From Trash To Treasure, part 1

A perfect before picture of our future POP-UP shop.

IT'S NOT WHAT IT IS TODAY, BUT WHAT IT CAN BE TOMORROW" - Jack Cash, artist, dreamer, self quoter.

The 24-foot trailer once a custom build in 2005 and towed all over the PNW selling LED lighting to car junkies, had now been abandoned in a field next to the house. There it sat, an oversized storage shed on wheels, now used for housing "important" forgotten wood slabs by its current owner.

This picture was taken the day I traveled to Mt Rainier to look at what would become our future Pop Up Shop. Full of ignorance & bliss I exclaimed, "It's perfect, I'll take it! Can you Deliver?"

I called my Dad later that day, " You did what? How big? Really! You've never towed anything before and you are going to start with a 24-foot trailer? OK . . ." I can still hear the inflection in his voice and the subtle questioning around my sanity. As I hung up the phone I reflected on the stark differences between my Dad and me, he was Mr. Play it safe. He had dreams and desires he let escape from him like lost helium balloons at an outside party. I was different, I had deep desires for excitement and adventure, with death as my retirement plan. I knew deep down it was all going to work out. Details always work themselves out.

The next 6 months would prove to be more work and more money to modify the trailer than anticipated. We set the debut date for Mid July at the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival. This would be our second time returning to the festival. No more 10 by 10 spaces or piles of boots on the ground. We had the dream of a moving storefront, pre merchandised with very little set up or break down.

I imagined my self rolling into the festival, trailer in tow, my vendor neighbors frantically setting up there 10 by 10 tents, exhausted and sweating. They would stop and look on as the trailer almost parked itself. I would step out, looking refreshed with a cold beer in my hand, push a single button on my remote and the trailer would open like a transformer showcasing our merchandise and OPEN FOR BUSINESS.