100% of me thought I'd leave my meeting with the Camping World buyer with a handshake, the obligatory "thanks for coming, we'll be in touch," and maybe a cookie (that I would steal from the conference room to eat my feelings). Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd leave with an order?!
I only had 30 minutes to present. While this might seem like a short time to most people, anyone who knows me knows I can talk FAST, so the time constraint didn't bother me. If anything, they might ask me to leave early. I was standing in the conference room of the Holiday Inn in Blowing Green, KY pacing anxiously. It was 1:35. The buyer was actually 5 minutes late. I was a nervous hummingbird ready to explode or puke.
"It never hurts to ask, it hurts not to ask," wise words spoken by my old mentor, Kerry Cannon – the man I credit for teaching me the most important things I could ever hope to learn in business and lighting my entrepreneurial fire. The other quote I always remember is, "50% of something is better than 100% of nothing." You're awesome, Kerry. :-)
Most of the meeting is a blur, but I know it could not have gone any better! I may or may not have told Kristen, the Camping World buyer, that I wanted to kiss her. I was so overwhelmed and excited I didn't know what to do with myself. Camping World currently does not carry textiles, BUT that is all changing! CW has decided to create high-end camping kitchen showrooms in most, if not all, of their stores, and my timing could not have been more perfect! I'll be in all of their stores and online.
CW wants to work with people who are excited to work with them. I know the market because I lived in a tear-drop camper for the better part of a year! I AM Camping World. I LOVE Camping World. I'm so excited to work with them. It's crazy! Woot Woot.
Halfway out the door, I ran back and asked Renae, the lovely woman who checked me in, to take my photo. I am absolutely sure everyone there thinks I'm insane.
