Assistance Needed

If I have ever been close to the breaking point, this was it.  I can pinpoint the exact moment, on my knees on the driveway over a pile of vintage Christmas lights, removing the bulbs, while my brother stood over me and said I was not mucking the house out fast enough for his likes.  Preparing for my Father’s birthday party, running a business or three, family in town and a magazine shoot in two days’ time along with all of the normal goings on would probably push one to the edge.  Yes, I have been to that edge and looked over the precipice.

That same week, I read an article in Vogue magazine about the wedding of Dylan Lauren (Ralph’s daughter) and something about her giving something to one of her assistants.  Plural.  This stuck in my mind like a tiny fish bone in the throat, annoying me.  I got on the phone with Raquel, our Sunday market manager, and said, “Raquel, I need an assistant!”  Oh, she proceeded to tell me, so-and-so the musician got a free intern on CraigsList and so she got a free intern that same day also by CraigsList to help run the market.  Talk about a light bulb going off; seems there are lots of kids coming out of college with no experience; experience wanted….

The next morning I placed an online ad for an internship with commission, with a listing of Import/Export Wholesale/Retail.  And oh my, I got an absolute blizzard of responses.  A few caught my eye, and in the end I found my favorite; meet Kerry, my new Assistant~

Somewhere in our conversation she said the magic words: “My schedule is wide open and I am available to help you.”  Imagine!  No, really, I can’t.  In two days, Kerry has helped me run errands, fill orders, and give me a bit of my life back. She is a recent grad from University of Wisconsin-Madison (R’s undergrad and grad school; I am a bit biased; go Badgers!) with a degree in Retail.  She understands my demographic and was perfect and appropriate today at the booth; Kerry’s Mom, are you listening, you have raised a great daughter!!

In addition to the baskets, Kerry is taking ownership of our new Maggies’ Farms organic lettuces venture.  Today was the third week at Corona del Mar and each week we have doubled sales.  Here is today’s sample, arugula with olive oil, a spritz of lemon juice and a dash of French sea salt and pepper.  Delish; all gone~

Kerry took to the market with ease.  She listed “visiting farmers markets” on her c.v. which caught my eye; she will do just fine as she and I grow the business~

As I bring Kerry up to speed on the various aspects of the basket and greens business, she will be a huge help to me.  And let me catch up on back orders etc.  And give me a little sanity back.  Eventually I hope she will run the businesses while I am in France for 6 months.

We will continue to tune up the greens and herbs for the market.

You can contact Kerry at kerry@frenchbasketeer.com if I am lame and you can’t reach me! Or you can copy both of us.