We learned more than we expected to learn during this episode of Business: Handmade! Mary Kate recalls her first push in the direction of her business, which unfortunately started with severe panic attacks. Her experience turned a corner when a close friend set her on a path of self-reflection and healing. She also talks about how she transitioned from only providing custom blends to her customers to finding a standard product line she could offer which saved her tons of time and energy that she could then reinvest into her business. Quickly we started finding the theme of removing yourself and your ego from your business in order to best represent your business and your products.

Learn more about Little Flower Blends on their website: www.littlefloweressentialoilblends.com and ShopOurMakers.com.

CONNECT with Mary Kate on Facebook and Instagram by following her pages and liking her content.

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

Carly of RAD Stickers + Doodads emailed us with an amazing topic for this episode, encouraging people who want to make and sell their art to just get out there and do it! Carly talks about her own experience starting her small business and in which ways she has been encouraged along the way. Each time she's put herself out there, she has made another step in the direction that her business is in today.

Email us and let us know: what does the quote "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good" mean to you?

Check out RAD Stickers + Doodads and her very awesome Sticker Subscriptions here: http://www.rad-doodads.com/

You can like and follow Carly on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

Kim and Kevin chat about their two successful September handmade markets, 1) Crafts and Drafts at Jersey Girl Brewing and 2) Oktoberfest at Tranquillity Farms in partnership with Czig Meister Brewing and James on Main. Feedback surveys are a huge part of our business and help us understand the positive feedback and constructive criticism of each event we plan.

We are looking forward to our October and November handmade markets at Lone Eagle Brewing, Jersey Girl Brewing, and Winter Village at the Red Mill Museum. 

You can find a list of upcoming events here: www.facebook.com/marketspacevendorevents/events

Please watch our event trailer for Winter Village and sign up as a sponsor here: www.winter-village.com

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

If you yearn for a fun, yet educational conversation... just meet up with Rob of Angry Nimbus Woodcraft. He is a blast to talk with and knows so much about a wide variety of topics. He shares his most surprising experience while being a hand-maker on this podcast, as well as how best to engage a craft show audience and capture their attention at your booth. 

One of the big takeaways is to curate video content for your social media channels, even if you aren't on-screen or speaking over the video. Grab a free domain song and pair that with a cool video of your product and/or process and you will almost definitely increase your engagement.

Check Angry Nimbus Woodcraft out (and the happy little storm cloud logo) on ShopOurMakers.com as well as his website and social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

This delightful episode has us salivating for chocolate. We connect with Emma of Emma's Delights, who we learn is a chocolatier who grew up in Belgium and now operates out of her home kitchen. She offers her treats at a company-wide level, to clients such as Google and Facebook, and has made accepting feedback a regular cycle in her small business. Emma recounts how she started her business, first as a hobby for friends and family, then to offering traditional and gourmet chocolate online. She started doing craft events after she understood the online demand from her customers. Although now some are operating as virtual, Emma offers chocolate-making classes and events in California. 

You can purchase you own box of chocolates from Emma's delights through ShopOurMakers.com.

Let Emma know you heard her on the podcast (and like her pages) on Facebook and Instagram.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

This week we speak with Ana Martins of pureAlma, a handmaker of baby & toddler stuff! She started her small business after moving to California, so hearing about her craft market and networking experience on the west coast was something we were very interested in from the start. Ana also moved recently back to New Jersey, so not only was that an experience in itself (moving across country during the pandemic of coronavirus) but she will also be vending at craft markets and networking for the first time on the east coast!

You can find Ana and pureAlma online at https://www.purealma.com/ and on Facebook and Instagram.

We chat about a few other California based makers (Ostri Studios and Kaya Jewelry with a Heart) that can be found on ShopOurMakers.com by searching listings in California with zip code 95050.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

Ross Traphagen brings a lot to the table when speaking about growing small businesses, effective marketing, and community building. He has done so much to improve and support Clinton, NJ over the past few years. It is our pleasure to talk with him about the ways in which this town not only has weathered the impact of COVID-19, but demonstrates the ability to maintain their thriving and bustling downtown shops, restaurants, and town events. We are lucky to work with The Red Mill Museum on one of our biggest events of the year, Winter Village at The Red Mill Museum, which takes place over the three days of Thanksgiving Weekend. It is an amazing feeling working with shop owners, museum directors, city council, and our makers on such a special event.

To RSVP to the 3rd Annual Winter Village at The Red Mill Museum (or to showcase your ware by becoming a vendor), visit the Facebook Event here.

If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

After hyping up our town so much over the years, we've finally gotten someone to prove it! Gabe Bailer joins us to chat about his role as Downtown Director of Cranford and what that means for the restaurants and brick and mortar shops he oversees. Over the past two years, Gabe has offered many ideas and innovations to consistently improve our downtown and foster community among the small business owners. Cranford was voted the best downtown in New Jersey in both 2018 and 2019.

Especially now during the global pandemic, Gabe is faced with new challenges and even more innovative ways to provide safe and engaging ways to serve downtown shoppers. The new social media campaign, "Now More Than Ever", spotlights local businesses and their owners by giving a personal look into each.

You can find more info about Downtown Cranford at https://downtowncranford.org/ and follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast

We had the pleasure to chat with Carol of Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap this week. By day she works as a biochemist in a laboratory and by nights and weekends she is a cold process all-natural soap maker. Up until recently, Carol only sold her wares at in-person handmade markets. Due to COVID-19, she was pushed to start thinking digital and created a new website where she could engage her customers online and sell virtually. This is a common theme among makers right now, with an added emphasis on selling online (whether it is starting a new online shop or increasing the amount of sales done over the web).

We also talk about the cooperative maker space that Carol belongs to, Soha Arts Building. It is a place that makers not only have access to use to make their products, but also to talk to one another on business ideas, feedback, and collaboration.

You can find Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap on their NEW website at https://bfsoap.com/ and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap is also listed on the ShopOurMakers.com maker directory.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast | ShopOurMakers.com

Episode 30 is an unofficial Part 2 to last week's episode. Matt Czigler, owner of Czig Meister Brewing Company, gives us insight into the craft beer industry and how innovation, flexibility, and collaboration has been key in growing during the impact of coronavirus. We learn how Matt opted to invest a little more financially into his small business up front so that he would avoid having to experience some growing pains as he expanded. Over the past 4 years, he's also learned how to spend less time working IN the business and dedicate more time working ON the business.

Also, Matt started a charity along with other New Jersey breweries that supports NJ's hospitality workers. Check out and donate to Brewery Strong here: https://brewerystrong.org/

You can find all of Czig Meister's amazing beer and new seltzers at http://www.czigmeisterbrewing.com and on Facebook and Instagram. Try the new home delivery option by emailing [email protected] and checking out the delivery map.

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If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Email your stories, ideas, thoughts, or anything you want to [email protected] and we will find a way to include it on the podcast. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us!

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www.marketspacevendorevents.com/podcast