Welcome to Leveling Up with Lindsay, the podcast
where we dive into leadership, small business,
and everything in between. I'm Lindsay, your
host and the proud owner of White Beauty Boutique,
a space created to empower women, build confidence,
and foster meaningful connections. Whether you're
an entrepreneur, a mom, a friend, or someone
just looking for a little inspiration, This is
your space to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Join me as we share stories, strategies, and
a little bit of life's chaos while navigating
what it truly means to level up in starting a
business, relationship, and personal growth.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's
level up together. Welcome back to Leveling Up
with Lindsay. Today we're diving into something
that is so much more than just an event. It's
a heartbeat of our community. This October 4th
and 5th from 9 to 2 p .m. we'll be hosting our
fifth annual peony market at the shed location.
What started with just 20 vendors back in 2021
has now grown to over 70 incredible small businesses.
But let me be clear, this is not just another
vendor show. The peony market is a labor of love.
It was created with one purpose. to support and
celebrate small businesses because I know firsthand
the grit, the late nights, the heart it takes
to chase our dream. Our vendors are moms, dads,
students, grandparents, friends, and neighbors.
People right here in our community who show up
with their passions and pour themselves into
every detail. And year after year, they come
back, not just because it's a market, but because
the heart behind it, it just is different. Today,
I'm sitting down with Emily, our event and marketing
director, who has been in the trenches with me
from day one, making this market what it is today.
We're pulling back the curtain on what it really
takes to put this together, why we do it, and
how we've built an event that's not only grown
in size, but grown in soul. So let's jump into
it. I'm really excited to talk about this because
it is by far our favorite event of the year.
Don't you agree? I love everything white peony
does, but this just gets me like next level excited.
It does. So let's take it back. I want everyone
to know the why behind the white peony market.
First and foremost, let's talk about how this
idea was created. So I actually was on a mission
to support other small businesses because we
were growing and the support that we receiving
was like bar none it was amazing but there were
also behind the scenes really late nights seven
days a week hours from sun up to sundown you
were right there with me I remember having lots
of conversations early on and this is like more
of the beginning of white peony when yes we had
those late nights we were up late unboxing we
were up late thinking what we're gonna do the
next day and things like that and it is truly
a lot of work and there's not a lot of like maybe
resources that people are familiar with. So I
remember you saying very early on, I want to
help other small businesses. And you're like,
we should do a market. And I was like, what are
you talking about? That's normally whenever you're
like, oh, great, Lindsay has an idea. But that's
kind of when it started. And when you have an
idea, you run with it and you aren't going to
give up. And you're like, I want this not just
to be a market where people can come and sell
their goods and services, but how can I genuinely
help these small businesses grow and be a resource
during even like the beginning stages of their
businesses? Yes. cool because you, like I said,
you were dead set on it and you wanted it to
be something different and you made that happen.
When we had that initial conversation though,
I was fueled even further. Like I was ignited
because everyone was instantly on board and excited.
But then we were sitting there and I mean, the
conversation and how this is all prepared and
created was, it wasn't just like one little meeting.
We talked about this like almost every day, all
day and texting each other ideas. And one of
the things I was like, okay, I love a farmer's
market in the morning. ambiance of the shopping
the ambiance it's just a beautiful weather yeah
you have flowers there might be a little music
if you're lucky you get some fresh produce like
there's just something so peaceful about a market
you know all the people that are putting in the
work well I was like You know, they're also vendor
events, but how do we like put the two together,
but then really hone in on the people, the makers,
the businesses behind and highlight them to what
they deserve. Right. These are people from all
different walks of life that have spent countless
hours dreaming, preparing, creating. to create
these small businesses. And that's another reason
why you always say white peony is different.
It's not just about clothing and shopping. You
preach that community is important, community
over competition. And that, again, highlights,
I think, that aspect of the business that you
want to run. Absolutely. And I think more than
anything, I just genuinely wanted to back another
small business with heart and support. And so
for me, from day one, It hasn't been about, there's
a lot of different kinds of markets out there,
like farmers markets, vendors markets, the swappers
or the, what is that called? Swappers meat. Yeah.
