Handmade Market rocks the Yarralumla Woolshed

Granny said :

This forum has been supportive of Handmade Markets from Day 1, myself included. I think Market Girl has handled this badly and the rest of you are just making it worse for her.

Do you really think that insulting the 60,000 Canberrans that like this forum and don’t consider it ‘poisonous’ is the best way to help your friend and her business?

Some courteous explanations and reassurances were all that was required. The rest was both unnecessary and unwise.

Absolutely. I’ve spent money at both markets and it would have been good to have known whether it was a commercial venture from the beginning, and that the “fair trade” aspect may not have been checked out thoroughly. “Better than the bad ones” the standard Gungahlin Al has endorsed at #59, doth not corporate social responsibilty make.

Granny,

My opinion is this thread is poisonous not the whole forum. I do not believe the the other 60k would think otherwise.

I doubt very much that she will ever log back into this thread. She answered the all concerns courteously in post 25 but was not seen as good enough.

Her supporters and market girl have a right to be upset with unfounded accusations such not giving the money to MND. Very easy to check if any one feels the need, as mentioned above she even made it easy for everyone with a link. She also explained about the targeted 1 stall holder…. marketgirl has said she checked here bona fides and is happy with the evidence provided.

I am unsure how any one could believe more could be raised from set dollar amount from stall holders than having the opportunity for all 12k that attended to buy a raffle ticket.

The raffle prize this time was a lovely quilt from a lady that had died from MND the last thing she had handmade before her passing….. this was explained to me by the MND fundraising coordinator who manned the MND stall friday night. As I mentioned above MND NSW/ACT are over the moon with what Handmade are doing in raising money and awareness from a horrible disease that does not have public awareness.

I agree in some instances supporters have added fuel ….. why?… market girl had already addressed concerns.

She has answered your questions ….

Well Ms GA is organising a big conference, and has just ordered 50 lamps from Handmade marketeer Electric Firefly.

So there’s our vote of approval for the markets, and everything Marketgirl is doing.

Is it a new business, with the audacity to start-up during a (near enough) recession, and looking to have captured the minds of thousands of Canberrans? Tick
Does it fund-raise significant amounts for a charity, even though it would have absolutely no obligation to do so? Tick
Does it apply a higher standard of entry for local input than EVERY other market in the region? Tick
Are the products of a consistently high standard rather than junk imports and copyright rip-offs? Tick
Do we wish she could run markets (either new ones or boost the existing ones through some management arrangement with current operator GRCS) in Gungahlin? Tick tick tick

This forum has been supportive of Handmade Markets from Day 1, myself included. I think Market Girl has handled this badly and the rest of you are just making it worse for her.

Do you really think that insulting the 60,000 Canberrans that like this forum and don’t consider it ‘poisonous’ is the best way to help your friend and her business?

Some courteous explanations and reassurances were all that was required. The rest was both unnecessary and unwise.

From what I have read handmade have answered your questions……. Then you make up more ….

All there advertising says supporting MND and as I said above MDN are over the moon with handmade if you require confirmation contact them yourself oh… and do not forget to make a donation…..

From where I sit so what if someone is making a profit that is benefiting Canberra why should they explain it on a public forum..??

Granny

Below is handmades reply how I read it is that she was going to run a smaller market in Linear Park…..

As for Gungahlin Handmade was never going to be held there, we wanted to custom design a local market that would have similar values but more suited to the local community, support the local shops and designers. Handmade was always going to be the “big sister” of the Gungahlin market.

Market Girl the best advice is stay away from poisonous public forums the market is a standout success and good luck to you and well done on a fantastic event don’t bother replying people like this will never be happy. 🙂 Jealous of success possibly…

Order! This Kangaroo Court is now in session, judge, jury and executioners, Genie and I-filed, presiding.

ANSWER US!!!!!

or we will keep stamping our feet… and keyboards!

I-filed said :

All it would have taken would be for Handmade to respond to the points raised, and, as always, I stand to be corrected – IF my concerns are ill-founded.

Genie said :

As I-Filed has said, answer our questions – if we are wrong. Then we will be quiet

All some of us are asking is to have our questions answers, and instead we are being called negative and nasty horrible people.

As I-Filed has said, answer our questions – if we are wrong. Then we will be quiet

For my part I was offering support for something I had been led to believe that Market Girl wanted to do i.e. hold her markets in Linnear Park.

I probably won’t bother in future.

The Albert Hall markets were a great day out, and I wish her well, but am also a little put off by the attitude taken.

I do understand that she was probably feeling hurt and upset when she responded, however, and has less experience in this forum than most.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Wow – there’s no angry, crazy, spiteful fury like a handmader scorned. Defensive much? You think you’d been keen to find out whether unscrupulous people were diluting your message and misrepresenting their wares rather than shooting the messenger.

Keep sticking the boot in til you get a straight answer, i-filed. “It made me feel warm and fuzzy and just let me just name drop some stallholders and HOW DARE YOU” doesn’t do it for me.

It’s actually a relief to see that even Handmade’s “nice people” are happy to reveal their shadows ! …

Handmade would you object to putting on the record that you paid the commercial rate and not the community discount for hiring the Albert Hall? Again, in the interests of transparency.

