Dear all,
Would like to comment on the SOHO KL Bazaar on 28 March in Solaris Mon't Kiara.
I was one of the vendors there, and would like to express our Disappoinment at the organizers of this bazaar.
Firsly, I would like to start with the location of our booth which is located way back behind the restaurants (They name is BLOCK B). The map that they email us is different from what we get in the location. When I confronted the guy in charge, he said that was the exact same map given by Solaris. They will do their best by tring to put signs and arrows to direct ppl to walk our lanes in Block B. Though it is exact map given by Solaris, all they could do is to explain truthfully to us that we will be block by a whole building of restaurants, but they fail to do so.
When we arrive at the Organizers booth, We deal with a lady named Marlena, she attend to our mails too. When she gave us a booth, there was NO greeting nor Smile. Ita alright because we know she must be busy the whole day. I than ask her for the full map that she email us because I wan to show her a prove that what she mail me is dif from what we get here. All she said was "No, I did not print the map" and look away to attend to other ppl. Is this how she treat someone when we already paid for the booth and she can ignore us just like that?
The Bazaar is suppose to start at 12 pm , and we vendors were supposed to go set up at 10.30 am. But when we reacH at 11 am, they told us nothing is ready yet and we ll have to come back in a while. Doesn't it sound ironic? In their leaflets and brochures, modelling, belly dancing and a big crowd were promised. The modelling start at 4 and last about 20 minutes and that is all. The worst thing is that there was no one to watch modelling, how sad. All the promised belly dancing and big crowd did not exist at all.
Never mind to that, after setting up our booth under the HOT SUN, from 1 pm to 4pm, not more than 10 person walk pass our lane or booth. So do I blame it on Luck that no one walk to Block B, or do I blame on the organizers for putting us somewhere that no one can see? (Honestly, if i were a customer myself who goes to Solaris for a flea market, I do not even know that there are booths behind and would not even waste my time walking there)
About close to 5 pm, rain start to fall and the wind was so strong that we have to move our things to a dif place, and we were shifted to somewhere near the lift (Inside the Solaris Building), also not visible at all. Minutes later, guards came and told us off for being there and start to take picture of our booth to file a complaint against. Whose fault is this again? Us or them?
Finally when the rain stops about 7 pm, we manage to move to a dif location which is so much better. Thats when our business start but isn't too late? And we have to shift around like DVD sellers.
At 7 pm, the organizers only starting putting arrows and signs for ppl to follow the directions but what is the point? Shouldn't this all be done at morning before the Bazaar starts and not when its gonna end?
I expected Solaris to be a good place to attract ppl, but too bad this organizers fail to do so.
Lastly, I want to Compliment this particular Malay guy who was in charge of the Bazaar. WE and a few other booths went up to him a few times to create a complaint and fuss but he still attend to us with a smiling face. He was very tolerant with us though some of the vendors rudely told him off and ask for refund. All he did was smile and attend to what we want, and he did try his best to accomodate. KUDOs and Cheers to him.
Finally I will not reveal my name because I will give this organizers a chance and participate in their next bazaar. (Reason: Thanks to the Malay guy, I believe he did try his best, but maybe things really did not work for him in Solaris) AS for Marlena, she should learn about basic manners before sitting at the front booth to irritate her customers. Hopefully, in the next one it wont be as terrible as this.
Thanks all,
XOXO,
Unhappy Vendor
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from A Fair Weekend
Thank you for the email. I am the Malay guy stated in the email and I'll be more than glad to clarify the whole situation from the email and complaint that you have sent in.
Yes, we did sent out the exact map that was given exactly to us according to the building specification and all we did was to cut in different Zones and put tables in the layout. We did not do anything that would in any form manipulate the layout or any of our vendors.
We have again and again coordinate with restaurants to not block any of our pathway and even until now, if you were to go to any of the restaurant in Zone B, you will receive the same response from them saying that not in any way they have blocked the pathway.
It's highly known as well that Marlena has good relationship with a lot of vendors and I would think a lot of vendors out there can testify to that. Even outside of work or event, most of the vendors still have chit chats and drinks with her and she is known for the attachment made with people. I would definitely think that, you would have said or done something that could have upset her or anyone for that matter. Organizers are also human and not perfect in any way, the sense of courtesy should be mutual. We're not punching bag and we do respond to certain extent. Yes you have paid, but money doesn't tolerate with rudeness.
According to the timing, we were slightly late due to logistic problems but you have to appreciate that the organizers actually carried 80 six feet times three feet tables with their bare hands because of the contractors caught up with lorry problems. AGAIN, have the courtesy to ask or understand as everyone is not perfect. Although we recognized that some of the vendors had a good time during our bazaar we openly express our disappointment which we couldn't reached our expected crowd. However, please do bear in mind, we have tried our best to do marketing to accommodate the need of the event. Yes, the modelling lasted about 20 minutes because only 8 vendors participated in giving their clothes. We wouldn't force anyone else to join if they didn't want to.
I personally take the blame if I failed to redirect the crowd and my personnel to put the signboard ASAP. The logistic problem faced in the morning brought a bit too many after problems and I personally is to blame. Only me and my fellow colleagues was weight lifters, then we would've carried the tables faster and could've done more. The reason we made the bazaar at 12 onwards as the sun will rise on top of the building and Zone B will be cooler at 1 onwards.
When the rain fell, we coordinate people to move in, not only your business halt but most did as well. We do not control the weather and the security did report about the pictures to us and this was cause by some irresponsible person who did not follow our instruction and moved the table where they should'n't such as in front of the lift. We told her not to but she did anyway because she said other bazaar organizers let her stay at such places according to what they want. Blame us for putting some rules and we do take the blame with the security and we never blamed you did we??
My smile was merely of many years of experience working in a very active and challenging corporate companies but I myself feel that we have done everything that we can do for the vendors. I have been based in Middle East where shouting and yelling and stress/pressure is normal. For me shouting at each other is normal but even Middle Eastern do not tolerate with rudeness. I realized you did NOT mention about the name tags, the signage, the table cloth, FREE FOOD that we provided and I feel that making something happen is still mutual between vendors and organizers. If we have tried our best there's nothing more satisfying to see people being thankful and appreciate our effort and if it's not mutual, i would recommend that you don't join us AT ALL as we don't share the same vision. I openly confess that not in any way this is something one sided and whatever we might have face, we definitely will continue supporting those who truly believe in us and have supported us in many ways such as Bunny Noo, So Haute, Lollipulp, Art Junkish, Raskal, Pastelshack, House of Allure, Sexxay Stuff @ Sexxay Price, Tidani Collection, Lush Serendipity, Jiju Cakes to Share, Eye Candy, The Aura and many many others, we will continue to provide the BEST of our abilities. Only people who believe that we can be the best will we make them the greatest.
That's all I can say for now as we're busy preparing for the upcoming bazaar in SOHO on the 25th and 26th April which will provide and offer what we can truly do. All other bazaars by A:fair will be put into rest and cancelled to accommodate this glorious A:fair Weekend Biggest Bazaar @ SOHO KL on the 25th and 26th April 2009. We will have a lunching ceremony to mark the A:fair Initiative to help Entrepreneurs, traders, retrenched workers and unemployed graduates. We want to grow to be the greatest with everyone.
Thank you.
A:fair Team joining hand in hand with all A:fair family
