Bookstore events during the holidays boil down to creatively having people in the store but not interrupting business. Yesterday we had the Churchmans and their dog Laddie for an event celebrating what is turning out to be one of the best-selling books we’ve ever had, Sweet Pea & Friends: The SheepOver. We tried to have the event off-site, but between church on Sunday and holiday bazaars and craft fairs, no spaces were available. That actually turned out to be a good thing, because all these new customers came into the bookstore. But we had to get creative.
With the weather being so unseasonably warm here in Vermont, we thought, maybe we could have the event outside on the porch. Elizabeth texted me Saturday night and asked if I could get six bales of hay. Turns out, I could. PJ our former staffer, is the manager of a horse barn, so I texted her and once she stopped writing LOL LOL LOL, she told me I could borrow six bales of hay and pick them up the morning of the event. So, here’s the thing: I’m not a farming type. Sure, I know that hay bales are great seating and perfect for a book written by farmers about their farm.
What I didn’t know was how messy bales of hay are. I drive a six-year old Lexus with over 100,000 miles on it that I’m slowing beating to death, so I had no problem with hauling the hay around from the barn to the store. PJ helped me load the hay in the car. We could only get five bales in the car. Hay bales are larger, and far heavier, than I thought. When we finished, PJ was practically doubled over laughing. That’s a lot of hay. She kept muttering, “Hay in a Lexus.”
Turns out it was a smidge too cold to have the event on the deck, so we shifted it to the upstairs hallway that was unused by any of the offices. The event was a smashing success with the two of us working downstairs furiously ringing up all manner of holiday books and the rest of the crew upstairs running the event. I had to return the hay after work. In case anyone’s wondering, leaving hay in your car for six hours will cause it smell like a barn. And furthermore, this is what my car now looks like. If anyone was struggling for a holiday gift for me, I’m thinking a coupon for getting my car detailed would be extremely welcome!