Wow – there’s no angry, crazy, spiteful fury like a handmader scorned. Defensive much? You think you’d been keen to find out whether unscrupulous people were diluting your message and misrepresenting their wares rather than shooting the messenger.

Keep sticking the boot in til you get a straight answer, i-filed. “It made me feel warm and fuzzy and just let me just name drop some stallholders and HOW DARE YOU” doesn’t do it for me.

Sorry guys, but it’s legitimate to query the disjunct between Handmade’s early statements and change of tune. The market itself has many terrific qualities – but if it’s based on dishonest marketing, I don’t think my concern is addressed by any of the responses above and you haven’t read my posts in detail. All it would have taken would be for Handmade to respond to the points raised, and, as always, I stand to be corrected – IF my concerns are ill-founded.

Genie and I-filled couple of points from the side line.

1. I am sure Handmade do want people like you supporting them and welcome such mean spirited persons not attending.

2. I would not put the I can not bring myself to call it a market in Gungahlin in the same category as Handmade. Why is not a success?

3. I actually spoke to the the MND fund raising coordinator for MND ACT/NSW at the Market Friday night who was over the moon with the awareness and money raised by Handmade. To suggest that the money goes to a family member is beyond belief and down right disgusting.

4. Wages and profits are two very different things. Why should Handmade explain to you or any one other people other than than the Tax dept where the money goes. It really has nothing to do with narrow minded people like you.

5. I hope there are many more successful Handmade Markets they are one of the best markets in the country.

Sepi – The Gungahlin Markets is held the LAST Saturday of every month.. Unfortunately the last market only had 3 stallholders turn up on the day to sell their stock. Most of the regular stallholders now pay for short term leases and are found scattered amongst the centers.

As for a wage not being profit, Umm several people claim this market is run at a loss.. So how can she afford to pay herself a wage ?

Clearly all you ‘newbies’ (Pass the Panadol, HICKERY, Pandanus, bueslee, h2obubbles) can’t read as I have RAVED about this market saying it was AMAZING I just feel the operator and some of the stall holder’s are dragging it through the mud… and also I believe you don’t understand the point of this website as for most of you this is the only thread you have only ever commented on – it’s all about having a whinge.

You all seem to want to pass your criticism to myself and I-Filed out because we have some questions which are still yet to be answered and are expressing our disappointed in certain aspects of the market – But now your just resorting to name call by calling us scum, and referring to me as a joke due to a recent post of mine.

No other market in Canberra comes anywhere near the Handmade Market. The Hall, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong markets are incomparable with Handmade.

Perhaps it would help to note that the cost of stalls at other similar events and markets is very high. At similar events in the UK stalls consistently cost between $500 and $2000, then they charge an entry fee to visitors, and all with no charity in sight!

I find the negative comments of two contributors to this thread hypocritical and clearly lacking perspective. These people perhaps should spend less time looking for negatives and get on with life.

Funds raised go to MND (NSW/ACT) who then distribute it (onus on negative detractors to investigate this and provide proof rather than slander the market organiser beforehand). To my knowledge, the Handmade Market raffles have consistently raised more money than a stall percentage would have done. The term “not for profit” does not mean no wage is drawn.

For comic relief, I recommend this post from Genie – she is surely joking… “Salvation Army being greedy buggers. By Genie ? August 28, 2009”.

Reading the negative comments on here makes me so sad! All the joy that the event brought to our lives this past weekend, and you people focus on the smallest negative points, making a storm in a tea-cup.

Ok, say for arguments sake (not that I believe it to be true), one or even two of the stalls had products that were not handmade. What about the other 100 sellers?? And wouldn’t it be more constructive to send a polite e-mail outlining your concerns to the event organiser rather than slamming the event publicly and anonymously?

Regarding your doubts that the donated funds are reaching the motor-neuron disease charity, again, how about asking the charity? I am sure they would be the first to object if an event was falsely saying that they support the charity.

What does it matter whether the organiser makes a profit from stall fees? Aren’t they entitled to do so? It is the stall holder’s money, and they seem to be prepared to hand it over as they keep coming back! The market it heaps bigger than it was last November at the first rain-soaked Albert Hall event. You are quoting a statement from her a year ago where she states she did not make a profit… Of course things would have changed by now, as the event has grown to include so many more stall holders. If she was not beginning to earn anything from it, why would she continue to do it? The woman needs to eat!

I enjoyed the market immensely and cannot wait for the next one.

I hope none of the poor stallholders read the negative comments and feel discouraged, as it is a select few who attend handmade who do not love it.

I have my shopping list for the November market already started! I want some hair-clips for me nieces from Posie Patchwork, a “washi necklace” from Kidson Jewellery for my mum, a hair-band from Grace Designs for my sister-in-law and some of those gorgeous chrysanthemum earrings from Sinead Buckney for…. me!! Ooo yeah, and my wardrobe could do with a few Jackson and Kerr T’s if I have any money left.

I’ll be seeing you in November Handmaders!

PS Genie go take a pill.

