'Good Makers Market' Draws Big Crowd for Holiday Shopping

By Delores Elliott

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Entrepreneur Center at 41 Peabody St. was the host of at least 1,000 people from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the “Good Makers Market.”

Nearly three dozen new and local businesses gathered, offering all sorts of goods. Some of the items were candles, blankets, healthy snacks, handmade sweaters, guitar string bracelets and dog biscuits. Many of the purchases gathered funds, which would later be donated to good causes. The Nashville Social Enterprise Alliance was proud to present and support the event.

People from Nashville and surrounding cities and states, as far as upper New York, gathered to support the city’s young entrepreneurs at the market’s Nashville location on the somewhat chilly Sunday afternoon. Some background information about the market would include other popular locations, such as Iowa, the market’s origin.

Photo of shoppers provided by "Good Makers Market"

        Many of the people who wandered about were family and friends, although some were strangers. The popular age for the event seemed to range from 20 to 30 years old. Most were affluent Nashville apartment owners – the type who probably buy their groceries at Whole Foods, according to an event organizer.

The event took place in two buildings and the space between the two. Foot traffic remained steady, as most of the vendors were lined along the walls. A few of the market’s food trucks set up shop a few steps outside the doors and greeted customers with their warm snacks. The most popular food truck was Daddy’s Dogs. Cheesecake Please and the Nashville Cocoa Bar also served guests. However, some attendees avoided the food due to the high, self-owned business prices.

Photo of entrance provided by "Good Makers Market"

        A few of the vendors with booths at the event included Light Shine Candles, Lazarus Artisan Goods, Give a Damn Goods, Nashville Blanket Project, Project 615, Valorbrands, and Tiff’s Treats. The vendors sold blankets, sweatshirts, hats, candles and cookies.

Give a Damn Goods and Tiff’s Treats were two of the many brands at the event that aim to make a positive impact on the world. Give a Damn Goods are focused on social responsibility and supporting the causes their consumers appreciate. The small business has been around for only a few years and is still making substantial progress.

            Tiff’s Treats employee Anfernee Young said there are 46 restaurant locations across Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Tennessee is home to three, including one in Nashville.

“We are proud to be working towards having more locations throughout Tennessee,” said Young.

The company built itself up from the idea of serving warm cookies, to the idea of delivering warm cookies anywhere within just a few minutes. The eatery gave out 24 dozen free cookies at the market on Nov. 18.

“I thought 24 dozen would be enough,” Young added. “Now I know what to expect next time.”

For more information about the “Good Makers Market,” visit www.goodmakersmarket.com.