The art of helping new crafters
Established holiday market vendors offer a mentorship gift to rookies
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/11/2019 (2207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The popularity of markets and pop-up shops — especially at this time of year — has made it easier than ever to support Winnipeg crafters and artisans.
What’s harder is getting started as a new maker.
That’s why Local Investment Toward Employment (LITE) and Luckygirl Pop Up have teamed up for this year’s Buy Social Holiday Market, which kicks off the holiday craft-show season today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 181 Austin St. N., the Immaculate Conception Parish. LITE, which supports community economic development through job creation and skills building, has run the holiday market as a standalone event for the past couple years, but the foundation was interested in adding a mentorship component for North End and core-area makers.
In a bit of kismet, Mairen Kops and Rachael King, the business partners behind the wildly successful Luckygirl Pop Up shops, were also looking to do some mentoring.
“We find that, organically, as new makers come on the scene or we sort of discover them, we sort of take on a mentorship role anyway,” Kops says. “We really try to help them and facilitate, and there’s a lot of connecting that happens between makers independently. So it just made sense to create a more formal setting where more people could access that kind of information.”
Tyler Pearce, the executive director of LITE, was thrilled about the idea.
“We know that markets have been exploding and people have found ways to make a living,” Pearce says. “But we also know that some people are just starting out across the city, and we knew that there were people who have been coming to our markets for years and had some experience. We also knew that sometimes people, especially people coming for the very first time, can be super shy. Or they might have beautiful things, but might not have thought about how to welcome customers to their table, or how to show off their stuff.”
And so, a couple of weeks ago, LITE and Luckygirl hosted a mentorship night for emerging North End makers to help dismantle some of those barriers. A panel of established makers discussed the nuts-and-bolts of how to get started and shared what they’ve learned along the way, and then smaller discussion groups broke out so new makers could have one-on-one time to get advice and guidance. About 25 to 30 makers were in the room.
“It felt like it could just keep going on and on for hours,” Kops says. “It was really well-received by the established makers and the people attending. They really loved it and it seemed like something we could for sure do more of.”
While specific tips on displaying, marketing, and branding are useful, “sometimes people just need to hear that everybody starts somewhere, and everybody needs mentorship,” Pearce says.
“We’re all creative and anyone can create or make something,” Kops says. “We want everyone to feel like they can be a part of this maker community and that gift of finding value in their own creativity and the craft they might be interested in. It might be something they do for fun as a hobby, but through these connections can turn it into a small business that may really give them a hand up they never expected, earning an income making something they love to make.”
Thirty-seven vendors will be selling their wares at Saturday’s Buy Social Holiday Market, including 10 non-profits who will sell items in support of their programs — such as YouthBuild MITT, a vocational program offered by the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology. Its woodworking was so popular last year YouthBuild had to create a waitlist.
Cost can also be a real barrier to participating in markets, so emerging North End makers or those living on low income were offered a free table. “We want people to be able to experiment and not feel like they’ve put up a bunch of money,” Pearce says.
Admission to the market is just $5, or $2 for North End residents.
Along with LITE’s other flagship event, the annual Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast (which is on Nov. 29), the Buy Social Holiday Market is a way to bring people from across the city to a community often clouded by misconceptions.
“There are beautiful people here,” Pearce says. “There’s a community here. There’s a lifeblood here people don’t know… We want to give people who live here the chance to enter into this space without having to go to the south end. It’s a chance for people to come and see a part of this community they just don’t hear about.”
jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @JenZoratti
Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen.
Every piece of reporting Jen produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
From now until the end of December, there’s a holiday-themed market almost every weekend. Here’s a few to start slotting into your calendar:
Crafted
- Nov. 8-9
- Winnipeg Art Gallery
- Entry: $5, kids under 12 are free
- What to expect: The Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba Craft Council and the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association have partnered to host Crafted, a two-day show and sale featuring more than 50 artists from Manitoba, Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and the Northwest Territories. There are also two “MakerLabs” on Nov. 8 and 9; one that will teach you how to make crocheted scrunchies and another focusing on dyed pillowcases. There is an extra cost for these workshops.