Genie and I-filed,

You two must be the two most scummy people in Canberra judging by your comments on this blog. I like nice things and I’m prepared to pay for them! If my purchase supports a small business even better.

Genie you sound as if your idea of an ideal market is where grandma’s knits are sold for $5.00 and her crocheted tea cosy’s for $2.00. The Handmade market is a cut above every other market in the ACT and as it is only on 4 times each year is able to maintain that status. Is it clever marketing? you bet it is and good luck to the organisers. We went out on the weekend and had a fabulous time and thought that many items were incredibly undervalued for the amount of work that has obviously gone into them. I only heard people commenting that the prices were incredibly reasonable.

We put the Handmade web site to good use before going on the weekend and targeted the stallholders that we wanted to see. Our kids are growing so we gave the small kids clothes a miss but had to stop for the lemon butter by Cranky Pants and other treats.

It seems to me that your response to this post has been way over the top, so I’d have to question your motives for bagging the Handmade Market out so much.

What a shame there are one or two people out there who want to knock something that has been handmade in the Canberra region, and by that I mean hand made a market that not only helps the local economy, a worthy charity and also is fun to go along to. I admire market girl for getting out there and doing something, doing it well and creating what could be a Canberra institution! Ba humbug to those who are nit-picking, just revel in the fact that it is a great market, great for Canberra and everyone except two people seems to absolutely love it!!

Keep on keeping on Market Girl and Handmade!!

I think the markets are fabulous. All I have seen on the promotional material is that Handmade supports Motor Neurone Disease. I have never seen that it is an exclusive thing or that the organisers are trading off this and making it seem like it’s a charity function. I have never thought it is all for charity.

The products are well made and well priced (no, that does not mean all are cheap). I saw items from $2 up to hundreds of dollars. If there is an issue with ONE stall holder (and there was about 100 stalls) it can surely be addressed but I don’t think it’s worth having an aneurism over. Nothing that can’t be sorted.

Items produced with a whole lot of intellectual input and love from the designer is good enough for me.
Whilst sweat shops would be out the door who could argue with supporting Tibetans?

a wage is not generally seen as a profit.

and when is the gungahlin market? – I would like to check it out

I’m just going to clear up a few things from a post I typed a few days ago but it never showed up…

Alot of you are talking about running a market in Gungahlin, “Oh Gungahlin desperately needs a craft market………” as Rottweiler pointed out – there is in fact ALREADY a craft market in Gungahlin. What is wrong with trying to support this one instead of trying to run a rival market !? This market is begging for stallholders. Gold Creek also runs a monthly craft market (however this shuts down over winter)

You were talking about Insurance being $120 for a day, and the $20 charged for the Handmade Market was quite reasonable. FYI you can purchase your own individual public liability insurance to cover yourself and your stall for just under $200 for 12 months with unlimited markets through AAMI. Also if you DON’T have insurance and attend Hall Markets it is an extra $9, and Tuggers Homestead is an extra $7.

As for ‘Handmades’ comment from last year that I-Filed has presented us with:
#8 posted by Handmademarket
(Hooligan)
13:01, 17 Nov 2008
Quote

Good Morning Genie,

so glad to have such an insightful positive person so interested in the fundraising efforts being done for Motor Neurone Disease. That’s right, I am not making a profit from this event. handmade is designed to raise the profile of designers in the region and MND.

Market Girl

If your not making a profit from this event – please tell us why everyone is mentioning that you pay yourself a wage. I believe that is making a profit. I also don’t understand the claims that the market is running at a loss, you would be taking in $10-15k in stallholder fees. Perhaps if the market is costing more than this to run – your doing it wrong. I’m not trying to deliberately defame you – but an explanation from the horse’s mouth so to speak would be nice.

I’m all for the Handmade Markets it was an AMAZING market, provided ALL stallholders ACTUALLY make their stuff. But I’m not for people who claim not to make a profit, and will be donating money to charity. Then hearing that yes you are making a profit by paying yourself, and the market is run at a loss. The money donated is from a raffle run on the day. Just please explain to us where all the money goes?

I can’t bring myself to support this market in the future, when I have the questions in my mind of where my money is going, are my donations going to charity and is it also going to genuine stallholders, who genuinely HAND make their own stock. Is my money also going to someone locally or from the surrounding areas – not someone who has travel from Sydney for the day. (Yes stallholders from Sydney adds variety to stuff we previously haven’t seen before, but I believe I read somewhere “come visit LOCALLY produced items”)

There’s a further Handmade mystery. Handmade, you claimed that the first market raised $4,000 for motor neurone disease. I see from your post #25 above, that you have changed your tune from last year’s “we’re not making a profit” to this:

“We don’t give a percentage of the stallfees to MND we always run a raffle or competition where ALL of that money can go to MND. This in turn raises much more money.”

Where on earth does the claim arise, that running a raffle at a market will raise “more money” than even just a percentage of stall fees? Handmade, please back up your claims with some figures and some transparency.

I’m further concerned by your early claim that your fundraising would benefit “local families affected by motor neurone disease”. The contradictions in your posts and claims lead me to wonder whether, like so many infamous “charity” exercises in the United States, the money you raise is handed to a family that has personal links with you, rather than going to sufferers via a registered charity.