Never been. I haven't. I actually love it because
I just love spending the morning just walking
through. But I'm like, for whatever reason, from
the very beginning, I knew that like this was
going to be different and I wasn't going to fear
from that. Like we're not here to do the same
as someone else or I really wanted to hone in
on experience. and these small businesses more
than anything. So we started originally with
about 20 vendors. I don't know, was it? I think
it was 20. We were excited to get 20. And it
was a lot of reaching out to people that you
saw at different farmers markets being like,
hey, we're doing this. We'd love for you to come
more to mouth and things like that. And we were
super jacked to get 20 people. And just the whole
atmosphere behind how it started that day, it
was like knocked our socks off. It was incredible.
But we poured So much into that leading up to
there. And then the day of we just really wanted
to make sure that our vendors felt the absolute
love. It just felt different. It felt right.
It was so good. And I am so beyond proud that
we are over 70 vendors and actually in our summer
market. So we have two a year. We have a summer
market that is only one day. And the last few
years we have had. How many vendors at the shed?
There was over 60 at the shed. 60 at the shed.
And then here at our St. Joe location, we actually
had a bus, thanks to Trobex bus here in St. Joe,
go to and from the markets. And we had, I think
it was close to 40, 40 here in St. Joe. So the
goal here is to bring in these incredible small
businesses. We have the two spaces. We have an
incredible community surrounding us. Why not
help them further? So that is our summer market.
and motor fall market in October. Our fall peony
market is a two -day at our shed location only.
Like I said, there's just something different
about this one. It hits different. It's the crisp
air, the fall, people are back to school, I think
ready for a fall wardrobe change, starting to
Christmas shop a little bit or holiday shop.
there's just something about this fall one that
is the biggest for us and to me it's like the
most incredible. I agree and I think people like
oh hey in Minnesota you get what three or four
months of nice weather a year so people are really
looking to do things outside especially in the
fall so people are like saving the date they're
booking hotels because they come from away like
people make this a weekend like event like people
come a long ways for this so it's pretty cool.
I've been asked actually like you know that we
have like the different craft fairs too and they're
like why is this different and I was like it
just is and we've had so much incredible feedback
from our vendors that it is different and we'll
kind of go through that a little bit later but
now I'm so proud with this two -day fall peony
market that we're over 70 vendors. And the coolest
thing is some come both days, but there are some
that are just on Saturday and some just on Sunday.
So if you are looking like for a whole weekend
event come both days because truly you're gonna
like find new vendors to shop each day. And the
thing is the traffic it does get a little bit
busy so if you you know you can decide if you're
gonna spend the full day there on Saturday or
if you're like hey I wanted to do this but I
didn't get to this and maybe have kids with you
Saturday or don't on Sunday like you can come
both days just kind of go through. connect and
talk with the vendors. It's so cool. Let's talk
a little bit about what the process with selecting
vendors for our market looks like. Take it away
because you are hands down in charge of coordinating.
So it's been kind of fun because since the beginning,
we've had some that have been with us since our
very first market and they request to come back
every year because of the heart and the community
and they just feel something so different, which
we'll talk about in a little bit. But with that,
we want it to be fair to A, the vendors that
are coming because we know how much time and
work and effort goes into. setting up and creating
products and just being part of an event like
this. Something that's very important for us
is to make sure we don't have too many of a similar
type of vendor. Like we want it to be fair for
our vendors. They put in so much time and everything
is very specialized. So we want it to be fair
for them as they come and set up and sell their
goods. And we have definitely had duplicates.
