MOUNT VERNON — Starting Saturday, a two-week pilot program will test the waters for a proposed Mount Vernon Makers’ Market to operate in conjunction with the Mount Vernon Farmers Market.
The market, located in front of City Hall, will feature handmade and crafted products from local artisans. Organized by residents, the market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.
“We really want to go hand and hand with the Farmers Market because it is a similar mission of showcasing local artisans and a giving the local people a chance to sell what they create,” said Jami Ingledue, market manager. “I think there is a big demand for locally made goods, foods, arts and crafts items.”
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis told City Council members Monday night the program would operate as a two-week pilot program to see if the idea would take off.
The idea to start a Makers’ Market has been in the works for a while, Ingledue said.
“Mount Vernon has yet to see a handmade market like this that I’m aware of,” said Ingledue. “I visited the Granville market, they have a similar market which is right next to their Farmers Market. So I kind of got the idea from that.”
After contacting other local handcraft vendors, Ingledue saw there is more interest in having a handmade market.
“I thought this would be something the community would want. I make and sell soap and I was disappointed to learn that I could not sell it at the Farmers Market, and I wasn’t the only one,” she said.
At the very beginning of the market project, Ingledue contacted all the merchants on the square inviting them to an informative discussion on any issue they had with the handmade market being on the square.
“We really wanted them to be on board because we really want this to help all of downtown and not just the vendors there on Saturday morning,” she said.
There is no cost to vendors to participate, but vendors are asked to have their own insurance and sign an agreement to display goods.
“We tried to keep it similar to the Farmers Market as much as possible so there’s no fee for the booths and no percentage,” she said. “There is also no food products allowed [to be sold] because we don’t want to infringe on the Farmers Market in any way.”
For more information e-mail Ingledue at mvmakersmarket@gmail.com.