You refer readers to a registered charity to donate to, but it isn’t clear that you are in fact donating via a charity.

I’m sure most would agree that there are issues to be clarified here, so could you answer a couple of questions?

1. The $4000 you told us was raised for motor neurone disease at the first Handmade – did that go to a registered charity to distribute, or did you hand it to a family you are related to?

2. How do you arrive at the claim that a percentage of stall fees would raise less for motor neurone disease than a raffle, given the size and success of the market?

more over,

Its exactly the same for farmers markets, Canberran want to think they are helping the small guy. They also have to fill in each weekend with something!

This market must be run to make money.

It seems to be doing a really good job as well, most Canberrans are over paid and under worked so need things like this on the weekend to fill their time and take their money. Then they can retreat to their airconditioned house via a ride in there (never seen dirt) SUV. once home they can feel good about helping small businesses and start bashing anything big business does.

H-h-hang on a second Handmade!

Here below is your post from last year. Looking like pretty slick, heavily commercial marketing ploy to me. You priced the stalls at $110, and then when someone (Genie) queried that as a heavy price, you came right down on her head about it at the time, citing a non-profit motive to justify the price. It looks as though your strategy is paying off handsomely, and that the “motor neurone disease fundraiser” is now limited to a basket of (er, donated) goods you raffled? What proportion of the stall takings are still going to charity?
When and how, Handmade, did you switch from “designed to raise the profile of MND” to “a simple for-profit using MND as an angle to market corporate social responsibility and hook in those “nice people” you appear to have been cynically targeting all along?

Beyond endangering the “fair trade” brand, you’re also risking the credibility of hand-made everywhere. Who wouldn’t prefer to deal with an honest commercial trader than a commercial venture masquerading as a fundraiser?

#8 posted by Handmademarket
(Hooligan)
13:01, 17 Nov 2008
Quote

Good Morning Genie,

so glad to have such an insightful positive person so interested in the fundraising efforts being done for Motor Neurone Disease. That’s right, I am not making a profit from this event. handmade is designed to raise the profile of designers in the region and MND.

Market Girl

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

So I could design something, have it knocked up in a sweatshop in China and sell it as ‘handmade’?

Not China – Nepal… whole other country….

i can see that a market, without stallholders or shoppers, would face some existential difficulties…

Danman said :

Gunghalin Al, sounds like you want to have some kind of Guerrilla Weekend Markets at Gunghalin, if so, I’d be a loyal customer 🙂

COuld be kind of like those Guerrilla raves the kids arrange these days, short term notice spread virally by SMS 😛

Gungahlin already has a craft market held on the last Sat of every month. However it struggles to run without stallholders and shoppers.

Or not, WMC and Thumper…..

Have a great day everyone, see you all at the next Handmade.
Cheers

Handmademarket said :

How on earth did you read “blind eye in there” If someone tells me that they are doing fair trade, show me the information I require and then produce the photographic evidence I ask for then I take them at their word.

For Goodness sake people it’s a bloody market. We are not running for president!

You’re saying you asked for evidence and they produced photos and a paper trail? That’s to be commended.

So I could design something, have it knocked up in a sweatshop in China and sell it as ‘handmade’?

Gunghalin Al, sounds like you want to have some kind of Guerrilla Weekend Markets at Gunghalin, if so, I’d be a loyal customer 🙂

COuld be kind of like those Guerrilla raves the kids arrange these days, short term notice spread virally by SMS 😛

How on earth did you read “blind eye in there” If someone tells me that they are doing fair trade, show me the information I require and then produce the photographic evidence I ask for then I take them at their word.

For Goodness sake people it’s a bloody market. We are not running for president!

Handmademarket said :

We can only take a person at their word …

Sorry to carp, but not so! It’s important to verify the source of “fair trade” products, or you’re helping an unscrupulous operator to devalue the fair trade market and effectively steal money from people working for bona fide organisations that capacity-build in poor places. It should be pretty straightforward to require verification if your felt trader is claiming their products are supervised in Nepal. If they are operating off their own bat and not following the “official” fair trade path, they would have to be travelling to Nepal and have all sorts of photographic evidence and a paper trail to show you. IF you are turning a blind eye, sorry, but that might put your whole market into a different category from the “only nice people” requirement …

the Lindsay & Edmunds fair trade organic chocolate stall import all their base ingriedients from holland, melt them and re shape them. what a great little local cottage industry

Thanks emd, and so many more of you, for such a great post about Handmade on the weekend. Oh and the fabulous female busker was Sarah Daphne Foo.

I am so pleased that %99.9 of you had a fabulous time and enjoyed the new venue. We worked very hard on establishing the woolshed especially after the huge success of Albert Hall. We had just over 6 weeks to completely find & move to the new venue, design and print new postcards, new banners, signage, change insurance, contact everyone to let them know etc. It was a mammoth job but one we did very well it seems!

We realise there are now a few new things to work on, like an ATM, parking and dust and how to best control the amazing crowds we attract, we are constantly reassessing how we can improve Handmade for both the consumer and the designer.

