Giving Away $25 in Cross Bucks

Cross Roads Farm and Craft Market Gives Away Cross Bucks

“Great food, perfect gifts, Santa Claus himself, and now $25 giveaways every day—who wouldn't love Cross Roads?” said Wendy Graham, fudge vendor and president of the Cross Roads Farm and Craft Market’s board of directors. “With three Saturdays left of the 2014 season at the market, we are still going strong. There is so much to see and enjoy. I have to admit I'm not just a vendor, but an avid shopper as well!”

Cross Roads Farm and Craft Market has announced that it will give away $25 in cross bucks—gift certificates to be spent anywhere in the market—each day until it closes down for the season on December 20. Each Saturday in December is a new contest day, so folks are only competing with other visitors who stop by the same day they do. Didn't win last Saturday? Just stop in this weekend and try again!

“So many other markets close down at the end of the summer, but this is a really special time at Cross Roads. I love to see the decorations and find special, one-of-a-kind gifts. And there are unique vendors who weren’t here even a couple of months ago. Folks have to stop by regularly to see it all,” Graham said. “Last week we had live music. Acoustic guitar and singing on Friday as well as a pair of folks with banjos, The Tongue Cluckers, who dropped by to entertain on Saturday. You never know what you'll see or hear at Cross Roads.”

The most recent additions to the Cross Roads family include Shades, Etc., which features unique lighting and gift items. Not sure what to get that hard-to-buy for person on your list? Let there be light! In addition, rockhounds and science buffs will want to stop by and visit Lee Parker, Cross Roads’ resident “rock dude.” Parker has crystals, geodes, jewelry and fossils. There is so much to see in his booth, so plan to take your time and explore. And Cross Roads isn't just about crafters and artists—Visit Paparazzi Accessories to find bling and add a little sparkle to your holiday.

Two wineries, Vetter Vineyards and Merritt Wineries, offer tastings. Cross Roads features an art gallery with everything from paintings to sculpture to textiles. Specialty foods from artisan breads to maple syrup are available. Visitors will find pottery, miniatures, handmade wooden items, gorgeous Christmas decorations, beautiful scarves and jewelry. Bring a friend, spend some time, and meet the vendors who make Cross Roads the “mall-ternative.”

Open from the first week in May until the last Saturday before Christmas, Cross Roads Farm and Craft Market, located at 6017 Westfield-Sherman Road (County Route 21) in Westfield NY, is a charming, rustic destination. The cooperative is always looking for more vendors and artists. For more information, visit www.TheCrossRoadsMarket.com, follow them on Twitter, or check out their Facebook page. Stop by on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

I did it! You can too!

So here we are, my first season at Cross Roads only has 7 market days left. We close for the season on December 20, 2014 and re-open May 2, 2015. Wow! It has gone so fast. 

It was a great experience right from the beginning. Henry - Henri's Gallery of Prints was one of the first people I met. He took the time to talk to me and my husband.  I was looking for a 10'x10' space and he talked my husband into a 10'x15' space. I am glad he did.  It really made a difference. His daughter Wendy - Fudge N' Stuff, was so kind to me. She made me feel very welcome and accepted right off the bat.  She offered to help me paint and cart things in and design my booth. I probably drove her nuts, every time I did anything I would ask for her opinion. She was great about it.  Kris - Spice Harbor & Spice Harbor,Too, is the type of person who will tell you what she thinks, if she feels your receptive. It was great. I would come in to find things moved and if she saw I put them back she would come over and explain to me why she moved it.  They both had great ideas. They were always there to ask question of.  It is a wonderful feeling to have people so willing to help you succeed in what you are doing.  Most of the vendors, in any of the buildings, will give you feedback if you ask for it.  If you are happy and succeed so do they.

