On December 17th, Buffalo RiverWorks held their annual Procrastinators Holiday Market from 10am-4pm. This event included a collection of local artisans that allowed you to see an abundance of unique pieces of art without having to leave the building! Some of the things that were available to purchase were baked goods, apparel, decorations, jewelry, candles, and outdoor décor, just to name a few.
I have gone to artisan markets ever since I was little and because of this I end up special-occasion-shopping all year instead of right when I need a gift. With this mentality, I save money, get personal and unique gifts for people I love, and have fun gift shopping instead of stressing about it. If you have the time, I highly recommend going to an artisan market and giving it a try. A few happening at the moment are Buffalo Holiday Market, Christmas in the Burbs!, Christkindlmarkt, and Shop Small Saturdays.
Artisan Markets are great to go to once in a while or make them a family tradition. If they become a family tradition, you will soon find out that some artists will be at a few shows within the year. This would allow you to get something if you decided against it the first time, or start to form a relationship with the artisan; since they will remember you after you support their dream, even if you only see them once. Another perk of going to artisan markets besides supporting local small businesses is that they are a great way to find creative and special things that you will not find anywhere else for yourself or as a gift to someone you love.
An important thing to keep in the back of your mind when embarking on your journey to artisan markets is sometimes you will not see anything you like and other times you will not stop spending money. Therefore, if you are new to artisan markets and you do not like anything at the first one you go to, do not give up on them all together. Try another and trust me, you will soon find vendors that fit your style. In addition, some markets require tickets ahead of time and some are free. For that reason, make sure to find out what type of admission the event is and when it is happening because you do not want to go at the last minute.
Written by Sara Dembski
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