'Shop Small This Fall' Craft And Vendor Fair Goes Virtual

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — With so many in-person craft and vendor shows canceled due to the public health crisis, south suburban moms who sell products on the side are banding together to host a virtual holiday marketplace on Facebook.

The “Shop Small This Fall” holiday marketplace is a Facebook event currently underway through Nov. 13. Local moms from Midlothian, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn and Tinley Park are selling direct sale products from bras and candles to jewelry and apparel.

Sarah Spencer, of Midlothian, also known as the “No-Bra Lady,” said she typically does four to six in-person events leading up to the holiday season, selling bras from Ruby Ribbon, a company specializing in shape wear without the underwire.

>>> Shop Small This Fall Online Vendor Event

“When you’re doing a home-based business networking is the heart of it,” Spencer said. “You quickly run out of your market selling to your family and friends, so in-person events are a way to open your network and find new clients.”

A different direct sale vendor is featured each day during the Facebook event. The lineup includes:

Nov. 6 - Stacy Bruno Lukaszewski, Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski
Nov. 9 - Cheryl Tabak, Torched Woodworks By John
Nov. 10 - Tracy Swanson, Color Street
Nov. 11 - Tyree Swiderskii, Sublimation (Custom designs on coffee mugs and other items)
Nov, 12 - Christine Mikulec, LuLaRoe
Nov. 13 - Liesa Steiger-Davis, Jewels2U (statement necklace sets)

Shoppers can peruse other featured products, including Ruby Ribbon, Pampered Chef, Perfectly Posh and Scentsy in the Facebook group. For every order placed with the vendors, shoppers will be entered into a $100 shopping spree with the vendor of their choice. Purchase from multiple vendors and receive multiple entries.

Many schools, churches and non-profit organizations have had to cancel their in-person craft and vendor fairs, which serve as major fundraisers. This is the third Facebook event Spencer has organized, who is happy to host a Zoom how-to for groups that want to host their own virtual holiday fairs.

“These crafters and vendors are hurting,” Spencer said. “From September to December, that’s when they make their money. The pandemic has been hard on them.”

On Cyber Monday, Nov. 30, Spencer is planning another Facebook event and is recruiting vendors and crafters. For more information email Spencer at MrsSarahJSpencer@gmail.com.