market idea help

Personal spaces 👤 Marketing help
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hey ribblr fam!
i’ve been thinking a LOT about how hard it is for crafters and makers around charlotte (and probably other places too) to find a place to sell their crochet and handmade goodies without paying expensive fees or renting a booth that costs $$$. it’s a total struggle for lots of us just starting out or trying to keep it budget-friendly.

so here’s my idea — my family and i want to set up a free crochet (and handmade) stand somewhere in charlotte where anyone can come sell their stuff without having to pay a dime. like a community pop-up market, totally free to join, with no strings attached.

the goal is to make it a safe, friendly, and welcoming space where crafters and makers can connect, share their work, and sell to real people in person without worrying about the costs or complicated rules. imagine a little spot full of colorful crochet goodies, handmade art, jewelry, and other crafts — all made by awesome local makers just like you!

we’re still figuring out the best location and how to make it happen, but it’d be a place that’s easy to get to, safe, and supportive — maybe a park, a community center, or even a church parking lot. if you know of any free or super affordable spots in charlotte that could work, PLEASE share!

now here’s the thing i’m kinda nervous about — is this even possible to do? like, would we get in trouble with the county or city for using land without permission? i really don’t want to accidentally break any rules or laws while trying to make this happen, so if anyone has experience with permits, licenses, or just the legal stuff around setting up markets or stands in charlotte (or anywhere), PLEASE hit me up with advice or stories.

also, should i keep it totally free for everyone, or do you think charging a tiny fee like $5 or $10 to help cover costs (tables, permits, signs, etc.) would be better? i want it to be affordable but also sustainable so we can keep doing this regularly and maybe even grow it into something bigger.

thanks so much for reading and for any info or experience you can share. i’m really excited about this idea and want to make sure it’s done right and safe for everyone involved. :yarn::sparkling_heart::sparkles:

sry for the long vent post :face_with_peeking_eye:

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this is so cool brayyy…
and yes i totes agree with the tiny fee and u do have to pay a fee

this is from the ai overview on google

  • NoDa Street Vendor Pilot Program: As of late July 2025, a pilot program in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood requires vendors to obtain a permit before selling on the street.
  • Permit Fee: The annual permit fee for the NoDa pilot program will be under $100.

and i would totally be interested! (its like 3h but whatever)

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It does require permission from your town or city. You have to check with your policy’s and get a permit. Also I’m assuming you mean charlotte North Carolina. And I do think you should require a 20$ fee, it’s really not that much. And you need a lot of publicity to get ppl to come. Post on Facebook and all over social media. This would be quite a big project but it is a great idea! I don’t live near their so I won’t come but if something like this happened near me I would join!

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Also you might want to get insurance for the stand thats another turn-off for markets (i cant go to markets because of that)

So, do what you will with this, jus tryin to help :)

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should I just make them set up there own tent or smth? so that I dont have to pay for all of the things?

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That’s not too far from me!

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I have run some craft/vendor shows for several years. Most of the time it was in my home church until it closed. I wasn’t charged anything to set up there and I asked for a small fee from each vendor which I donated back to the church. Now I set up at a local childcare school that rents out their gymnasium and with no extra insurance fee. I charge vendors a space fee. Because this craft/vendor show is part of a community event and I am on the committee, they reimburse the rental fee. I, in turn, donate the fees I collect and donate to a different charity each year. I offer tables for an additional cost to vendors, but most places leave that to vendors to bring. I am lucky that I have inside space. If outside, vendors are responsible for their own tents if they choose to have one. I am in NY and usually we have tougher rules lol.

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Yea that works, because you are using someone else’s property to host it instead of a sidewalk or the towns property. You need a permit and other stuff if you want to set it up in a public space but doing it in a building or private property is smart

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I love this idea!! Maybe if you do charge commission you could hire a crochet teacher and teach classes for beginners! Kind of like a cooking class like the ones they do at like community spaces but for crochet!

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OMG YESSSS but i would probably have to be a lil older just so parents t ok with me teaching them (im in middle)

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The YMCA in my area has a free vendor market maybe yours does too???

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do you have to be a member?

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No I’m not and I do it!