Holiday Markets: Southern Indiana Vendors Seek Buyers Before Peak Season

Local vendors gathered in Clark County on Sunday to sell handmade goods during the pre-holiday shopping window.

Show My Crafts hosted the event at the Clark County YMCA. The show featured 45 small business vendors. These sellers offered items ranging from jewelry to handsewn crafts. The organizers stated the goal was to provide a sales opportunity for local makers.

Mary Thacker, the Health and Living Director for the Clark County YMCA, noted that starting a small business is often difficult. She said it is not always easy to get a name out there. Thacker described the event as a fantastic opportunity for vendors to showcase their work. She expressed a desire to work with the group again in the future.

Danielle McFarland, the organizer of Show My Crafts, started hosting these events with her husband during the pandemic. She noted that many craft shows were canceled at that time. McFarland previously sold her own pieces and understood the struggle of finding events. She said the team aims to connect communities with local artisans who make items from the heart.

The event included sellers who acquired new skills during the pandemic. Melissa Mendick, a vendor at the show, said she taught herself to sew during that period. The show provided a platform for her to sell those new creations. Other vendors sold similar handmade goods to the local crowd.

Organizers plan a larger event later this month. They will host a Louisville Christmas craft show on November 21 and 22. That event will feature 250 vendors. The group will provide more details on the Show My Crafts website.