Oh, absolutely. There is a way that we go about
it, you know, and there have been a couple of
lessons learned. Yeah. But there are like we
have a couple of different candle companies,
but they're incredible. And it's always, always,
always, always, and I'm going to scream this
from the rooftops. It's always community over
competition. And that is one message that we
have definitely communicated with all of our
vendors that work at the peony market or are
part of the peony market, because there is zero
tolerance for any kind of drama or negativity
across the board. And that's a message that was
very strong in the beginning. And actually I
am confident in saying that is like. the culture
of the P &O market is you're just not going to
get that. Well, and they know it. Like we're
very clear in all our communication with the
vendors. I'm very clear like, hey, there may
be a couple more candle companies, but I think
you're different and this is why, or I feel like
you still be a good fit. Yes. And we over communicate,
which is not a bad thing. And that's one of the
most positive feedbacks I've gotten from vendors
is your communication is fantastic. Like we get
emails weekly. If we have questions, like you
get back to us so quickly, there's no questions.
There's nothing left. Like they don't feel like
they're left in the dark about any information.
about our events and that's really cool because
sometimes you can feel like you're bombarding
people with emails but no people love that and
I think you do a really incredible job at I have
to give you props because dealing with this many
different people is a task in itself and free
I've talked to a couple other businesses that
have held events with like multiple businesses
a part of it's a That is one thing with Emily.
She cares so deeply of the wellbeing of every
single vendor that's a part of our markets. So
I think you can feel that. And I think, so with
your emails, they're very informative. They are
very like one step ahead. Yeah. And we hone in
on, like you said, the zero drama. Like we make
that very clear. Get along with people, have
fun, like collaborate, connect with other vendors.
One of the coolest things about that is it's
like, it's like, it's like, it's like, People
have done that. And there's so many relationships
that have been formed between different vendors.
They go and do things together. They pop up together.
They invite each other places because they've
met at Peony Market. And they've taken that serious.
They've made really amazing connections with
other vendors. OK. That was going to be kind
of my next question. Sorry. No, no. It's good.
It's good. Because reflecting back on the growth
of our Peony Markets, because of the growth,
it hasn't diluted our mission, is what I was
going to say. Don't you agree? As we've grown,
the mission and heart have stayed the same, or
even deepened. And I believe that it is so beneficial
for everyone, like I said, community over competition,
to collaborate. If you're going to win in a bigger,
greater sense, if you, yes, hone in on your skill,
hone in on what you're selling, hone in on your
product or your service. But if you take it to
another level and turn to your neighbor, and
you are like, I'm going to connect with you,
I am also going to support you. I'm going to
create a new friend, an outlet. our peony markets
have turned into, not only on the outside, but
internally on the back end, such a community.
It's cool on social media following these businesses
and they are shouting out other vendors or being
like, I can't wait to partner up with this person
and do things. So it's been so cool. And I think
that was kind of a message from the beginning.
One thing that I know as starting my own business
is you get very involved in the trenches of like,
am I doing this right? I got to get this done
in time. I got to hurry. I got to do this. You're
so focused on your details and how you can improve
and do better and connect with your own customers.
It is very easy to forget the value and the benefit
and just reaching out to a fellow business owner.
And that is a message that we kind of tried to
hone in on from the beginning to encourage that
amongst. And I think that is why. the culture
has really just grown so deep, and I hope it
continues to. My goal, I love more than anything
when my friends meet. each other or like they
connect. And I think that kind of shown the peony
market too in a very different way. So if anything
I think as we've grown the mission has gotten
even like greater. I know that we are very intentional
with this upcoming fall market. We've got some
big ideas and goals and minds but it's not for
us. As White Peony, it literally is for our businesses.
And we continue to accept new vendors, which
is really fun. We try our best to expand and
grow into a capacity that we are able to. But
like I said, we're very selective just to make
sure it's fair. And we have a wide variety of
vendors and goods and services for customers
to shop to to make it a full experience for them.
I can't wait till Sunday. I just have all the
land in the world. Hundreds and hundreds of vendors.
I would too. I totally would. The preparation
for something like this, I wanted you guys listeners
to know and understand and feel the heart behind
our peony markets because they are different.
I wanted you to hear what it takes to put on
something like this. I think it's very interesting
for different people. I want you to know a day
in the life of a market vendor and a small business
starting up or maybe somebody who travels a lot
who has other jobs that literally is pouring
their heart and soul into this. you to understand
that like this isn't just about going to some
little market fair, craft fair type thing. There
is so much more to this. So let's walk from January
1 and on and what takes place in all of the prep
work on our behalf. And then we're going to talk
a little bit about the vendor. So January 1,
what happens? It happens before that. So fall
market is October. I think we do like our 12
days of giving in November, take a little bit
breather. And then I think actually maybe it
is right after Christmas, January 1. I'm like,
all right, spring or summer market, let's go.
