Local manufacturers set up shop Saturday for a small business in Ravenswood

CHICAGO — Inc Small Business Saturday in Ravenswood, Holly Jolley’s cart helped shoppers get to local mom-and-pop stores.

This has helped shoppers like Andrea Findlay access some of the best spots, including a market with more than a hundred local artisans.

“Oh, that’s great,” Findlay said. “That’s why I live here, for things like this. That’s why I live here.”

A traveling Chicago artisan market set up in Ravenswood this weekend has more than a hundred small business.

“What’s unique about these small businesses is we call them producers,” said Lina Smith, creator of the marketplace. “They are people who do things.”

Producers like Gilad Fishel, who makes chef-made condiments with his brother-in-law.

“The two of us started exactly two years ago at Small Business Saturday,” Fishel said.

Fishel said markets like the one in Ravenswood are key to the success of small businesses like Dilly Dally Provisions.

“Instrumental. I mean, how else would we get our name out there? How else could we get feedback on our product? It’s amazing to be here,” Fishel said.

About 6,000 people are expected to shop at the market this weekend.

“It’s great to be able to network with other small businesses that are here, just making connections with other people is so important,” said Ali Hames of Ali Winter Ceramics. “And being able to interact with customers in person is great after COVID, it’s great to be in person again and talk to people.”

Customers said it was a welcome one-stop shop for people like them who were looking for unique handmade gifts and wanted to support local people.

“It’s nice to help them and buy their stuff and see different artists here,” Linda Conway said.

Business owners have seen a resurgence of interest in people choosing to shop small. Nearly 60% of holiday shoppers planned to attend Small Business Saturday this year.

The National Retail Federation reports that last year, about 180 million Americans shopped in the five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber ​​Monday, making Saturday a good place for small businesses to get big sales over the weekend.

The Holly Jolley cart was only available to shoppers on Saturday, but the Artisan Market is open on Sunday. It will move to the Fulton market the second weekend of December.