I would like to clarify a couple of things for everyone, and of course all of this information is on the website you would only need to take the time to look, We have NEVER said that all profits got to charity, Handmade has offered us the chance to be able to raise funds and awareness towards this horrible disease that did indeed take a very close family member of mine years ago. If you feel we do not raise enough money for them then feel free to donate yourself! http://www.mndnsw.asn.au/index.php We don’t give a percentage of the stallfees to MND we always run a raffle or competition where ALL of that money can go to MND. This in turn raises much more money.

The other point I would like to make is that the criteria to attend Handmade is “goods must be designed and or made by the stallholder” if they do not make the product they must say how they design and then get it manufactured and the reasons why. Satllholders goods must also fit into the mix already on offer at Handmade. We can only take a person at their word and we believe we are putting forward a very good mix of designers.

As for Gungahlin Handmade was never going to be held there, we wanted to custom design a local market that would have similar values but more suited to the local community, support the local shops and designers. Handmade was always going to be the “big sister” of the Gungahlin market.

I hope this has cleared things up for MOST of you. Once again thanks for supporting Handmade.
Cheers
Julie

byt2007 said :

I completely disagree with Genie’s assessment of many things being factory-made: the lady with the felt products also displays at the Gorman House markets, and the way it works is that she designs the products, and they are made as a fair-trade enterprise in Nepal. The impression I have got from past conversations with her is that they aren’t made in a factory at all, but in a village. I’ve bought some lovely things from her in the past for my nieces.

.

Definitely needs verifying by the market owner, or this could go the way of the farmer’s market with unscrupulous traders: unless there is another Gorman House seller of these products, this stallholder buys from a huge importer – he is flash as a rat with a gold tooth – and there’s no way she could know what conditions the items are made under, as they are centralised in bulk and imported by the container. As for “made in a village” – that’s a meaningless attempt at a distinction, as village cottage craft situations can be cruelly exploitative and involve child labour. I’ve actually heard a stallholder at Gorman House markets spinning a line about “fair trade”, but I guess it may not be the same one. Fair trade items are always labelled such.

I’m relieved to hear that the vast majority of the stallholders – possibly all bar this one – are bona fide.

Emd – you would like Tuggeranong homestead market – it is in old farm
sheds as well with a few cow pats to step over on the driveway in. It is a very small market, but nice knitted baby clothes, 3.00 finger puppets, cheap plants and a bit of fruit and veg.

On the location, I think I would probably drive anywhere in Canberra/Queanbeyan for Handmade. But I do like locations with lots of trees around, and the smell of sheep doo-doo. Reminds me that I live in the “bush capital” after a busy week of urban living. Hall markets also have a nice outdoorsy atmosphere. I do think Gungahlin lacks a market though – even Tuggeranong has a monthly indoor market (which I haven’t been to, no idea what it’s like). ATM access does help though – I bet sales would be higher if people could get more cash out when they see something they simply MUST have.

I’ve only ever organised small events, but it looks to me like Handmade would be expensive to put on. Venue hire, advertising banners, very expensive public liability insurance (she charges stallholders $20 for the day’s insurance – cheapest I’ve found on my own was $120 for the day), staff to keep it running smoothly on the day and clean up after the hordes leave… I think she does well. And she’s never claimed the whole event is for MND, but has been great in donating over $10K to the cause.

I’ve never had a stall at Handmade, but I know lots of the other stallholders – Canberra is a small community. These people really do spend months working every night, usually after their kids go to bed, to have a stall full of well-made goods for Handmade. I am happy to pay a realistic price – not a cheap import price – for their hard work. Especially as it means I don’t have to get out the sewing machine myself after the kids go to bed. I also don’t mind the occasional Canberra-designed made-in-fair-trade-workplaces stall.

Genie, I think the tone of some of your comments here has been unnecessarily rude. If you want to take it further, Julie at Handmade is easily contactable through her website to let her know what you think could be improved.

No-one every claimed all profits went to charity. Julie has always donated a portion to a Motor Neurone Disease cause. But it’s her self-employed job, and power to her for making something that is clearly a notch above other offerings.

Having the additional stalls in marquees certainly would have made a great atmosphere, and spread the people around a lot more.

[soapbox]

On Gungahlin, while we all make jokes about north Cooma and the like (outside peak commute periods) it really isn’t very far from Tuggers. What is it that Canberra people have against a 30 minute weekend cruise, yet they are happy to camp out in their car for 40 minutes twice a day every day on weekdays? Does being stationary in a car vs actually moving cause some distortion of the space/time continuum of which I am not aware?

We have been blessed by the LDA with this useless expanse of paving in the centre of our town that is good for nothing else EXCEPT a market. Yet when a market came along, certain blocker wannabe bureaucrats in TAMS and ACTPLA put every damn wall up in front of her possible. Strong support from the community, from local town businesses, and calls for help to Andrew Barr and Jon Stanhope all amounted to nought.

Because the blockers had time on their hands. They only have to keep throwing up the walls until the proponent runs out of time/money/sheer willpower to go on. A 5-minute email or letter with some more walls every three months or so makes a whole lot of work magically just go away.