What's going? Messaging previous vendors typically,
letting them know this is the dates we've locked
in. We'd love to give you guys first dibs because
we've been a very valued vendor before. That
and like after a market's the gratitude that
is like, I don't know, just like our. everything
is so full of gratitude because it is so much
work but we're like did that just happen? I know
and I actually have vendors that grab me they're
like when's your spring market like put me down
right now can I pay for a deposit right now like
the people are so fired up because how like much
fun it is. Yes so immediately after our market
it is so important to us for every individual
to be heard and be seen and to know that their
efforts and their work really mattered and made
a difference. Yes, you're right. So follow up
thank you email right away because that's so,
so, so genuine. We're so grateful of all the
time and the efforts and just everything they
put into it. January 1st, we get rocking on summer.
It's like brainstorm central. We pick our date.
We say, how can this one be different? How can
it be bigger? How can it be better? What can
we do? One thing that's super fun, are you going
to find a DJ at any other? farmers market. No,
you're not at peony market. We actually have
the best music ever. We'll have like a DJ or
a live band or someone singing like just that
really creates a fun atmosphere in itself. We
try to have food and like drinks available for
people who like to maybe have a coffee as they're
shopping or enjoy a burger for lunch. Absolutely.
Like we reflect back and really hone in on how
we could have done it better. So I'm honestly
every year it feels like we've leveled up a little
bit more, but we always take moment to look back
from prep time the day before to the day or days
of and ask ourselves like what could we have
done a little bit better not only for customers
on the shopping side but mostly for our vendors
and like how to benefit them a little bit further
and as things you don't think of like calling
you making sure we have porter potties and like
things that are really valuable and maybe like
are easily forgotten but are so important to
make the day run smooth Literally what you were
saying, Em, is we... Look at every part of an
experience, not only from a customer standpoint,
when somebody comes up. And I don't really like
say customer, our community. I don't know what
to say. It sounds so salesy. Because I want it
to be such a great experience. So if someone
was to walk up to our market, drive up, come
in, what does it feel like? What does it smell
like? What is it? What can you hear? Like all
the senses. And I want you to just be like, you
can feel the freaking love from everybody. I
want you to not just walk up to a vendor booth.
I want you to feel the absolute personalities
behind who you're talking to. I want to knock
your socks off. And then on behalf of what matters
to us more than anything is our vendors and how
they feel and how that looks like. So we go step
by step. And then we're like, how can we make
this experience a little bit different every
time and a little bit better every time? I think
the coolest thing, it starts that vendor set
up in the morning. So vendors get there pretty
early. We have it to a science now where we space
out when vendors arrive, when they can unload,
unloading times, all that kind of stuff, which
is so much work in itself to plan and prepare
and make sure it's a very smooth transition for
everyone. But we get a group of people there
in the morning that help unload vendors' cars,
help set up tents. And that has been one of the
biggest things, the gratitude from vendors. They're
so grateful because sometimes they're there by
themselves and they have tons of boxes or heavy
tents. weights and they need help setting up
and we are at their car we are helping them unload
and it's amazing. So bless my kiddo's hearts,
my husband's and our families and friends. I
have a couple of very best friends that literally
the morning of market show up the same time I
do at our fall market at 601 or 555 or whatever
that is to help me guide these markets. Our goal
to make the vendors their lives easier, the small
business owners, is organization. We've changed
that a little bit. And I'm so proud of what it's
developed into. I think every year we learn.
