by Jacqueline Smith
What a weekend!
As Co-Producer & Curator & Promoter of the recent shopping event here in Bend, Oregon ––Into The Woods, a Holiday Market–– I, of course, had a Found Natural Goods (FNG) table inside the Liberty Theater November 26th through the 27th. It was a fantastic success for everyone involved, drawing such a large crowd that at one moment a line was out the front doors, and The Bend Bulletin came by to ask a few questions to better understand the draw.
The Holiday Market vendors were not part of Small Business Saturday but embraced the spirit of the day, said co-producer Jacqueline Smith. Many of the vendors at the market do not have brick-and-mortar shops and used the space inside the theater to connect with local shoppers. “This is a huge opportunity for these artists,” Smith said.
We, all 33+ local artisan vendors, were thrilled to be in such a gorgeous space and in my biased opinion, truly good company. Our spirits were high for the two-day event, and my business partner, Wallis Levin and I can't wait to announce our next plans to unite creativity with commerce.
FNG inventory is low after a week like that, but we're still ready to send off beautiful gifts, made of materials close to the earth: 100% merino wool blankets, beeswax candles, sage smudge sticks, brass medallions, leather medicine bags, adjustable bare copper rings, and soapstone drink rock shapes.
Cheers to supporting creatives, local businesses, less packaging, more face-to-face interactions, and strengthened communities.
Read the full Bend Bulletin article by Kyle Spurr, 'Shop Local' Was The Theme in Downtown Bend' here.
