Greg, Costco, Department of Transportation Farmers Market

 "Let me tell you a story. Once I ran out of toilet paper and so my mom gave me some toilet paper. But that was rough and ran out pretty quick too. Then I went to Costco. Costco's toilet paper is the best. It never runs out and its smooth. I am never buying any other toilet paper again." 

Greg stands alone at the market. Quietly switching from standing to sitting. Eyeing up every visitor as they pass his stand. He tries not overwhelm them and will slowly engage them if they get close enough. However, as soon as the conversation starts, words spill from his mouth. Costco has sent their number one fan to advertise for them. Throughout our entire conservation, Greg persistently tries to sell me on Costco. If its not about how Costco has the best toilet paper, then its their gas or their employee benefits that should grip me.  Greg's stand is equipped with papers, pens and couple of healthy snacks. Greg's official mission is to sell as many Cotsco memberships as he possibly can. He works 9-5 6 days a week, selling at 20 markets a month and in the store. Costco recently opened its doors on Market St. in NorthEast DC, and since then has become a nucleus for the surrounding communities. 75% of Costco's employees are from the encompassing neighborhoods. Greg himself is from Anacostia. A slightly older gentleman, Greg has held a variety of jobs, however he explains being a Costco salesman, although its just been a year and a half,  is by far his favorite. A self-described "people person", Greg sells 1-10 memberships a day through talking, talking, talking.  Greg, however will not be at DC markets much longer as he plans to transfer to the Costco location in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Costco doesn't only support DC communities and neighborhoods but it also allows its employees to escape from them. Walking through the market, I was struck by the Costco stand. Confunded to why a worldwide major corporation with thousands of customers would find it beneficial to sell in a small DC market with tiny customer base. Surrounded by tiny entrepreneurial businesses with a handful of employees, Costco is the zebra among the crowd. After meeting Greg, my view changed. To me Costco shrank from a global super chain to just Greg from Anacostia. He is the entrepreneur, the local. Costco embraces the community, so it only right as Washingtonians to embrace it back. 

Margaret, Margaret's Soul Food, Department of Transportation Farmers Market

Where do you want to be 5 years from now?
"Sitting on my butt on a beach in Jamaica"

You can hear Margaret from a mile away. Her shrill voice echoing throughout the stands, Her energy infects the entire market, pulling customers in as soon as they walk out of their office doors. She fondly refers to everyone as honey or sweetie, and then commands them to try her "soul food." The 9 dollar plate she offers with 2 sides, may consist of jerk chicken, mac and cheese, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fish...etc. A wide range of meals that draw inspiration from the south and the Caribbean. Margaret started the business about 5 years ago. Using her mother's recipes she began her own cooking company that does carry out and sells at the Department of Transportation market on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Margaret employs 4 other people to help sell and cook. They rotate working with Margaret at the stand every week.  Each employee copies Margaret's outgoing selling technique, interacting and pulling in every potential customer.  Margaret lives in Fairfax county, Virginia, while her kitchen is in Arlington, from  where the carry out is done. She spends 70 hours a week on her business devoted to making it profitable. On this day, Margaret's sidekick is Charles. Slightly older then your average vendors, the pair make a formidable team. They corral construction workers, secretaries, office employees, just about anyone to buy a plate for lunch. They are the definition of salesman, extremely outgoing, sweet as sugar, attentive, however at all times focused on making money. The only stand with a tip jar, it quickly fills up. The market is the perfect canvas for Margaret's business. The hungry government workers will happily ignore the less-then healthy calories and nutritional facts in exchange for a relatively well priced delicious lunch of unique"soul food" right outside their door. A little conversation and a couple compliments doesn't hurt either.