Vendor Events? Who knew.

It all started with a simple conversation. One of our long-time clients, clearly impressed with the magic we work on his website every month, decided to throw an event and invite vendors. And then, in what can only be described as a moment of pure flattery, he offered us the very first table.

"You guys do such an amazing job," he said. "I want you front and center!"

Now, here at Carpe DM Products, we’re used to making businesses shine online, not necessarily at community events with tables, banners, and giveaway trinkets. But hey, stepping outside the comfort zone is something we encourage our clients to do all the time. Who were we to shy away from this opportunity? So, after a quick huddle, we graciously accepted.

We told ourselves, It'll be fun! It counts as a workday! We like doing fun things together anyway, so this is just another bonding experience… right?

With that settled, the team shifted into full planning mode. Over the next few weeks, excitement grew. Ideas for games? Check. Cool little gifts? Ordered. Logo merchandise? Delivered. We were going all out, ready to take the real-people event world by storm.

And then… the plot twist.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our client had to cancel the event. Just like that, our grand plans came to a screeching halt. But not before our office had been turned into a storage unit, overflowing with tubs of supplies, swag, and team members still bubbling with excitement.

Now, we had a choice. We could either sit amidst our mountains of promotional goodies and let our dreams of a vendor event fade, or we could pivot. (And let’s be honest, after ordering that much logo merchandise, pivoting was the only reasonable option.)

So, I started digging. And let me tell you, when you really look, there are a ton of events out there—especially if you're willing to pay for a spot! After some research, I found a suitable event that fit the bill perfectly. The team cheered, the storage tubs suddenly had a purpose again, and just like that, we were back on track!

It dawned on me then—this whole experience was just like what we ask our clients to do every day. We encourage business owners to take leaps into the digital world, trying new things that might feel a bit out of their comfort zone. And here we were, doing the same thing in reverse—taking our digital-first business into the real world.

Now, we’re gearing up for the event, ready to meet potential customers face-to-face—many of whom may not use the internet much (yet) but could truly benefit from our expertise in building websites and ranking websites. And if the team enjoys this, who knows? Maybe we’ll make it a tradition—an occasional workday adventure out in the wild world of new people to some of us.

Here’s to new experiences, unexpected opportunities, and, of course, an office no longer overtaken by storage tubs!

Cheers to the adventure, Debbie