful experience. We bypassed the heavy traffic by taking a train to the fairgrounds. Here’s a selfie we took on the train…
A light rain greeted us upon arrival, which intensified into a downpour a couple of hours later. We were drenched and only managed to see about two-thirds of the fair before retreating to the train. Despite this, we had a fantastic time.
The fair featured oxen…
Horses…
Greenhouses…
Crafts…
Pine coffins…
And many other sights that I didn’t capture in photos.
We returned home two nights ago after dark, and I wasn’t feeling particularly rejuvenated. Five days’ worth of orders awaited shipping, along with a mountain of unanswered emails. It was mail-order mayhem.
To top it off, the Honda Accord remains out of commission in the driveway, and the lawnmower has decided to join it in a state of disrepair.
Despite these challenges, it’s wonderful to be home.