Holiday Shopping in the Era of COVID-19: Handmade Arcade Invites Makers to Take Part in an Immersive Virtual Marketplace
Since 2004, Handmade Arcade has hosted a highly-anticipated annual in-person marketplace with last year’s winter convention bringing in over 10,000 attendees, 250 makers, and 17 hands-on maker activities. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization quickly realized that to continue to meet its mission of supporting Pittsburgh’s creative economy, they needed to pivot their successful in-person model and create a cutting-edge online event: Handmade Arcade Virtual Marketplace.
“Developing an immersive and innovative virtual marketplace that hosts makers, as well as live-streamed events, is the best path forward right now to support the maker community. It allows us to strengthen our mission to connect creatives and consumers in a time where income streams from in-person markets have disappeared,” says Tricia Brancolini-Foley, Handmade Arcade’s Executive Director.
Handmade Arcade will host their virtual marketplace for an unprecedented nine days -- starting on Small Business Saturday (November 28) through Sunday, December 6, 2020. To maximize makers' website traffic, sales, and online participation in live-streamed events, they are investing heavily in the marketing and promotion of the marketplace. The advertising and marketing campaign will be aggressive with messaging that will engage longtime supporters and attract new shoppers and attendees -- stressing the importance of shopping small.
Makers do not need to have an e-commerce site or a robust social media presence to apply. To help vendors pivot to an online sales platform, Handmade Arcade, with the help of the Creative Business Accelerator, is developing a maker curriculum that will include webinars focused on best practices for e-commerce sites, social media, customer service in a digital world, and more.
Interested makers can join a live meeting on Zoom on Thursday, August 27 at 7 p.m. with Handmade’s Executive Director where she will explain, in detail, the plans for the marketplace and answer questions from viewers. https://www.eventbrite.com/organizations/events
Participating Vendor Benefits to Include:
Capitalize on holiday sales: Launching on Small Business Saturday, the Handmade Arcade Virtual Marketplace will include Cyber Monday and continue through Sunday, December 6, encompassing the peak of the 2020 holiday shopping season.
Maker Curriculum: Accepted vendors will receive access to a free maker curriculum, with webinar topics such as e-commerce, social media best practices, customer service, marketplace prep, and more.
More than an Online Store: Nine-days of interactive experiences and customized content, including hands-on demonstrations, behind-the-scenes studio tours, Meet the Maker Q&As, and more.
Grow your customer base: Vendors can still form real, authentic relationships with customers via dynamic and customized virtual content safely from home. Reach new fans and followers as shoppers will connect directly with vendors via a multi-layered search function.
Advertising and Press: The virtual marketplace is supported by a substantial digital advertising campaign and past events and vendors have been covered widely by the Pittsburgh City Paper, the Post-Gazette, KDKA, BuzzFeed, Condé Nast Traveler, Pop Shop America, and many more.
Handmade Arcade Virtual Marketplace is curated and all goods will be made by hand, hand-crafted, or represent each vendor’s creation. Products will include jewelry and accessories, artwork, bath and body products, clothing, children’s products, housewares and home decor, paper goods, gift items, pet products, greeting cards, toys, ceramics, metalwork, glassware, and more!
Mission Statement: Handmade Arcade celebrates the cutting edge of craft by connecting creators and consumers through making, sharing, and learning.
HANDMADE ARCADE VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE
EVENT DETAILS:
DATES: Saturday, November 28 — Sunday, December 6, 2020
ADMISSION: FREE
WEBSITE: handmadearcade.org
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/handmadearcade
TWITTER: @HandmadeArcade
INSTAGRAM: @HandmadeArcade
APPLICATION DETAILS:
Apply online at http://bit.ly/ApplyHandmade
Application deadline (extended!): Monday, September 7 at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
Application Fee: $15 (non-refundable)
Accepted Vendor Fee: $150
Applicants will be notified by Friday, September 25, 2020
