Variety learned from most of the stall owners of arts, crafts and other items that aside from a few toys and trinkets, business was “kind of slow.”
Matty, one of the vendors who sold balloons and small toys for children, said the priority of the people at the festival is to eat.
“Most of the visitors to the festival are here to eat and drink so they swarm to the food vendors booths,” she said.
This is Matty’s second year to sell her products at the Taste of the Marianas event.
Tokei Mojica agreed with Matty in saying that business was kind of slow. Mojika sold arts and crafts made from shells and other materials from the Marshall Islands.
“It may be because the Flame Tree Arts Festival has just finished, and the people now want to sample what the restaurants and food vendors have to offer,” she said.
A sales staff members of Patrick’s Arts and Crafts, which sells lamps, vases and handicrafts made by the inmates from recycled paper, also told the Variety that business was kind of slow for them.
Star Handicraft and Jewelry owner Tony Ashok, a first timer at the festival, said they sold a few trinkets and had some customers who wanted body tattoos.
“This is our first time, and we still have four Saturdays left to continue business,” Ashok said.
Only a few arts and crafts vendors displayed their wares at the event on Saturday, but all of them are hoping to have better sales and good business for the remaining four Saturdays of the month.
“Compared to the past years, there were fewer visitors to the event for the opening night this year but we hope to have more visitors in the coming Saturdays,” another vendor said.