Crafts & Cocktails Market
- Nov. 14, 6-10 p.m.
- Club Regent Casino
- Free admission, but it is for ages 18 and over.
- What to expect: A curated makers market and tasting festival which features products by Absolut and Jacob’s Creek.
Holiday Sparkle Open House
- Nov. 16-17
- Shelmerdine Garden Centre (7800 Roblin Blvd.)
- Free admission.
- What to expect: Decorating demonstrations, free apple cider, a decorated winter wonderland, tons of holiday gift ideas and “holiday sparkle savings” throughout the store.
Rockin’ Around the Xmas Tree 2019 — Craft and Vendor Sale
- Nov. 17, 11 a.m-4 p.m.
- Canad Inns Destination Centre, Club Regent Casino Hotel
- Free admission
- What to expect: Mostly handmade/homemade items, specialty foods and baked goods, swag bags for the first 50 shoppers, a raffle with all proceeds going to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.
Third + Bird Christmas Market
- Nov. 22-24
- Hudson’s Bay Downtown, 400 Portage Ave.
- Entry: $10, kids 12 and under admitted free.
- What to expect: One of the city’s biggest and most popular markets, Third + Bird brings together dozens of makers, live holiday music and a DJ, a photo booth and an on-site cafe. Kids 12 and under are admitted free but there is a no-stroller policy. Tickets are on sale at Thirdandbirdevents.com.
34th Annual German Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt)
- Nov. 29-Dec.1
- Fort Garry Place Mall, 85 Garry St.
- Free, or cash donation at the door
- What to expect: This is the oldest-running German Christmas market in Canada. Traditional favourites, both edible and decorative, will be available for purchase, along with tons of other crafts and artisinal items from more than 60 tables of vendors. Entertainment will also be on hand all weekend. Funds raised from the Christkindlmarkt go to support German cultural and educational in Manitoba.
Noel au Musée
- Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, 494 Taché Ave.
- Nov. 30, 11 a.m.-6p.m.
- Free admission
- What to expect: A local artisan craft sale, photos with Père & Mère Noël, kids activities and the Belle Boutique Blanche Holiday sale.
Nature Holiday Shopping Event
- Nov. 30- Dec. 1
- FortWhyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Rd.
- Free for holiday shopping event only
- What to expect: A collection of the city’s best local makers and a curated batch of nature-inspired gifts, including some experiential gifts offered by FortWhyte including “Snowshoe for Two,” “Tobogganing and Hot Cocoa,” and an ice-fishing experience. For the first time, the holiday shopping event will have live music.
Craig Street Cats Annual Winter Craft Show
- Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Viscount Gort Hotel, 1670 Portage Ave.
- Entry: $1 or a tin of cat food
- What to expect: Crafters, artisans and other vendors offering unique gift ideas, as well as a bake sale and silent auction.
Lights of the North
- Dec. 5 to Jan. 5
- Hudson’s Bay Downtown, 400 Portage Ave.
- Entry: $19.99 for adults, $14.99 for kids if purchased online in advance. Weekend rates are $22.99 and $16.99, respectively.
- What to expect: More of an indoor light festival than a market; 80,000 square-feet of the downtown Bay store will be covered with Christmas-themed 3-D light sculptures. There are interactive components, light tunnels, a photo booth, live music, food and drink, a holiday market and children’s play space. Santa may also make an appearance. The opening hours change depending on the day; more information is available at Lightsofthenorth.ca.
Signatures Handmade Market
- Dec. 5-8
- RBC Convention Centre
- Free admission
- What to expect: Signatures offers the “ultimate holiday shopping event” featuring handmade goods from more than 160 vendors who travel from all over the country to sell their wares at the market. Everything from jewelry and clothing to ceramics, glass works and natural body care will be on display.
Luckygirl Holiday Pop Up Shop
- Dec. 7-8
- 200 Princess Ave.
- Entry: $2, children are admitted free.
- What to expect: More than 80 local vendors and makers will fill the space of what was formerly Hut K on Princess Avenue. The vendor list has not yet been announced, but keep your eyes on Luckygirl’s social media pages for up-to-date information.
Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen.
Every piece of reporting Jen produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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