Frag Farmer's Market 2014 !!!!
- Thread starter fitch4
- Start date
pjb9166
New member
I like that you are trying to get more hobbyists set-up. As for vendors being big names. As one who owns a storefront. I think that's a bummer. Earlier this year drove all the way from Hartford to Road Island just to see two of the vendors not 15 or 25 minutes from my house there, that kind of sucks.
sassAwrasse
New member
A couple things...
The conference in RI was on the smaller side (as it was also their first conference). Knowing a little of what it takes to set up these things, it would've been a lot more expensive for a local hobbyist to set up a booth at a conference like this ($300-$500 +) versus a storefront or vendor.
The FFM has PLENTY of local hobbyists there, so you need not worry. When Jon says "big names," he's speaking of Dr. Mac, Jason Fox, etc WHICH is a HUGE draw for the hundreds of people who come from all over New England for this event. Having all the other "local" hobbyists from CT, MA, RI, NH, NY, NJ, MD is an added bonus.
Last year was our first event, and we had plenty to choose from. What we heard last year (as we got there early and helped set up) was that they added space for additional vendors.....which I heard they are adding even more space this year.
You will not be disappointed.
fitch4
New member
Sass pretty much hit the nail on the head.
The FFM's purpose has always been, and will always be, to give the hobbyist a chance to make a few $ fragging corals so that they are more likely to frag and grow at home. My long term goal is that we should be FLOODING the market with homegrown corals, with almost no need to take anything from the world's reefs, by doing as much growing-fragging-and distributing as we can. That is the reason why I have always kept it as cheap as possible, make it as easy as possible, and only do it for one day- making it possible for the small scale hobbyist to set-up a 10 gallon tank with 20 frags in it, and leave with a decent chunk of change for their troubles. I also have always encouraged stores who do lots of fragging to come in. There are always a few who bring colonies but the VAST majority of the shops who come in are fragging and growing on site. Which we should all be encouraging.
As far as the big names go, the FFM has attracted them for the most part. And again Sass is right, those people and businesses bring in a TON of people. I say that Fitch4 from CT is selling, people are not excited. I say Jason Fox is coming, and people will come from miles around. You can like that or not, but it is true. I have had a bunch more stores and "bigger" names contact me to try to get into the FFM this year. My biggest struggle (okay one of them- this is a TON of work) has always been convincing the hobbyist that they CAN set-up for this and it is worth their while to do it. The beauty of me doing it at the school is that I really don't have costs to cover from the event (fees for the venue and such) and really just use it to make a few $ to support the school project- which lets me show students corals and aquaculture in my classes. Every year I PM a bunch of people on the different boards to try to convince them to make the trip to set-up but they have been to shows before and don't think that they have nice enough stuff to sit next to Jason and Dr. Mac. What they need to realize is that there is a HUGE range of people that come. I am always amazed at how many "beginner coral" frags I sell from the school. There is truly something for everyone at the FFM, which is really awesome to see.
I think that the questions and discussions are great. Stop by and we can chat at the FFM this year!
-Jon
The FFM's purpose has always been, and will always be, to give the hobbyist a chance to make a few $ fragging corals so that they are more likely to frag and grow at home. My long term goal is that we should be FLOODING the market with homegrown corals, with almost no need to take anything from the world's reefs, by doing as much growing-fragging-and distributing as we can. That is the reason why I have always kept it as cheap as possible, make it as easy as possible, and only do it for one day- making it possible for the small scale hobbyist to set-up a 10 gallon tank with 20 frags in it, and leave with a decent chunk of change for their troubles. I also have always encouraged stores who do lots of fragging to come in. There are always a few who bring colonies but the VAST majority of the shops who come in are fragging and growing on site. Which we should all be encouraging.
As far as the big names go, the FFM has attracted them for the most part. And again Sass is right, those people and businesses bring in a TON of people. I say that Fitch4 from CT is selling, people are not excited. I say Jason Fox is coming, and people will come from miles around. You can like that or not, but it is true. I have had a bunch more stores and "bigger" names contact me to try to get into the FFM this year. My biggest struggle (okay one of them- this is a TON of work) has always been convincing the hobbyist that they CAN set-up for this and it is worth their while to do it. The beauty of me doing it at the school is that I really don't have costs to cover from the event (fees for the venue and such) and really just use it to make a few $ to support the school project- which lets me show students corals and aquaculture in my classes. Every year I PM a bunch of people on the different boards to try to convince them to make the trip to set-up but they have been to shows before and don't think that they have nice enough stuff to sit next to Jason and Dr. Mac. What they need to realize is that there is a HUGE range of people that come. I am always amazed at how many "beginner coral" frags I sell from the school. There is truly something for everyone at the FFM, which is really awesome to see.
I think that the questions and discussions are great. Stop by and we can chat at the FFM this year!
-Jon
Useful_Idiot
Artificially Intelligent
I don't sell on the forums due to the hassle of matching my schedule with the buyers, having strangers in my house etc. But this is event is great I've got my table already and I'll be able to get some cash for my frags instead of store credit. For $30 I don't have to sell much to make it worth and I'm going either way so take gas out of the equation. I just have to decide how much of my tank to hack up.
The FFM is a great swap, great prices, great corals, perfect for local hobbyists to make some money to help finance their own tanks.Also helping a good cause as the high school. OSRAS will be there too, see you there!!
BfishLpond78
FUPA
A couple of us are gonna pull our tanks together and prolly setup a small tank this year. Just to make some cash to throw at the other people, lol.
BfishLpond78
FUPA
Agreed!!!!