I was instantly accepted! I am a person who just assumes that most people don't like me or that what I do doesn't really matter to most. Most places I have worked I have felt invisible and an outsider but I never felt like that at Cross Roads. They all work together, unlike craft shows where you are only in the same place for a few days, you make friends but you don't usually work as a team.  Cross Roads is so different from that.  You are expected to put the word out and do personal advertising on your social media sites, but that is something you would have to do if you had your own brick and mortar store front. They ask that you contribute to finding/planning activities that would appeal to a wide range of visitors, just another way to get people to come visit. They want you to succeed. They will do what they can but you must put forth the effort to make your business thrive also.  Always remember it is your shop you are only housed in Cross Roads.

I have not become a millionaire but I wasn't looking for that. I am happy to make my rent, pay for my materials and have repeat customers. It is so great to talk to people and find out where they are from and how they heard of Cross Roads. The best part is when someone is instantly drawn to something in your shop and you can see the joy and appreciation in their eyes and the smile on their hearts. Those are the moments I live for. It's not all about money for me, it's about making friends and lasting customer relationships. Word of mouth is the best advertising, so give them something good to talk about.

If you ever have any questions about becoming a vendor or you just want to come visit feel free to comment or give us a call.  By the way we now have an E-Newsletter. If you would like to sign up email us your email address or click here.  



Part 1- My first visit to Cross Roads
Part 2- Opening a shop at Cross Roads, is it really possible?
Part 3- Putting together my shop
Part 4- I did it! You can too!

Putting together my shop

I have taken the leap and signed my contract, picked my booth, paid my fees and I'm officially a vendor at Cross Roads. Wow! Now how do I set up this blank canvas to best showcase my fused glass pendants? Each piece is unique. I don't have much money to purchase "store" type displays. What could I do? 


Let's start with what I know. The space is 10 foot deep and 15 foot wide, purple sponge painted and has 2 sets of flood lights. I have permission to use an extra counter that was floating around Cross Roads. The clothing rack is also available for use. Ok, now to figure out how I want my booth to look. I had thoughts of walls of squares that each could hold one pendant on a bust, a victorian sitting room, a rustic look and a hundred others.





So many ideas and no money to create any of them. I knew I would need lots of lighting. Curio cabinets, china hutches those things have lighting in them. I needed to get the product up where people could see it. Off to Craigslist....Wow, found several pieces but they were way out of my price range. Guess that idea was a bust. I guess I just have to look at what I already have available to me. I found some small tables, an old cast iron sewing machine in a cabinet and part of a hutch. Well, it's a start.  My mom offered a small Barrister bookcase and Grandma's lighted curio style cabinet.  Sweet, I'm on my way.  I found a table with a drawer that would fit under Grandma's cabinet and painted it black to match the cabinet. A beautiful focal point!  I checked with mom to see if I could drill holes and put nails in the bookcase, I was told to go for it.  So I added a couple strands of white Christmas lights.  The bookcase would fit on top of the hutch base. Two displays created.  My mother also offered me a jewelry armoire that would hang on the wall. I accepted her generous offer. Three displays! Things are coming together.

Ok, I'm off to a good start, but I have over 100 pendants to display. At this point I can only show about 25 of them. I need more display ideas. I have a lot of purple wall space. I know! Wearable art! Picture frames! Off to the box in the attic! It is full of old frames. I didn't even take the pictures out of them. I covered the glass with paper and glued cardboard busts to them. I did buy a few of the segmented frames at Walmart and put scrapbooking paper in them and stick on hooks.  Some garland (my mom's great idea) across the back wall to hide outlet boxes. A tree decal, a couple small wall shelves, some decorative elements and we have a boutique not just a shop or booth. 

When creating your booth, use the same creativity you put into your products. Your space doesn't have to look like everyone elses. It should reflect you and your products. Work with what you have. You can always add or remove display items, rearrange them or repurpose them. Make it what you want, what you love, what you feel comfortable with.

Part 4 will be my experience as a full time vendor at Cross Roads.



Part 1- My first visit to Cross Roads
Part 2- Opening a shop at Cross Roads, is it really possible?
Part 3- Putting together my shop
Part 4- I did it! You can too!