So it's never going to be perfect, but we're
on a mission to make it better. So like you said,
you organize what time different vendors come
and why that makes a difference for some versus
not. You know what I mean? The family, the friends,
our kiddos that come, and these teenagers are
ready. We've got like... two to six kiddos at
6 a .m you guys they have such good attitude
they come in and they are sweatshirts on and
ready to go just to help everyone unload and
they are the kindest souls too it is it's true
and like My daughter's had her best friends and
their friends, and it's just been so cool. And
I'm so appreciative for them. I usually bribe
them with a little extra breakfast, maybe an
Elani or a little energy drink or coffee. But
whatever it takes, we got to do it. So I definitely
make sure that they are taken care of. So let's
take it back a step further. from the very beginning
of how this prep, like the organization from
it. So yes, from January one, we're planning,
we have meetings every single month for a long
time. And we're constantly messaging back and
forth, all these ideas. And then once it gets
up to like two months before, I mean, we have
a lot of discussion about like, where are we
at? What are we going to do different? How can
we tweak things, updates with communication with
the vendors and whatnot. But then what really,
really matters is. Emily goes through this incredible
process. When a vendor reaches out to us to sign
up, what does that look like? Because like just
walk from that. We're trying to make it simple.
It's affordable. Like we do have a fee for our
vendors, but let me tell you, we're not here
to make a dime off of anything like that. That
was never, ever, and never will be part of our
mission. It literally, like we have, like you
said before, we do a port -a -potty, we do marketing,
we do printouts, we do all of these things to
make sure this is successful for these small
businesses. But okay, kind of go through that
from the beginning. Yeah, so if a vendor, a new
vendor reaches out, I kind of ask a little bit
more information about the goods you'd be selling
or the services that you'd be providing. Make
sure it's unique in a sense that it's something
different enough that we don't have already a
vendor attending. I have a program or a software
that I put in the questionnaire and a link to
reserve your spot. They can pay their fee and
all that stuff right through this link. I send
it to them. They reserve their spot and they
fill out all the forms necessary and then they're
good to go. Yep. All good to go. So easy for
them. It's streamlined. They get a receipt right
away. They get a confirmation email and then
Again, it kind of goes through all the information,
what to expect, and letting them know that more
details will be coming. We keep communicating.
I keep giving them updates. I keep asking them
to help spread the word, because the more people
that know about it, the more they benefit from
it. And social media is such a cool tool for
advertising and marketing. It is so cool. But
I love, through this process, how you connect
with these vendors. You connect with them. And
it is so cool to get to know them. And then by
getting to know them and what they offer, then
we kind of decide where they're going to go schedule
-wise. So you try. really hard. We always tell
everyone there's no guarantee of a spot, of where
you're going to be located or whatnot. But you
do a really great job. Emily pours her heart
into this as far as selecting what times everyone's
scheduled to come in, where you're going to be
located, and whatnot. Yeah, we ask anyone if
they have special requests. So maybe if someone
has paper products they want to be against the
building so it doesn't blow away, or if they
have fresh cookies they don't want to be facing
the sun, things like that. And we've learned
a lot. Yes. bigger booths or a lot of stuff,
they need more time to unload. So I just ask
for all those requests ahead of time. And then
we definitely do our best to accommodate everyone's
requests. And especially with the unloading times,
because I know how much time and effort and work
goes into that. Yeah, because sometimes we have
vendors that are like, if I could get here. earlier
we'd be here. And then there's some that are
like actually my setup only takes about 15 minutes
because then we kind of spread everybody out
and again we may not be able to like culminate
every single tiny detail but we absolutely pour
our hearts into doing our very best. We are there
the night before sometimes late with your husband
or spray painting like numbers and we're arguing
about like how much more space we need and it's
fun and it's playful banter but it's just it's
a lot of work and it's the reality of it like
we're there late to make sure it's easy for for
vendors in the morning. Let me just tell you,
and then we got to talk about vendors. When market
is over and things are quiet and we clean up
the whole week after and put things back in order,
and I mean it takes a week, you sit back and
you kind of just are like, look. Like you hit
the chair or you hit the pillow and you're like,
did we just do that? I know. I know. It's a lot.
It's a lot in such a good way. But you know what?
