Summer is about to give way to Fall and questions about Woofstock have begun to pop up. So, by popular demand, here’s an update which may raise more questions than it answers.
- Yes, ideas are indeed percolating for this year’s Open House.
- No, a date has not yet been set.
- Yes, there will be new stuff to see.
- No, there will not be a dunk tank.
- Yes, we’re open to creative ideas.
- No, we don’t have an unlimited budget.
- Yes, we’ll be encouraging local participation.
- No, you will not see all the same vendors you’ve seen in the past.
- Yes, we plan to recapture the flavor of our early Client Appreciation Celebrations- one big party!
And that’s where YOU come in
This year, the day will be built around the Smiley Dog family. Those of you who own a business will have the opportunity to introduce yourself, and your business, to the rest of the Smiley Dog pack with a tabletop display space. If you work with a business that you’d like to represent, you are welcome to share that as well.
In past years, we’ve had a Community Table. This year, our clients will make that table come to life. Instead of a room full of vendors, we’ll have a room full of “family members” whose love of pets bring them together to share their stories.
There will still be great deals around the warehouse and no sales tax. The Prize Wheel certainly will be put to good use, and Magic Photo will be back for your annual photos with or without Santa. And we’re working to line up some educational opportunities.
Why the shift from vendors to clients?
As Woofstock has matured over the years, there have been some trade offs. Some of you have been kind enough to share your thoughts on what you’d like to see and what wouldn’t be missed. This year we’re addressing some of those things.
Since moving to our current location 7 years ago, we’ve been fortunate to have space to do just about anything we’d like. The event has grown considerably over the past few years. As a result, we’ve strayed a bit from our original mission of celebrating and thanking our loyal clients.
So this year we’d like to revisit our party roots. And experiment with something we’ve never tried before, so you can play!
Let us know soon if you’d like a table space
Perhaps you’re wondering what this will cost. Not nearly as much as you may think. This is a party, after all. You won’t have to sign a contract or promise your first born. All we ask is that you give us a few words which tell two stories. One story will introduce your business, and the other will introduce you or your pet(s).
Send along a few paragraphs about your business, including how you think Smiley Dog family members might benefit from learning about it. The venture does not even have to be pet related. The other story we’d love to hear is how you, your business, or your family has benefited from using Smiley Dog. Your stories can be told in words, pictures, or both.
The business information will be used to build the web page for this year’s Woofstock participants. And your Smiley Dog story will introduce you to the rest of the “family”. If you prefer, you can introduce your pets instead of yourself, particularly if they’ll be in attendance!
That’s an early update- stay tuned for more!
We’ve always believed that those who support us deserve our support in return. There’s a fascinating range of interests and talent within the Smiley Dog family. Here’s an opportunity to spread your word to the rest of the pack.
Let us know soon if you’d like to grab a table spot. Think of it as an advance registration to ensure your space. Your stories should get to us by the end of September so we all can begin to spread the word.
Another update will be posted once planning solidifies a bit more. For now, rest assured Woofstock is in the works. We hope you can come play!
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