Event founder and organizer Lauren Smallwood said although “well over 100” vendors applied, she curtailed that amount to 45 “to ensure that the event was tightly curated to fit our mission.”
In selecting vendors to line the plaza along North 3rd Street between Village and Buckeye streets, Hamilton Flea “heavily researched” each candidate, considering not only the content of each application, but also each business’ social media and website presence.
Hamilton Flea also is seeking to strike a balance between vendors who sold their wares at other similar urban flea markets in the region and “novice vendors with potential” who are making their first foray into such territory.
Smallwood said she also is seeking to avoid excessive duplication.
“We tried to make sure we had a good variety and not more than a few of the similar type of product,” she said.
Vendors this Saturday will be selling everything from arts and crafts, stationery, jewelry and pottery to silkscreened T-shirts, children's clothing, upcycled and repurposed items.
Not all vendors will be around for all five events, something that will add variety and benefit patrons, Smallwood said.
“It allows them to kind of keep a fresh feel and see new items that are coming for each one,” she said.
In addition to vendors, six food trucks are slated to be on hand this Saturday, as well.
The Hamilton Flea is built with a strong belief in the revitalization efforts of the city of Hamilton and aims to serve as not only an engaging community event, but also a small business incubator and supporter, Smallwood said.
“One of our long-term goals — that would be three to five years — we’re hoping to identify a vendor who will go from either a side business or a small business into a storefront,” she said. “We’d like to be able to foster that process for them and be able to provide them contacts within the city in case they’re not familiar with who to reach out to.”
Sara Vallandingham, owner of home decor boutique Sara’s House, said she’s excited to be a part of Hamilton Flea even though her storefront is literally just up the street. She said the event will be “a great addition to a city that is redefining itself everyday.”
“The more we heard about it, the more impressed we were with the organization, forethought and people who are making it happen,” she said. “It will give us creative outlet to showcase new and different items, as well as another means to market our store.”
For more information, visit www.hamiltonflea.org or www.facebook.com/thehamiltonflea.
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