Business or hobby?

My brother-in-law and sister got me started learning about oils when they moved back to Texas in the late eighties. Gary and Wendy were masters at showing people how to use oils, and they paid attention to the needs and wants of their customers. In the heydey of Vikon Village, people could find everything they might want, from antiques to country memorabilia, to blown glass, and of course, to fragrance and perfume oils. Many customers remember the hustle and bustle of the market--standing room only--as crowds went from booth to booth to see what treasures they could uncover. I worked with them in their booth at the flea market, and for five years, I watched, listened, and began to understand the way they ran the business. Gary told me it was time I started accumulating my own oils and try setting up a show. My first attempt was at my house, and it was not a good experience. I have tried other independent sales venues (Mary Kay, Herbalife, Tupperware, Amway) unsuccessfully, so my track record suggested that I did not have an aptitude for this. I did not give up though. Again, my sister helped me with a tarp and tables, and Don built a traveling oil rig, and off I trekked to the McKinney Third Monday Trade Days. In the mid-nineties, the trade fair was still small; we did a little better than break even, so I thought maybe I had a chance after all.

Subsequently, Don and I traveled to fairs across Texas and into Oklahoma as I learned more, gathered together a wider variety of oils, expanded my essential oil supply, and learned about the newer designer type oils. We found customers from all walks of life and still have many of them today. I also discovered that some fairs do not fit us well at all--My Fair Lady is great, but not for oils. On the other hand, the Denton Jazz Festival remains as one of our favorite places to vend. By far, Hawkwood Fantasy Fair in Roanoke TX established us as the "oil people." For seven weeks each year for three years, we transformed our traveling rig into a shop that people loved. But, we still considered ourselves operating a hobby, and something had to change if we were going to move forward.

Twice I almost gave it all up--sales were down, Don and I were busy with full time jobs and raising children, and it seemed easier not to travel--oils never got lighter. One person approached me wanting to buy the business, but she offered what I thought too low a price, and I had so much money tied up in product that it seemed silly to give it away. Then, we had the opportunity to take over the business my brother-in-law and sister had started. Vikon had a new owner, vendors left and found new places to sell, and the vendors who were leasing space sold dollar-store items--nothing unique at all. Visitors who had heard about Vikon Village, once the biggest flea market in Dallas, were not discovering the special finds they once did. Slowly, people disappeared, and the flea market began its decline.

We decided, however, to stick it out, and this is where my mindset changed from hobby to business. By this time, I had diversified into making candles and soaps, and I was more knowledgeable about ancillary merchandise that complemented the oils. I started taking credit cards (a big step) and paid my fair share of sales tax. It was also then that I discovered that I was making a profit--small though it was--at this business. Yes, it started as a hobby, and for many years, it was much like a yo-yo as far as sales went. Ownership changed everything though, and I enjoyed establishing my own thing. The seriousness of it became apparent when I started teaching others what I know about oils. My passion for this part of the business continues, and I hope to see Deb's Oils become a place people visit often, refer to their friends, and trust for quality.

www.debsoils.com