This year, I think about the video. I think it
was last fall market. My mom and dad, I think,
came, my husband and daughters. I think it was
you and your kiddos. Yeah. And I think Autumn
and her husband were there at one point. And
everybody the night before, I think it was like
8 PM, 9 PM, whatever it was, were all rearranging
the world at the shed, trying to do some last
minute details. Because what starts for us behind
the scenes market morning we're up at 4 a .m.
working on things and I'm at the shed at 6 and
it is go time. We have learned from the beginning
that we don't come in early thinking that we're
gonna work on something like everything has to
be done by Friday period because when we get
there in the morning for our vendors they deserve
our attention first and so everything else there's
no time for it. Okay so vendors, the booths,
the communication, meeting these humans behind
their small businesses and the work that they
do. Let's talk a little bit about the vendor.
I want the world to know, and I wish that I would
have asked and I will in our future, ask a vendor
or a small business to be on here and talk about
what it takes. And you know what we're really
good at? We have done some interviews and with
videos we'll post on our social media. So please
follow Pioni Boutique. Please, please follow
our Pioni Market Facebook page. Instagram page
Emily did create to help this. That's new this
year, too. We want people to always have a place
they can go to know the happenings, the dates,
the vendors that will be there. So it's peonymarket
on Facebook, and then peonymarketmn on Instagram.
There we go. So check it out. So we'll give you
some behind the scenes of some of our vendors
and do interviews with them, because here's the
deal. My goal and my mission is for you listeners
and our community to meet these incredible people.
the time and the effort and we know from white
peony i know from a business owner i know from
a creative i know what it takes and it is a lot
of freaking work oh my goodness do you want to
let's take it way back i don't think i've actually
talked about this ever in any of these podcasts
before white peony was created emily Do you remember
what me and my mom used to do? My mom and I would
create signs and holiday pots. And we had this
big sale, like holiday sign sale, and with greenery
and different things in my garage. I don't think
I knew that. You didn't? I wonder if I could
find pictures. OK, so long story short. We're
well aware what it takes to like set up, you
know, and white peonies started. We actually
did, I think our very first vendor event, I think
it was at like Ducks Billiards, a big like thing
or one of them. No brewery. Yeah, it was a brewery
in Annandale. That's where it was. My gosh. I
was there. I don't think we could move after
that. Here's at the end of the day, please know
that these people in our community, moms, They
are children. They are grandparents. They are
sisters, brothers, friends, neighbors, everyone
in between. It starts with a dream. It starts
with a dream, moves forward with passion. And
you show up to a vendor event or our peony market
with grit and damn determination. Excuse my language.
Because it is a lot of work. And there have been
moments. We were faced with a little bit of weather.
markets one was incredible we're gonna talk about
this here rain in my heart actually stopped and
i like couldn't breathe that first time because
i know how much work these people put into their
products and services and i was like it was not
about me i just wanted to i was so concerned
with how what they were gonna do with their product
and how they were gonna yeah because it was when
we were setting up the morning oh my gosh okay
let's take that back We had a morning, I don't
know if it was the second year, third year, third
year maybe. And in the morning, it was torrential
downpour, you guys. And never in my mind did
it, you know, being new to all this, did that
cross, it didn't cross my mind at all. And it
rained, torrential downpour. Like it rained so
hard. We had to put boards in the parking lot
after the walk -in. Oh my god. There was puddles.
I forgot about that. OK. And I remember standing
there numb. Like people were showing up, our
small businesses, our vendors were showing up
with their trucks, with their families. They
were unloading and setting up tents in the torrential
downpour, the rain. And I just, I went out and
I was coordinating, you were coordinating, Matt,
I think was coordinating. We were talking with
them, but then I remember coming into the shed
and standing there numb. Like, I didn't think
of that. Like, what are, what are we going to
do? Not only what are we going to do, but Are
these people for real? Like they're still setting
up. They're pushing through. Like you talk about
grit. Yeah. I literally remember standing there
numb, looking outside. Our employees are running
in and out, trying to help people and coming
in, stopping wet with umbrellas, trying to like
bring them towels, whatever we had to do. And
I remember being like, is this for real? And
then I was like, Are they seriously still setting
up in all of this? And it got me kind of choked
up because I was like, wow. There were a couple
of people that just could not continue, which
I completely understand. But those who stayed
in those above all, whether they left or stayed
and had the best attitudes, that was a lesson
that we weren't going to really, we're going
to take that standard and use that going forward.