So the vibrancy, the economic boost for all our struggling town businesspeople, the bringing of people into Gungahlin who might not have otherwise ventured north, and the social engagement that would have come from it, all have been lost. Who knows – maybe even the odd departmental secretary could have gone along, and thereby realised Gungahlin wouldn’t be a bad place for a departmental relocation?

Thanks blockers. Your petty efforts and lack of vision have been more far reaching than you could possibly imagine.

[/soapbox]

This weekend I went to both Friday and Saturday Handmade markets, wandered around Floriade, had a loooong late lunch at Du Jour in New Acton and managed to work a full Sunday retail shift. It was a beautiful weekend with lovely weather!

I spent over $600 at Handmade — breaking it down:

$130 on a necklace — credit card on Friday night. I thought this was very expensive as I could have bought a very similar handmade necklace from Etsy.com for about $50. However, I like supporting local craftspeople and the market. The vendor was friendly and sweet, but really needed two or three more people helping her out. Her stall was at a really bad point for congestion, and the design of her stall meant she couldn’t make eye contact with people looking at her stuff. Also it was very difficult for more than two or three people to actually see her stuff at a time.

$260 on two necklaces and two pairs of earrings from another vendor — credit card on Friday night. This jewellery was stunningly good value, one of the necklaces alone has hours of labour in it and masses of sterling silver. I think this vendor underpriced herself.

$12 on nuts from the nut guy who is usually at the Bus Depot markets — cash on Saturday. I like this guy, he’s friendly and gives good patter and lots of samples. The nuts also smell totally delicious. Sadly I have eaten all mine up already!

$130 on 6 bottles of wine from Mt Majura — cash on Saturday. I feel the winery was really short-sighted in not offering EFTPOS. But they make lovely reds, and as I’d just run out it was a good opportunity for me to stock up. Lovely, friendly and knowledgeable vendors offering plentiful tastings. I would have bought some of the “Fizz” too, but lacked hands to carry things.

$25 on 3 jars of curry chutney from the chilli guy who is usually at the Bus Depot markets — cash on Saturday. I like this guy too, and his samples are always tasty and plentiful. He obviously loves his product, which is very important. I can’t make it out to the Bus Depot markets anymore as I work Sundays, so it was a great opportunity for me to stock up.

$5 on sunflower seed mix — cash on Saturday. Impulse purchase, the vendor was friendly and chatty.

$35 on Real Chai — cash on both Friday and Saturday. Absolutely delicious! Lovely friendly vendors. Great lidded paper cups, too. It’s funny the small things that you appreciate, but the (I assume reasonably expensive) cup made wandering around the market and sipping warm creamy chai a real pleasure.

$10 on a crepe for a friend — cash on Saturday. Apparently this was not particularly tasty.

$3.50 (??) on a chicken drumstick — cash on Saturday. This was a perfect and delicious snack!

I completely disagree with Genie’s assessment of many things being factory-made: the lady with the felt products also displays at the Gorman House markets, and the way it works is that she designs the products, and they are made as a fair-trade enterprise in Nepal. The impression I have got from past conversations with her is that they aren’t made in a factory at all, but in a village. I’ve bought some lovely things from her in the past for my nieces.

In my opinion the major issues with the market were:

a) The lumpy carpeting in the aisles was a real tripping hazard. Or maybe I’m just clumsy!

b) Lack of an ATM is just shooting themselves in the foot. I must admit that cash only enterprises are extremely frustrating to me.

c) Stall holders need to understand that it’s intimidating for a potential customer to enter a stall (particularly with the set up of the stalls where you actually had to enter them rather than just drift past) when the stall holder is chatting exclusively with friends. Vendors are there to sell things — they can chat with their friends at any time! There was way too much of this going on — in my opinion a lot of sales were lost.

d) Shy vendors should probably enlist the help of an outgoing friend for the market — a couple of stalls were totally dead, in my opinion because the vendors sat at the back of the stall quietly, eyes down, and did not greet passers-by with friendly smiles or warm greetings.

Altogether the market had a great atmosphere; even when it was crowded, people were friendly and kind to each other. Luckily I didn’t need to use the toilets so I can’t remark on that.

The outdoor stalls were far easier to navigate and I preferred the set up. But they were lucky the day was so fine!

It’s a shame Zieholz didn’t have some of their food on offer as well — I did feel like a sausage sizzle would have added something to the atmosphere.

I never said I thought things were expensive, I said I constantly overheard people complaining about prices.

As for items that aren’t handmade… selling something “Made in Nepal” umm clearly isn’t handmade by the seller. I know of stallholders that have photo albums of how they make their items – I actually find this fascinating, as I have a curious mind of how things are made.

How can you expect anyone to work around the clock on a market for three months and not pay themselves a wage? Would you prefer that there was no Handmade markets?

I have brought this up before after the first market.. Having previously organised and run markets in the past – it doesn’t take as much time and effort as you make out.

I can tell you that most of the markets have been run at a loss for her (she put money into advertising and hiring the venues), but still making thousands for a charity – who up until this market, had no publicity or presence in the ACT.

