At the Honolulu Gift Fair you’ll find clothes, food and jewelry. You’ll also see empty aisles.
Many of these vendors at the Blaisdell do not sell their products in stores, so they rely heavily on events like this.
"It’s a little slow so I brought everything from Maui, so I kind of expected it to be a little busier," said John Edellstein, from Positive Apparel.
Edellstein said he probably won’t make any money this weekend. And he’s not alone.
Dean Ogata from Kauai Tropical Syrup said it was "a little slower; we’re doing 50 percent of what we normally do."
According to these vendors, they received a bargain on the cost for their booths.
"And normally I would’ve paid $700 just for one, and I’m paying $700 for both," said Celia Fraser, from Celia’s Quilts.
But even with this deal, every sale counts.
"It’s crucial, yeah. Right now when you’re starting out your business you want people to try it and see it, know the name, taste it and get some kind of idea where you’re coming from," said Scott Shibuya, from Guava Smoked.
Some vendors blame the busy Easter weekend for the lack of shoppers. Others say it’s the economy. But they all say, in this industry, you need to remain positive and persistent.
"We’re trying to promote our product, but if we make a little bit of money, that’s bonus for us," said Dean Ogata, of Kauai Tropical Syrup. "You chalk it up as a learning experience I guess, and you try to learn from this and move on."
The Honolulu Gift Fair is being held at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall until 9 p.m. Saturday, and then again on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
