Adversity in Business

How do you deal and what would you do?

Adversity:

Have you encountered and how have you overcome adversity in your business?

Let's go further. How about blatant disrespect, racism, bigotry, sexism or __________ (fill in the blank).

How did you deal?

I'm trying to take the dignified route. But it isn't working.

Sponsorships, Partnerships and plain B2B dealings can be precarious or fabulous.

We've had a bout of both recently, and the former is burning my biscuit.

We have put out a call for Sponsorships and B2B collaborations for our 3rd Annual Hats N Heels Tea Party.

Remaining unnamed, *sigh*, because i'm petty, but have integrity, I submit photos of what was given as in-kind sponsorship by an antique store. Can we scream WTF???

The shop owner requested that their donated items be returned back on multiple occasions, and when explained that in-kind sponsorship doesn't receive donated items back.... THIS IS WHAT WE RECEIVED (not the sofa though!!!😐)

👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

(YES! I think that's blood) 🧐🧐🧐

Do you consider this a proper donation from an antique store, to adequately represent their brand at a glamorous vintage tea party??

This screams SLAVE CLOTHING to me.

😳😳😳😳.

We have also been offered a dilapidated jewelry box. There is SO much tulle stuffed to it to hide its raggedy-ness. On attempting to inspect it, it collapsed shut, almost clipping my fingers. I was unable to see its actual contents for the amount of tulle and its unsturdiness. What an insurance liability. There is no possible way to utilize this box part of their donation with the public either, unless the risk of injury.

Do they REALLY think all of this is appropriate, or are they trying to just give us something they can't sell, since they can't get it back.

We requested vintage hats, wraps, tea cups and sets. But that is not what we received.

SHAME ON YOU, ANTIQUE STORE‼️

I still have this foolishness.

Do I:

1. Toss it, send a nasty professional message

2. Give it back with a nasty professional message

What do you think?

Here is the One Star ⭐ review given, to give more context:

It is with dismay, and after much internal debate, that offer this unflattering account of interaction with the shop's owners.

For months, What's Poppin' USA has been in direct communication, face-to-face and written correspondence, with antique Traditions, particularly its owner, Lorraine.

Our company is holding its annual, signature event, and this year have included the local historic Norcross area Merchants as friends and sponsors of the Tea.

While we received honest and candid yays and nays from various merchants, Lorraine has been consistently vague.

On several occasions, Lorraine asked if we could RETURN the donated merchandise after the event.This is not what sponsorship is. Sponsorship is a form of advertising. You are sponsoring or paying to advertise at an event to help its hosts cover costs and such.

After reviewing your donations, we do not feel that they are appropriate for the Hats N Heels Tea Party event.

Though a pop-up vendor event, this is a WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT event. It's full of glam, sophistication and girliness. We have thousands of dollars in antiques and sweat equity into the Tea event.

The tattered and blood-stained items donated, do not represent glamour. The items are indicative of tattered slavery wear, which is NOT a safe space as a Black woman in the Deep South.

Your shop is stuffed with gorgeous vintage items, but you have chosen to donate sub-par, raggedy items to our event.

As a personal donation from a grandmother's closet, maybe. But as a business to business donation, what you've provided is completely unacceptable and quite disrespectful. If we were to display the tattered items that you gave us, and put a sign saying that Antique Traditions donated these items, it would shed an unsavory light on your shop and make you look pretty dismal. Items in that condition might belong in a historical museum, but are not a respectable donation for business purposes. Donated items should be a stellar reflection of your Shop, not castaways that you are unable to sell.

We have seen the Historic Norcross raffle basket. We wonder if you've offered a set blood-stained knickers to the recipients as well? Our initial request was a collective effort from the HN Merchant's Association. We were sidelined, put-off and disregarded... on various occasions.

Highly disappointed.

💙❤️💙

Lena S.