I find hard to believe this market is run at a loss. Stallholder fees alone would be 10k. If a market costs more than this to run – your doing it wrong. If it is run at a loss, prove it and I won’t bring it up again.

it is difficult to understand what planet s/he is on?

I am on planet Earth, aren’t you ? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and feedback. If you don’t listen to the negative feedback how are you meant to learn how to improve things?

The organiser, Julie (and her expansive band of volunteer helpers), are tirelessly dedicated to constantly improving, beyond all other markets I have ever attended, to creating a viable market for handmade articles in the Canberra region.

Exactly… you want to improve your market… Instead of paying me out why don’t you all shut up and listen to your criticism. You might learn something.

Igglepiggle said :

Granny said :

What did you see from overseas factories Genie?

There was someone selling felt items, clearly marked “Made in Nepal”. She claimed to designed everything herself and send the designs to Nepal to be made – however today I was in Woden Westfield and there was a Tibetian Stall set up outside Big W selling almost the exact same items.

Perhaps you mean things like the (bought) lamps, which people have covered in new fabric – or bags that they have screen printed onto?

I didn’t actually look at the lamps, as I stated I was there at the busiest time. It was hard to get into some stalls. I believe the sticker lady and one of the name plaque people said they order everything from overseas.

Great post EMD, fantastic review of a brilliant market. Well done to the organisers and the stall holders, this Handmade Market was a great success, in a magical location – both on Friday night and Saturday. Much more space than the Albert Hall and a great ‘rustic’ atmosphere.

Whilst congestion inside and in the car park made the day a little longer for some, those who came early – or later – enjoyed easy access and a fantastic visit. I was there (accompanying a stall holder) for both Friday and most of Saturday (leaving early arvo and returning in the car-crush), and spoke with hundreds of visitors – even some from interstate, for Floriade and to visit the National Gallery.

Everyone I spoke with loved the site, the atmosphere and the precious goods on display. I even prompted people to ask about how they coped with the dust (windy, sunny day on Saturday), but most people seemed unfazed by the walk from their car an d the dust along the way- gotta love that Canberra ‘shall persevere’ attitude.

I must note though that I’m saddened, and disappointed, by the comments of ‘Genie’ concerning the excessive price of stall sales items and their origin being non-handmade. Without citing examples of her discontent, (it is a stipulation of the organiser that products be handmade), it is difficult to understand what planet s/he is on?

Allegations of criminal offences under the ‘non-handmade (therefore must be punitively and summarily punished) Act 2009’ really should be directed to the Handmade organiser care of their site – http://www.handmade.com.au they’d be keen to commence a prosecution against their errant stall holders.

It is sad that over a hundred hard-working stall holders, producers, ‘creative types’ in our midst and ‘designers extraordinaire’ have been abused and maligned by such posts.

I can not wait for the November installment of this brilliant concept. Canberra needs this market, it seems at home in the shed!

I say NO to a move to the (not at all) EPIC grounds, or to Gungahlin – centrality is the key to the success of the market – I think it must be near to the Parkes / Yarralumla area, to bring people in from all areas of the city and from the wider region.

Well done Handmade!

thesideline.

The new venue, the Yarralumla Woolshed, was a fantastic success!

Never at any point was the venue ‘packed’ to the point where elbowing was required, and prams freely moved around even at the busiest periods! (unlike in the Albert Hall previously).

I’m one of the makers, and am very aware of when something is not handmade, as it directly affects me – in terms of competition (the price). I find it very hurtful that anyone suggests these items are not handmade.

Genie:
can you please specify which pieces you thought were not handmade, and where the prices were ‘too’ high, because these items were actually handmade and peoples’ time and effort was involved.

As for having a go at the organiser,

I can tell you that most of the markets have been run at a loss for her (she put money into advertising and hiring the venues), but still making thousands for a charity – who up until this market, had no publicity or presence in the ACT.

The organiser, Julie (and her expansive band of volunteer helpers), are tirelessly dedicated to constantly improving, beyond all other markets I have ever attended, to creating a viable market for handmade articles in the Canberra region.

How can you expect anyone to work around the clock on a market for three months and not pay themselves a wage? Would you prefer that there was no Handmade markets?

Many of the markets elsewhere force makers to lower their prices, to less than wholesale costs, because there are many cheap imports competing on price at the market.. no ‘hand made’ stipulation in the terms of running a stall, or not enforced.

Handmade market creates a place where people can find unique handmade items, and help keep creative people making them!

Congratulations Julie on an amazing effort, you are a true supporter of design and making Canberra the Style Capital!

Profit and remuneration are two completely different things. It only seems reasonable for the organiser to be paid for their time.

Genie said :

Sorry to sour the mood, but as amazing and high quality as the goods are at Handmade Markets, I was disgusted to find alot of it is actually made in factories or overseas.

And for the organiser making money out of this ? That’s just disappointing too, considering she advertises all profits go to charity.

That’s a real worry on both counts. I too understood that “handmade” means made by the stallholders. And yes, wasn’t the market given a lot of PR based on the “profits to charity”? If what you say is correct, I’m both disillusioned and disgusted. That won’t wash, though, if there was just a profit motive all along. They may as well move to Epic and join the fake label sunglass stalls, hey.

