Faircracker FALL 2020
For Concessionaires By Concessionaires In a year like our industry has
never seen before, we found the future of our businesses tempo- rarily out of our control. In early March, when COVID shut down fairs nationwide, we did not think that it was going to wipe out the
entire season. This wasn’t one of the typical hurdles we encounter, bad weather, breakdowns, price hikes, new regulations, lack of employees. This was COVID. Our businesses were shut down, we were quarantined in our homes, grocery store shelves were empty and basic necessities and cleaning supplies were out of stock with- in days, we were unable to visit family and loved ones. Every day the news was preaching gloom and doom with no light at the end of the tunnel. Our entire way of life had changed overnight. There were more questions than answers. COVID did however make it so we had time to call one another more than ever. Mostly it was to partake in one another’s misery and to see if someone had any kind of answer. As friends and colleagues, a small group of food concessionaires started having weekly Zoom meetings. We started
Left to right: Eddie Porcelli, UCA Vice-Pres., Samantha Fairlie, UCA Pres., and Joseph Potillo, Potillo Enterprises
meeting to talk about what was happening and how things might progress. Our peers had invested in new concession trailers, supply trucks and equipment upgrades. After the first few meetings the conversation grew. We started wondering how everyone else was being affected. What were show owners going to do with their employees? Were they going to be able to get employees? How were they going to cover the cost of not opening? How would the fairs afford to open in July without their off season events? How would the loss of sponsorships affect their opening? What about the food sup- pliers, insurance agencies, entertainers, stage hands, trailer manufactures, all the behind the scenes staff and the local businesses be affected by not having fairs? What about our customers? Consequently, we started inviting guest speak- ers to our meetings to share what was happening from their side of the industry. We spoke to fair managers, show own- ers, food suppliers, production companies, insurance providers, fair associations and fellow small business owners. It was enlightening, informative, and comforting to know that we were all going through the same thing and we were all working to get through this and come out stronger on the other side. One thing lead to another and UCA, Inc (United Concessionaires Association) was born. As an organization our goal was not to save the world but rather to work to UCA, Inc., 135 Jenkins Street, Suite 105Bk-
323, St. Augustine, FL 32086;
info@ucavendor.com provide our fellow small business owners with the tools & infor- mation to better serve our industry in its entirety. We were graciously invited to speak at the recent Florida Federation of Fairs Summer/Fall Workshop at the Pasco
County Fairgrounds. During our time at the workshop it was wonderful to hear all the positive talk from the fairs about their plans for opening in 2021! We can’t thank them enough for inviting us to join the conversation and are looking for- ward to working together in the years to come. We wish everyone continued health and the stamina to move forward! “The Show Must Go On.”
Samantha Fairlie, UCA Pres Eddie Porcelli, Vice Pres
Cameron Murray, Secretary & Founders
www.ucavendor.com UCA, Inc
135 Jenkins Street Suite 105Bk-323 St. Augustine, FL 32086
info@ucavendor.com
Lee Stevens of JuLees Concessions President of the IISA & UCA member
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