From anywhere in the suburbs to central Austin, there is always a weekend when markets take place. Along with the many farmers markets, there are also opportunities to attend craft markets with local vendors that sell everything from handmade bags to skin products.
The South Congress Makers Market is a craft market that occurs every week from Friday to Sunday. They host local, small businesses that sell a variety of items from vintage clothing to handmade goods. The market brings together artisans that make products that fit in well with the surroundings. This along with the business of the location are a major draw for some vendors. This is true for Isai, one of the owners of Wisdom Home and Skincare.
“This [was] our first time here, but we thought we’d give it a try and it’s somewhere right downtown,” Isai said. “We feel like our products fit right with the culture, chemical free.”
There is a lot of time that goes into the set up of a market like this. Trey Mumford, the organizer of this market and manager of Güero’s, a taco shop also on South Congress, described how long the setup takes.
“We get here, right at 5:00 in the morning,” Mumford said. “Everyone helps each other get sent up with tables. It’s usually about two hours to get everything ready.”
Not only is it time consuming to get the entire market set up, but individual vendors also work hard to perfect their booths over time. Warren Sawyer, the co-owner of a jewelry store called Black and Bluebird Studios, said that there is a lot of work that goes into this process.
“[It] is way more like setting up a mobile boutique than just a little tent,” Sawyer said. “You learn over the years from leaving something at home or making mistakes, I sort of have a mental checklist. It’s pretty easy for us now.”
Making products takes a lot of time, according to Sawyer. However, depending on how well different products sell at different events, like the various kinds of jewelry that Sawyer makes, vendors are able to easily know what they need to restock for the next market.
“If I’m sold out of something and we know our customers, I’ll go to these big printers drawers that pull out and have all kinds of pieces, and I’ll search…” Sawyer said. “That will usually take, per piece, about 20 to maybe 30 minutes.”
Although these markets are a lot of work, they have many benefits, such as allowing owners to meet their fellow business owner and make connections face to face. Sometimes business owners are even able to obtain business deals through these markets.
“We met someone a few weeks ago, in Barton Creek Mall, they have a market there, and they’re interested in putting our products in their store,” Isai said. “… Online, you don’t get that personal note.”
Mumford went into greater detail about in-person markets. He mentioned that it is not only the connections that business owners make with each other, but also customers that make the markets successful. Both of these create opportunities to gain feedback and understand the audience of their products.
“You get to meet people,” Mumford said. “We’ve gained a lot of repeat customers and I think more than just the product, it’s the experience of having those conversations.”
According to Mumford, vendors that are part of the Makers Market have become a tight knit community. Other vendors, who also want to be a part of a tight community, look to join the South Congress Makers Market.
“All the vendors have become very close,” Mumford said. “We have a lot of people who seek us out, and we’re here.”
Sawyer explained that he’s known many vendors for years, and this adds to the energy that these markets provide. Even though the market is smaller, many vendors return to this event.
“My wife and I are involved in the community,” Sawyer said. “Some folks have just come out to go for the first time, but as I look around, most of these people I’ve known five, six, seven, eight years out here are doing this.”
Markets like these also help to create a space where local artists are able to share their handmade goods. This also brings together the surrounding community.
“Something different and locally made will tend to be unique to the artist which becomes more personal to the person,” Sawyer said “It is a symbol between us and big business.”
According to Sawyer, South Congress has an energy that makes the market enjoyable for everyone. In his opinion, this allows people to be able to share ideas and come together, making the creative community stronger.
“The community [created] by sharing their art and ideas tends to be fun,” Sawyer said. “It’s rare that someone will come out to South Congress and be in a bad mood because you’re in a pretty good space.”
The South Congress Makers Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m and Sunday from 1:30 – 5 p.m next to the church on South Congress. They also have a virtual market where anyone can shop at any time.
