Hi! I’m sarah

How’d we get… here?!

I’ve always been a maker, do-er, crafter and once upon a time I made and sold mid-century vibe macrame as a vendor at markets. I vended at all types of events around the PNW and loved being part of the maker community.

When the pandemic hit, I quickly realized that macrame wasn’t serving me any longer [+ let’s be real, I think macrame’s second “moment” was ending too…] and I didn’t want to “make-to-sell” anymore.

The big question was - how do I stay connected and involved with this INCREDIBLE group of people and community of creatives?

This is why I created the Making Local Markets.

My background includes:

  • a degree in Graphic Design [from like… a while ago, ok?!]

  • being in the wedding industry both as stationery designer and event management / logistics

  • over 15 years of customer service, retail sales, and retail management

  • real estate + renovations, working with contractors and services

  • a City government employee + working with Councils / Commissions

All of these experiences, and others, provided me the very specific tools to create and host markets and events. It didn’t hurt that I was living and working in Downtown Bothell and could feel it was the perfect place to start!

Over the past 4 years hosting events and getting to know this community of makers better and better, I realized that there was still something missing… especially for new handmade business born out of the pandemic.

As a new maker turned business owner, you probably struggle with:

  • finding and defining your niche [or niching down at all!]

  • figuring out your target audience vs trying to sell to everyone

  • how to set up a booth, get a tent, vend at a market and other logistics

  • knowing what to put on an application to vend at events

  • what you need, legally, to run a business and be successful

  • having the confidence to sell and charge what you’re worth

This is why I’m providing content, resources, and education for micro handmade businesses like yours.

It takes a Village:

I couldn’t do any of this without my incredible, supportive husband, Brad, and our 3 bulldogs [they may not look helpful, but they definitely try]! Without them, none of this would be possible or sustainable, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us!

Press + Podcasts

Links below are to Spotify, but you can also find these podcasts on other podcast platforms as well!

Making Good: Small Business Podcast

Episode 84 - The Power of Local

The Coast Podcast

Episode 94 - Local Markets and Community Building

The Market Maven Podcast

June 12, 2024 - Small Business Hype Girl(s)

Market Music

Did you know every event we put on has an individually curated playlist? We’re talking song by song, hours long curation of vibes for the markets!

This is Brad’s zone of genius - he’s incredible at reminding us of our old favorites + classics, discovering new + unknown musicians / bands, creating a journey throughout the playlist, and keeping it upbeat without being too overwhelming.

They’re all awesome.

Pro Tip: follow Brad and save the playlists on Spotify for your long work days where you want to keep the energy up and be productive, but also don’t want to be distracted trying to switch around the tunes a lot!

LET’S Connect!