Red Deer’s outdoor public market has helped many local entrepreneurs connect with consumers. They’ll soon also have an indoor option.
Parkland Mall plans to welcome 30 Central Alberta vendors onto its premises Oct. 17 to 21. There, they’ll be able to pitch their products as part of a “Mall Street Market.”
“The whole point is to allow home-based businesses that are producing their products here an opportunity to sell them in the mall,” said Krista Dunstan, Parkland Mall’s marketing director.
Participants will be assigned table space along the shopping centre’s corridors, giving them exposure to the consumers on site.
“They’re going to be front and centre, for sure,” said Dunstan, adding that for many it will give them a public venue they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
There will be no cost to the vendors, aside from liability coverage if they choose to purchase it. However, they must carry locally produced products only, and not be a multi-level business.
Consumers will be able to vote for a Mall Street Mogul from among the vendors, with the winner to receive two free months of kiosk space.
Parkland Mall administration will select the 30 participating vendors on the basis of criteria like the uniqueness of their products and the appearance of their displays, said Dunstan. She added that requests are already coming in, with the deadline for applications Sept. 15.
Mall Street Market will run from a Thursday to a Sunday.
“That actually is Small Business Week for Alberta,” said Dunstan.
She described the initiative as a pilot project that mall officials hope will become an annual event.
Additional information can be obtained by going to the Parkland Mall website at www.parklandmall.ca and clicking on Events & Promotions.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com