Opening a shop at Cross Roads, is it really possible? (part 2)

Part 2 

After setting up my tent at the first Invitation Only craft show at Cross Roads Farm & Craft Market in Westfield, NY, I was hooked. I picked up all the information I could find. I checked the website. I wanted to be a permanent vendor in the worst way. I would no longer have to lug my set-up to every craft show in the county. No more tearing down in the rain, no more worrying about being cold and damp at the outdoor shows, no more worrying about my tent blowing away or displays blowing away in the wind. Yes, Cross Roads would be the perfect answer, But...........the fee's, the insurance, what if I can't make the rent? I have the NYS tax ID number. Do I have enough product? Do I have enough stuff to do a good display?  I have to commit to the full season or to at least 10 market days. Oh great how can I manage all this? We are on a very fixed income. I don't want to commit to something I'm not sure I can do. I could let my family and myself down.  I don't want to fail. This would be such a big leap of faith.

After running the numbers and looking at the yearly cost I couldn't see how I could do it. Plus the insurance.  It seemed impossible.  After talking with my daughter, who was in her senior year of high school and working, I found out she wouldn't be able to help me the way she use to.  I needed to do something. My husband confessed to me that he worried about me at the outside craft shows and encouraged me to pursue a booth at Cross Roads.  My mother was willing to help me with start up expenses and to help me out on Saturdays. What a wonderfully encouraging family I have.  I guess it is time to buckle down and figure out what I'm going to do.

I'm going to do this! I will be a vendor beginning May 2014! I can do this! Now to get the process started.  I dug through old craft show paperwork and found an application. It was folded, dog-eared & wrinkled. Think I need a new one. Off to the web I go. 

I find the Contact tab dropdown menu, click on Join Cross Roads and all the info I need is there. I find the prices of booths, the link to download the application, the link to download the rules & regulations and phone numbers and email to the market manager. Sweet! First hurtle crossed.  Now I need to take pictures of my jewelry to submit to the jury committee along with $50.  Ok, that part was easy. Now we wait for the yea or nay.  While I wait I start saving the $150 contract guarantee fee and looking for an insurance carrier.  I was so surprised to find out that several local insurance companies carry vendor liability insurance policies. I assumed that $300,000 worth of liability insurance would cost a fortune, at least as much as a homeowners or auto policy. Boy was I WRONG! Did you know it is only about $150 for a 12 month policy? If you have homeowners insurance you can get a rider on your policy for vendor insurance.  

Ok, so now I have a NYS tax ID, vendor insurance & my contract guarantee and I have been juried in.  Sweet I am on my way. Now if only the snow would melt long enough to get in the parking lot so I can pick a spot.  I think that was the longest wait of my life.

Finally in March or April 2014 I finally go to meet up with Mark and sign my contract and pick my spot.  I was looking for a 10 x 10 space, that is what I was use to, but both Mark & Henry talked me into a 10 x 15 space. I am so glad they did. I was shown which booths were available in all three buildings and had my pick. I fell in love with the first one I saw. The purple sponge painted one.  Even my mom was skeptical about this color scheme. Many of the vendors were hoping I would paint it.  It was very purple.  Several shades of purple, but it was perfect for me. The picture on the left shows you what it looked like when I first saw it.  The booth had been empty last season so it had been used to store things, but once it was all cleaned out it was great. I was so excited, this was really happening.  I had already been contacted by one of the other vendors offering me a hand setting up, painting, remodeling, fetching & toting.  I felt accepted from the beginning. People were willing to help me. I had found the mentors I had always been looking for.
The counter you see was borrowed from Cross Roads, I had such a short time to put my booth together I was willing to use what ever was available. I wouldn't have had the time or the money to build a counter or to paint. I was seriously on a shoestring budget. Living payday to payday.


Part 1- My first visit to Cross Roads
Part 2- Opening a shop at Cross Roads, is it really possible?
Part 3- Putting together my shop
Part 4- I did it! You can too!