A lot of people ask me how I find local makers, artists, shops and small businesses. And to be honest, a lot of times, I can’t exactly remember how I find all of these local gems! What I can tell you though, is what “tools” and “methods” I use (still, half the time it’s just me being curious and/or nosy).
So today, I’m gonna do my best to help you and others to start finding more local artists, shops and makers to help you to become a local business guru, too.
Utilize Instagram
First of all, if you are the person selling your goods and you aren’t on Instagram, I feel like you are missing a HUGE opportunity. I’m a digital marketer, so of course I’m a social media advocate, but really…you have to be on the IG.
Instagram is definitely the #1 place where I discover artists, makers and shops. When I see others mention or tag someone else I instantly check them out. I personally get so frustrated when someone is trying to “tag” someone, but they don’t have an Instagram, so they utilize a hashtag. I mean, at least it’s something I can use to continue to look at their stuff, but I still have to either go find them online or somewhere else, and it’s a pain.
Aside from trolling other people’s posts and visiting profiles, going through different hashtags is key, too. At first, you may seem lost on what hashtags to use or look at, but once you find a good few ones, just stick to those. Some popular hashtags you can use to find local makers in Kansas City include #MadeInKC, #KansasCityMade and #ShopSmallKC.
I also discover upcoming maker fairs, vintage shops, pop-up shops and other events through Instagram, which is where I go to find new and different local things as well.
Scour Facebook Events
Facebook’s events are pretty standard nowadays, so they’ve gotten a lot more robust and useful in my opinion. If I “attend” or say “I’m interested” in an event, Facebook now populates similar events. Take some time to go through those and read the details – this is where you can see who the local vendors are and you can see if it’ll be worth checking out some old favorites or finding new ones you haven’t seen yet.
I also like just going to the events section within Facebook and there’s different categories that you can search through. The more you utilize it and narrow down what you’re looking for, the more similar things to that Facebook will generate.
Also, if you have friends who are local makers or local goes like me, I always creep on what events they are “interested” in and check those out, too!
If you’re on the other side and you’re selling at fairs, hosting pop-ups, etc., I highly encourage you to not just share a little digital “flyer” or post about your event, but actually make a Facebook event about it and share it! Not only will this make getting the details easier, but sharing this is so easy and spreading the message is key. Plus, if you’re anything like me, folks need to be reminded about your event, and Facebook is great at doing that and allowing you to look through all your upcoming events – it’s great!
Go to Farmers’ Markets
Farmers’ markets are pretty popular in Kansas City. There’s so many in every area of the city, it’s great! One misconception is that farmers’ markets are just food and produce…so wrong! First off, I highly encourage everyone to leverage their local agriculture and support local famers and the markets. Our household tries as often as possible to source locally at markets before hitting up the grocery stores.
Anyways, not only will you find great local food at farmers’ markets, but you’ll find different vendors – from honey and olive oil, to terrarium makers (where my succulent lovers at?!) and soap. There can be SO many more makers and local providers at these markets than just produce, but you have to go check them out.
I also suggest checking out different farmers’ markets than your usual/closest one. Of course, we have our favorites and go to them on a regular basis, but it’s always great to branch out and check out some other ones on occasion. You’ll be surprised to see how many different people and vendors are out there.
Attend Fairs, Craft Shows, Art Festivals and the Like
This is probably the most common or accessible way that you can discover different local makers and artists. Attending these is probably my biggest hobby and favorite thing to do. I am also so lucky and grateful that my fiancé, Mitch, enjoys going to these just as much as me.
Getting out and going to local craft fairs, etc. is not only fun, but you get to see so many different talents and options than what you’d ever had expected. Plus, a lot of times there are people from different areas around your own home (like Wichita or Lawrence) who you may not always have the exposure to.
I try to snag a business card (please, if you are a maker, have some dang biz cards!!!) from all the tables I am interested in and haven’t heard of before. Once I’ve gone home I go through all the biz cards and follow them on Instagram then recycle the card. If they don’t have an Instagram of social media presence, then I keep the card and have a nice little stack to go back to!
Pay Attention and Stop to Observe Your Area
It’s so easy to overlook and not even notice what’s in your own back yard. (Especially as we get into our routines and habits of driving one way, not looking around or just automatically running to Target for something.)
Take time to really look around your area/neighborhood and actually notice what little shops or studios are in between those “big box shops” that catch your eye. If you’re walking around through a strip mall or just walking around, actually look at who or what these shops are that you may not know. Take a peak in or look them up.
For me, when I started down this deep (and awesome!) rabbit hole of local places, I constantly kept my eyes peeled when in a new area. Now I’m always on the lookout for small shops or names that I don’t recognize.
Share and Spread the Word
Last, but certainly not least, is the most common of all marketing tactics: word of mouth. If you, a friend or someone you know is the owner of a local shop or studio, or is a maker or artist, you HAVE to share, share, share and spread the word. This really is the easiest, yet most impactful thing you can do. Once you start spreading the message and getting some sort of semblance of a following or presence out in the community or fairs, it can really start to pick up.
Even if you aren’t a maker/shop owner or have many friends who are, simply just sharing what you own or have recently purchased is supporting that small business and can be a big help. Any time I get asked about or complemented on something that came from a local source, I always tell them where it’s from or who made it (and thank them, of course). It’s really as easy as that! Even just posting a photo of your new outfit or wall decor and mentioning where/who you got it from can be a huge help.
So that’s it! Those are all of my tips for finding local businesses and makers. I hope this help you discover some new local gems and share with your friends!