Granny said :

Why don’t they move it to Gungahlin where everybody wants it? I think we should start a petition.

I don’t want it in Gunghalin! and nor do any of the other attendees from Tuggers I would think. At least Yarralumla is central. EPIC would be bad for the same reason. Depends on if they want to eliminate part of the purchasers (although that may solve the crowding!)

What did you see from overseas factories Genie?

Why didn’t you just throw a bunch of stuff in a garbage bag and offer them 50c for the lot, Genie? 😉

Surely the organiser is entitled to make some moeny – otherwise why would she organise it more than once. I’m sure a heap of the money goes to motor neurone disease. I dont’ know anything about that side of it though.

On the other hand I have met several sellersand seen them actually making stuffh, and many others have blogs, where t ey show photos of works in progress – so plenty of the stuff is hand sewn in Canberra sewing rooms.

Perhaps you mean things like the (bought) lamps, which people have covered in new fabric – or bags that they have screen printed onto?

anyway – it seems the market is so popular they will be able to screen out unsuitable stalls in future if they wish to.

Gungahlin – the first proposal was to have this in linear park at gungahlin – govt took forever to ‘approve’ the proposal, so it went elsewhere.

Sorry to sour the mood, but as amazing and high quality as the goods are at Handmade Markets, I was disgusted to find alot of it is actually made in factories or overseas. Handmade to me is someone setting up shop in the back room of their house or garage and making it THEMSELVES. I don’t understand how you can advertise a market as being “handmade” when clearly alot of it isn’t made this way.

I was there at probably the busiest time of the morning and all I regularly heard was everything is too expensive.

As for moving a market out to Epic, the market wouldn’t succeed as Epic don’t allow any food vendors.

And for the organiser making money out of this ? That’s just disappointing too, considering she advertises all profits go to charity.

if the opening weekend of floriade was competing with it this time, on a very nice spring day, what’s a baby sale going to do next time? nada. and just before christmas, when people could be out looking for presents? its going to be just as bad i feel, if not worse.

EPIC, while I agree with your point somewhat, is much more suitable for parking for one. They could set up the marquees on the showground, it would still have that outdoor market feel, especially in november when its warmer.

I like the idea of over 3 days though… its obviously very popular, they’d be mad to restrict themselves given people are willing to go out and spend their money.

we went yesterday and there was, as emd noted, lots of traders in marquees outside, so we found the shopping relatively relaxed and were able to see pretty well everything fairly easily – bought some soft toys, paper products and got cards from other traders in whose products we were interested but not wanting to purchase right then. the woodfired pizzas had sold out by about 2pm even though the queues to the food stalls were pretty solid – bet they were happy/kicking themselves in equal measure… the traffic in and out was fairly chaotic but we managed and very pregnant astress managed the walk fine as we got a park not too far away.

i’d also be keen to see this open a little longer – a sunday would be handy – as three opportunities would thin the crowds perhaps and also allow that marquee effect to work better, too. must remember to take more cash next time!

as a novice to this discussion, why is gunghalin the preferred site? and where in that swathe of earth they call gunghalin would it be held?

Why don’t they move it to Gungahlin where everybody wants it? I think we should start a petition.

For people planning to go to the next one in November, definitely take cash. Some vendors have mobile EFTPOS and credit card facilities, but many of them only take cash, and there’s no on-site ATM.

They were going to have lots of vendors in outdoor sites (eg in marquees) on Saturday, which would make it easier to have more stalls.

As for moving to EPIC, I’m glad they didn’t go there. It just wouldn’t feel right to go shopping for handmade quality local stuff at the same place that has the cheap bras and ski gear sales. I reckon a more frequent market would help them balance consumer demand without having to lose the nice feel/atmosphere.

The other thing is that November might be a bit quieter. There’s a Baby & Kids Market on the same day as the next Handmade. The weekend before there’s also a Mathilda’s Market (locally handmade baby & kids gear), and two weeks before is a special jewellery day at Old Bus Depot Markets. Hopefully that might also take some of the pressure off carparking at Handmade, if people have already spent their money elsewhere.

damn, I was hoping it was on tomorrow too. So it was still stupid busy and crowded despite the change of venue? why don’t they move it to EPIC?

oh yes definately more often so it isnt so busy! I feel like I can never really see anything properly because there are too many people in the way and they just wont budge!

We went Friday night. Was v busy then too. Hard to know how double the vendors were going to fit. We bought one of the electric firefly lamps. Some beautiful silk scarves, photo prints, glass work and woodcrafts.

The pens made natural vendor boundaries. Eau de sheep urine was pretty strong – even for someone who’s spent a lot of time around shearing sheds. Was funny watching women tarted to the nines trying to avoid breaking their stilettos between the slatted floorboards! Clearly never been in a woolshed before…

This market should be in Gungahlin, where it was intended to be. Shame on TAMS and ACTPLA for thwarting Julie’s application. Why? Just because she makes some money out of it.

I loved it. Will make sure to take $ with me next time!

I reckon half of Canberra were at the Handmade Markets this morning, while the other half were at Floriade!