Our First Eco Fest (And Why We're Already Fired Up for Next Year)

On May 17th, the whole Stillson family packed up and headed to Eco Fest Fort Wayne. We brought 20 totes, a table, some eco-friendly pens to give away, and honestly… we weren't totally sure what to expect.

Turns out, Fort Wayne was ready for us.

The Setup

Our booth was simple but we think it made an impact — 20 of our signature gray totes stacked up as a backdrop, a table with info, and a big bowl of eco pens. (Those pens went fast, by the way. People loved them.)

We set up next to the Purdue Fort Wayne Environmental Resource Center, which honestly couldn't have been a better neighbor. Surrounded by other eco-friendly businesses, all of us there for the same reason — because we believe sustainable choices should be easy and accessible.

The Head-Nodders vs. The Confused Faces

If you've ever done a vendor event, you know the look. Some people walk by and their head starts nodding before you even say a word. They see the totes, they see the sign, and they just get it.

Others slow down with that critical squint — "What is this?" — and that's where the fun started. Because once we explained it (rent reusable moving totes instead of buying cardboard boxes), the confusion turned into excitement almost every time.

"Where Were You When I Moved?!"

That was the phrase of the day. Over and over, people would say:

"That's a great idea. I love this."
"Man, where were you 8 months ago? I would've used this on my last move."
"Where were you 10 months ago?!"
"Where were you 20 months ago?!"

We heard it all. And honestly? Those reactions are the best compliment. It means people want this — they just didn't know it existed in Fort Wayne until now.

Getting the Word Out

We weren't there to collect email addresses or hard-sell anyone. We just wanted people to know: hey, there's a better way to move, and it's right here in Fort Wayne. We handed out flyers to anyone who was interested and had some great conversations with people who genuinely understood the value — and the eco-friendliness — of renting totes instead of buying boxes you use once and toss.

The Best Part

My favorite part of the whole day? The people we met. Not just the visitors — the other vendors. We got to sit next to some truly awesome eco-friendly businesses doing really cool things in Fort Wayne. There's something special about being in a space where everyone's working toward the same goal: making it easier for people to make better choices.

Will We Be Back? Absolutely.

Eco Fest Fort Wayne, we are so fired up to be back next year. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, grabbed a pen, and said "where were you when I moved?!"

We'll be here. 🙌

— Nikki, Totes on Loan