Yep. Yeah. Right. It all matters. And oh my gosh,
that day was like a complete let's learn. But
let me tell you what did happen. Because of everybody's
attitudes, the universe listened. I am a firm
believer because at like 10, 30, the sun came
out and we had the best day we ever could have
asked for. Absolutely. I remember walking around
and being like. Wow. Are you OK? These vendors,
above all, weather, rain, shine, wind. We had
an incident with that. And our team handled it
like champions. I was in tears because our vendors
handled it like everybody came together. There's
just something to be said about this type of
event our peony markets are where you connect
and they turn into kind of our family They do
and everyone supports everyone which is so cool
You have each other's back like for the win like
people are helping pick up each other's things
Like it's just it's really cool. So when we talk
about from a vendor perspective What makes it
different than the rest and the feedback that
you've maybe received I would say the organization.
Yeah Yep feedback that received from vendors
that it's different from the rest is the organization
the personal and heartfelt touches of course
they can feel we genuinely care and they appreciate
that they're not scared to like email and ask
questions that they have questions someone said
this is the most put together event i've ever
been part of i love it all thank you so much
Another quote from our vendor is, I'm so excited
to be a part of this market. I love everything
that white peony represents. So again, that just
shows that all the hard work that we put into
making it a community show and they can feel
it. That's good. That's exactly what we're doing.
All the work, you know, the selling of products
is one thing, but like if everybody could feel
and understand the bigger picture is actually
the win. Right. And I've had multiple people
be like, tell me your dates now, like get me
on the wait list. Like I need to be a part of
this because it's just, it's so cool. Now, as
far as our customers go for our fall peony market.
If you're interested in coming from out of town
or if you're local and you want to see what the
heck this is all about, you're going to get food
and drinks and experiences. We have like permanent
jewelry and hair tinsel, right? You're going
to get products and vendors from all different
walks of life and different things from candles
to... our list. We have homemade signs, we have
doll clothes, we have homemade jewelry, clothing
and accessories, cookies, lots of baked goods,
you guys, canned goods. Let me tell you what.
We have nautical bowls. Seriously, I always find
something for myself. Usually it's like a, what
do you want to say, like a homeopathic type product.
I usually get a candle. Usually I find many gifts.
And usually I find a Christmas, a holiday gift
or two, or just for like a teacher or a thoughtful
gift for a neighbor. I remember the one time
Tara wasn't able to come, one of my best friends.
Did she give you a list? No, I think I had to
beg for her because I was like, she missed out.
I think a lot of people do get a lot of Christmas
shopping done because it's cool. It's a cool
way to support small businesses and unique things
that you won't find other places. I agree. But
for customers and vendors, both of you, we have
a few new things in store this year. Little touches
that we hope will absolutely elevate than ever
before. I have never felt so excited. And I know
I say this to some degree every year, but I really
mean it. I've never been so excited about this
fall market. It gets more exciting every year
because we do different things. And I do want
to say too, like this event is made for getting
groups of friends together. Like get your ladies
to go shop. It can be family oriented. Like you
could bring your kids. Like it is really for
anyone, anyone. We also partner locally with
a place for lunch and drinks afterwards if you
want to go. So coffee before coffee before. Yes.
So make it a day experience. your excuse to get
away for the day. Enjoy the fall weather. Come,
like Emily said, with yourself, with your friends.
If you want to do family, Sunday is different
from Saturday. So like Em said, there's different
vendors on both days. And then on Sunday we have,
this year we're going to have a bounce house
for the kids. I'm so excited. It's a new business.
