09/17/2026
What it Takes
Hi Friend,
Fall is SO CLOSE and I'm super excited, although, I'm quite worried I may not actually get to enjoy ANY of it...
I am T-12 days until I pack up my U-Haul and drive up to Rhinebeck, NY to set up for the Country Living Fair (https://countrylivingfairs.com/) (Oct 2-4). I am still knee deep in show preparations.
Here's a little snippet of what it takes to pull off a show this big (they're expeciting 30,000 visitors!)...
I've been collecting (vintage) inventory for about 9 months. My garage is FULL. Most of those pieces needed some level of repair and cleaning. Everything needs tagging, photographed, and entered into our point of sale system. Then it all needs to be carefully packed into a 24' U-Haul.
We have 2.5 days to set up, basically, an entire 500 sqft. retail store... and it must look AMAZING. This is NOT just throwing up some 6' folding tables and putting product on top. And since this event is for Country Living Magazine, there's an added pressure for the space to look over-the-top because there will be significant press opportunities.
All this on top of the logistics of keeping my shop in Brunswick stocked and open while the town has its annual Railroad Days event (Oct. 3-4) where thousands of people come to town.
My husband is coming with me to New York to be my unpaid-furniture-hauling-intern, while my mom comes to stay with my son and dogs for the week.
There are a lot of moving parts. And I've never done this show before, so there's the added stress of not knowing if this show will even be "worth" it (financially, energetically, etc.).
It's a big risk.
But you know what "they" say... no risk, no reward!
I'll have time to peep the changing leaves while I drive home after the show!
Hot on the heels of Country Living Fair is the Lucketts Fall Market (https://www.luckettsmarkets.com/) in Berryville, VA (Oct 16-18). Gosh, I'm tired just typing that sentence.
Finally, we'll be setting the store up for the holidays the last week in October, right before Halloween.
I almost forgot, we also have our last fresh floral workshop (https://www.potomacriverinteriors.com/product/fall-floral-bounty-class-oct-11th-2pm/2369?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=EWHFNMBW422EPXFPVKWHZIO2) of the year inbetween the two shows. Come join us Sunday, October 11th from 2-4pm for the last of the fresh flowers before frost.
October is FULL!!
I hope to see you at the shop, or at an event. And I hope you get to enjoy the leaves changing -- if not for yourself, do it for me!!
Lisa Tumbarello,
Owner at Potomac River Interiors
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