On Apr. 1, The City of Kitchener hosted a Squarepeg micro market at the Kitchener City Hall. This event focused on the continued advancement of the downtown retail business landscape.
The maker’s market is designed to help small businesses transition into long-term retail spaces downtown. This event is for artists, makers, and business owners ready to enter the retail business, but rent is so expensive, and it is risky to open a business.
Squarepeg gives individuals a platform to test what they want to do, meet new customers, and grow audiences.
This market offers a selection of goods created by local artists, makers, and businesses ranging from fashion to food. Samantha Staresinic, one of the three organizers for this month’s Squarepeg market, said it’s a retail incubator where different businesses rent out a space from the Kitchener City Hall for a month to test new concepts.
In January, Squarepeg hosted a pop-up gallery by artist and designer Nicole Beno. In February, Zo & Zazi Vintage set up a month-long temporary shop. In March, Valkyrie Custom & Wear, a clothing brand owned and designed by Megan Murray, hosted a market. Now, Staresinic, along with local artists Elise Mack Pillsworth and Kirstie Kearney, is hosting a market showcasing work from 75 local artists in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge area.
“We want to be able to sell collectively on behalf of local artists and makers because there are so many incredible people in the community,” Staresinic said.
The three artists wanted to run their shop for a month with support from Kitchener, who gave them the space needed to host their market.
“So instead of having to go to different markets and events or shop online or from individual vendors, we’re doing it all together in a beautiful gift and handmade store,” Staresinic said. “Right now, people want to shop locally more than ever. So, we thought it was the perfect time to bring the concept to Kitchener.”
The market comprises different independent businesses that have their own niche. So, the organizers are working together to bring the collective effort of 75 local makers and artists.
“I think what makes us different from other markets is that we’re integrating artists with different workshops and events and showing off how they can teach other people how they create their work,” Staresinic said.
“There are a lot of interactive components to what we’re doing here. So, it’s an active space. It’s not like your regular store. And I think that’s what makes us unique.”
From the vendor side, Kahlan Thomson, a participant in the Squarepeg market, said a lot of Instagram marketing was involved in making this market possible. It helped local artists learn about the event and spread the news to others.
“This market gives people more flexibility. Depending on their schedule, people can come and go as they please,” Thomson said. “Vendors restrict to one or more days, but our market is open an entire month, letting people come and go as they please,.”
She also said she liked the variety of local products sold in the market that helped showcase the creativity and talent of the artists.
The Squarepeg micro market offers local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs an opportunity to test their ideas in a low-risk environment.
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