They're going to bring, kind of promote their
business. And they're going to bring some bounce
houses and some fun things for kids to do. We
usually have some fun kids activities of our
own too. So Sunday is tailored more to like kids
and families. Oh, I just thought of one thing
too. This is going to be different because we're
partnering with Toi, which is a training facility,
a training facility behind our shed location
kind of. And he's like, I want to be there and
open our facility to those who maybe aren't there
to shop. So maybe the guys, all the guys can
come through our market. We have plenty of whole
families that come, but if you're dropping off
your wife and her friends and you guys want to
have fun, there is so much to do. And we're going
to post the details, but if you are interested
in guys and maybe those who aren't interested
in the shopping part of things. We have an experience
for you all as well. So that's gonna be so fun.
Keep an eye out for that for sure. Bring your
friends. Sunday might be family oriented. Come
both days different vendors. Absolutely and like
significant amount of new vendors. Like it would
be worth making a two -day trip in my opinion.
I agree. I am so excited. When she talks about
this, it excites me. And I don't even know. I
don't even know. I have the list of vendors in
front of me. I think I have messaged our team
every day this past week. And I said, you guys,
the vendors this year are so good. You guys,
I'm so excited. Oh, she actually has, for real.
And as a little wrap up to all our fall peony
market vendors that are prepping. Beyond measure
like right now the hours the time everything
that you're putting into it I want you to feel
our love and I want you to feel the community's
love and I want you to know it will be worth
it you so matter and I think if everyone knew
all that goes into this if Everyone knew the
heart the passion the soul the time the money
the effort the sleepless nights the long days
It's such a powerful thing. So whether you're
a vendor I see you. I hear you. I'm excited if
you're someone who interested in coming to our
peony market I challenge you guys all to meet
one another go up. Yes You're looking at product
and sometimes you just want to shop quietly and
that is absolutely okay But I challenge you to
get to know one person that maybe their product
resonates with you a little bit differently Maybe
there's something that truly is going to help
you whether it's health wellness or whatever
that looks like Maybe it's something that you're
just blown away by like the detail of something
what or Or the person, maybe you're like, hey,
they're making candles, but I love your shirt.
Or vice versa. That's what the stay is all about,
connecting with people. I agree. And for me personally,
I've got to know a lot of these vendors really
well. So for my son's birthday, I reached out
to Michelle with Sweet Loom Bakery and Shime
Cookies. And I was looking for a back -to -school
sign for my son who went to kindergarten. I reached
out to Jamie with Christiansen Customs, and she
made me a back -to -school sign. So it's things
in your everyday life that you're looking for.
I go through this vendor list first, because
I love A, supporting small businesses. These
people are amazing, and their quality of their
stuff is so good. than ever is such a time to
support these small businesses, right? Emily,
thank you so much for sitting down with me today
and pulling back the curtains on everything that
goes in to our peony market. I'm so grateful
for you, our team, and most importantly, the
incredible vendors who pour their heart and souls
into making this weekend so special. To everyone
listening, I hope you felt a glimpse of the love
and dedication that makes the peony market more
than just an event. It's community. It's connection.
It's families, friends, and neighbors showing
up with their passions, their creativity, and
their dreams. We would absolutely be honored
to see you all at our fifth annual Fall Peony
Market, Saturday, October 4th, and Sunday, October
5th, from 9 a .m. to 2 p .m. at the White Peony
Shed location. Come shop, come support, and come
meet some of the most amazing small businesses
you will ever know. And even if you're unable
to attend, you can still be part of this movement.
Share our posts on social media, follow some
of these incredible small businesses and help
us spread the word. Your support, whether in
person or online, means more than you will ever
know. Because when you choose to support small,
you're not just making a purchase. You're fueling
a dream, strengthening our community, and becoming
part of the heartbeat that keeps this market
alive year after year. So mark your calendars,
grab a friend or five, or share it with someone
who could maybe come with you. Together we can
make this fall peony market the best one yet.
We cannot wait to welcome you all. Thank you
for listening. If you found this information
helpful, please share it with a friend. If you're
looking for more information on the topics we
covered, please head to the show notes below.
And if you wouldn't mind leaving a five -star
rating and review, this would help this mission
and our journey to get started. Let's make today
and every day an opportunity to level up. Until
next time, keep dreaming, keep striving and keep
making a difference.