Last weekend I setup a table at Repticon in Raleigh NC. I have attended this show many times, but have never vended at it or any reptile expo. Getting a table, payment, and check-in all went off without a hitch. The show ran Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. It was a long weekend being as I am a one-man band. So no bathroom breaks or leaving the table for the duration of the show. My setup/breakdown is very simple being as I am but a small hobbyist breeder.
The turnout seemed a little bit better than the last one I visited which was several years ago. I am pretty sure I was the only one there with any eastern kingsnakes. Also, probably the only one there with a wide selection of Florida kings. I had a lot of visitors, a lot of tire kickers, and thankfully a lot of paying customers. I am happy that most of what I brought went to a new home. Several of them went to what seemed like very caring homes.
I will definitely try to get in the show as a vendor next year as well. I was able to talk to so many cool people and showcase these amazing and beautiful animals. I brought one of my adult female Florida kings with me to kind of show people what these can grow into. She is a beast of an ambassador. Many, many kids and adults were able to hold her. She tolerated all this stress quite well. In fact she ate a nice meal a day after returning home to her enclosure. Not that it is any surprise.
Over the next month I will begin pairing adults again to see if I can hatch out some more cool kings and build up another inventory for the next show I can vend at. It was really fun. To the folks who purchased an animal from me THANK YOU and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
