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Patrick from the event venue and wine bar "Gaumenpunkt" contacted us about the Dog Easter Market in April. We had never exhibited before. Right now we don't actually sell any products or services. But the idea appealed to us all the same.
So this small-scale Easter market for dogs was the perfect opportunity for us to dip our toes into life as exhibitors. We said yes and set up a stand at Gaumenpunkt on Palm Sunday.
The Preparations
As I just mentioned, Team Hundereise has nothing to sell — but of course we still wanted to offer visitors something. So we brainstormed and came to the conclusion that a Hundereise magazine would actually be a great idea. No sooner said than done.
A few evenings in front of the laptop and several drafts later, the file was sent off to the print shop. I proudly picked up the copies and was thrilled to be able to hand them out at the Dog Easter Market.
So the two-legged visitors were taken care of. But we also wanted to give the four-legged guests something from us. What could be better than home-dried turkey breast, just like in our DIY post? A few pieces of dried meat, a Hundereise team business card in a cute little package — and the Easter surprise for the dogs was ready.
And to show people what we actually get up to, we also wanted to present a video compilation of our holidays and adventures.
The Dog Easter Market
On Palm Sunday I arrive at Gaumenpunkt at around 10 a.m. with my boxes and everything else, and am warmly welcomed by Patrick. Team Hundereise is even the welcoming committee that day and gets to set up right next to the bar. I get us sorted, plug in everything we need, and shortly after that Martina, Atlas, Tiago & Neroli arrive too.
The other exhibitors are already there as well, having claimed their tables in the event cellar and filled them with goods and information materials. The official start is at 11 a.m. and the first visitors begin trickling in shortly after.
The Galgo boys take their job as greeters and visitor magnets very seriously. Neroli in particular is in his most cheerful mood and simply cannot stop wagging his tail — whether greeting people or dogs. Atlas & Tiago take turns with their affections and divide the work between them. ;)
Throughout the day there's a steady flow of visitors coming and going. Most of them naturally head straight for the shopping paradise downstairs. But since we're the ones serving the wine, we end up having lovely chats and exchanges with lots of dog owners over a "quick escape glass".
The Other Exhibitors
The small and wonderfully mixed group offered high-quality Austrian goods for our furry friends.
Starting with the dedicated team from Tierheim Brunn am Gebirge. They strive to give the animals in their care as enjoyable and species-appropriate a life as possible. The volunteer staff are on hand to advise on adoption and rehoming questions.
Moving along to the right, there's Niki's Naturfutterladen, where Nicole Mayr guided us through chemical-free, species-appropriate natural food options. Her range is extensive and healthy.
Lilly's Nähstübchen offers all manner of hand-sewn and handmade items for dogs. From personalised vaccination card holders to knotted toys — everything is there.
I don't need to mention that the four-legged members of Team Hundereise have long since become loyal customers of Monty's Pfotenshop. The custom-made collars and harnesses never fail to get noticed. ;)
Petra from Lino's Marketerei practically has home advantage, being from Mödling. Her carefully curated and thoughtful product selection makes shopping queens like us very happy indeed.
Iris Kräutergartl has specialised in herbal medicine — as the name already suggests — and sells her own homemade natural products. You can also find premium oils from her cooperation partner in southern Styria.
And last but not least, handmade dog blankets and knitted jumpers are on offer from LR - Hut- & Nadelatelier Mut zum Hut from the Vienna Woods.
Conclusion
A day as an exhibitor is surprisingly exhausting, and by the evening we fell into bed completely worn out. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience to see that our blog sparks interest and that a few visitors are "already following" us.
The exchanges with the other exhibitors and Patrick from Gaumenpunkt made this Palm Sunday pass by in a very enjoyable way.
