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Meet Your Market Hosts: HayleyCo Designs & Hippie Stitches
When we introduced ourselves back in January, we told you that one of our favorite things about having a small handmade business is the connections that grow along the way. Read that BLOG POST HERE.
We still believe that.
What we didn't fully anticipate was just how much time we would spend making connections, promoting other people's businesses, writing vendor spotlights, making Facebook posts, designing flyers, contacting local event calendars, running paid Facebook ads, answering questions, planning details…
…and generally doing everything except promoting our own businesses. 😂
But honestly?
We wouldn't change it.
Creating the Dows Market on Main and now the Y'allternative Market has given us an opportunity to meet so many incredibly talented, creative, hardworking people. We've gotten to know the stories behind the businesses, learn about the things they make, and introduce them to all of you.
We've written blog posts.
We've made social media posts.
We've created vendor spotlights.
We've contacted local organizations and event listings.
We've had professionally printed flyers made.
We've paid for Facebook advertising.
We've made videos.
We've asked and answered approximately 47,000 questions. (That number may be slightly exaggerated.)
And somewhere along the way, we realized:
"Oh yeah…we're vendors too."
So for the Y'allternative Market, we're finally going to spend a little time talking about us. 😂 Although you will have to come see the new things we've been working on but just haven't had the time to post!
HayleyCo Designs
Hayley is the creative force behind HayleyCo Designs, creating colorful, cheerful, and sometimes hilariously relatable stickers, magnets, buttons, and other handmade pieces.
And while she'll have her usual assortment of fun HayleyCo goodies at the market, she's bringing a few things that have a little more meaning behind them this time around.
Hayley will have awareness products for breast cancer and infant loss, both close to her heart as well as other important causes for October and November...offering a way to remember, honor, and show support for causes that affect so many families. CLICK HERE for a sneak peek!
And because Hayley is Hayley…you'll still find plenty of the seasonal, fun, slightly sarcastic HayleyCo Designs products you've come to expect.
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Because a HayleyCo booth without something that makes you laugh or say "Oh my gosh, that's SO me!" just wouldn't be right.
You can follow Hayley and see what she's creating over at HayleyCo Designs on Facebook and Instagram, and her Website as well.
Hippie Stitches by Shannon
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And then there's me!
I'm Shannon, the maker behind Hippie Stitches by Shannon, and apparently I've spent the last several months being much better at telling you about everyone else's businesses than my own. 😂
But I have been making things!
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For the Y'allternative Market, I'll have a selection of crocheted wearables perfect for heading into cooler fall weather, along with more of my crochet earrings.
And I've got a new little item that I'm excited about:
Quarter Keeper Keychains
If you shop at Aldi, you know.
A little crochet keychain designed to keep that very important Aldi quarter where you can actually find it when you need it.
Because sometimes the most useful handmade things are the little things you didn't know you needed until you see them.
You can follow Hippie Stitches by Shannon on Facebook or visit the Hippie Stitches blog to see what I've been making, what I'm working on, and all the other yarn-related shenanigans I get myself into.
So What Have We Been Doing All This Time?
Well…apparently, running a market. 😂
When we started this adventure, we knew we wanted to create a market that felt different.
We wanted handmade, homegrown, small businesses and people who actually make, grow, bake, create, sew, crochet, cook, upcycle, design, and sell things because they love what they do.
What we didn't realize was how much we would come to enjoy the people part of it.
Getting to know our vendors has honestly been one of the best parts.
We've heard their stories.
We've learned how businesses got started.
We've discovered talents we didn't know existed right here in our own area.
We've watched vendors grow and return.
We've gotten to introduce them to shoppers.
And we've had the privilege of watching a bunch of small businesses come together and create something bigger than any one of us could create alone.
That's what makes all the work worth it.
And Now It's Our Turn!
So when you come to the Y'allternative Market on October 10, make sure you don't just walk right past the two people who have been running around behind the scenes. 😉
Come say hi.
Ask Hayley about her 'Gifts the Stick With You.'
Check out her awareness products.
Find your seasonal favorites.
Come see what Shannon has crocheted.
Try to figure out exactly what a Quarter Keeper is before realizing that yes, you absolutely need one.
And maybe, just maybe, we'll actually get a chance to stand still long enough to talk to you.
Although we make no promises.
We have a market to run. 😂
Thank You for Supporting the People Behind the Market
We started the Dows Market on Main because we believe small businesses deserve a place to be seen, and because we believe communities are better when people support one another.
The fact that we've gotten to build relationships with so many wonderful vendors along the way has been one of the biggest unexpected gifts of this whole adventure.
So thank you for supporting them.
And thank you for supporting us, too.
We'll see you at the Y'allternative Market!
Saturday, October 10 • 10 AM–2 PM
Dows Community Building
Come shop small.
Come meet the makers.
Come support local.
Come find something you didn't know you needed.
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