The Arcola Craft Show has just passed the decade mark and shows no signs of slowing down.
A quieter alternative to Carlyle's Homespun and held on the Saturday of same weekend, the Arcola Craft Show once again hosted a variety of vendors, craftspeople, and customers from around the province, as well as from Alberta and Manitoba. Over 50 home-based vendors exhibited and sold their wares at the Sept. 20 event.
Since its inception in 2003, the Arcola Craft show has hosted an increasing number of exhibitors, attracting an average of 500 shoppers in recent years. Originally held in Arcola's Memorial Hall, the craft show moved to the town's rink and with the availability of more space for exhibitors, the show has invevitably attracted more vendors and more patrons.
One of the show's founders, Mary Milligan of Arcola, has sold a variety of homemade items every year since the show began. This year, she requested "a wall booth" to exhibit her baking, knitted scarves and afghans, silk scarves, and handmade kitchen accessories. "I started from one table in the hall. We tried to squeeze everyone in then. I've always brought all of these things to the show, but with more space and more people, I make more and I bring more," she says.
"This is show is so good," says shopper Elaine Hislop of Arcola. "It's open, it's not crowded, and there's lots of light. Gwen Taylor has done a great job of organizing it."
Taylor of Arcola, says that the scheduling of the show is a win-win for events in both Arcola and Carlyle.
"People come to Homespun and they come to Arcola, too. The two shows complement each other. Like Homespun, we have crafts and edible items as well as baking. But we differ in that we're a trade and craft show, so tradespeople can show their stuff, too. We also have fresh garden vegetables, so it's almost like one-stop shopping. A lot of Christmas shopping goes on at our show," adds Taylor.
Donna Leslie of Carlyle, representing Jockey Person to Person, sought out Arcola's trade-friendly event as a way to reach customers for the line of ladies' wear she sells. "It's a good opportunity to showcase this line of women's wear to people throughout our entire area. It's my first show and it's a chance not only to do business today, but to build awareness of this line for the future. It's a really effective way to reach a lot of people in a relaxed atmosphere."
"It's been really good and I'm pleased with how many customers there are, and they're from all age groups," adds Sorensen.
Milligan says, "It's a very good show to come to and there's a lot of people that go through. When we started the Arcola Craft show, we had it when we did, because people would come to both towns. Our show has been growing every year and now, with it moved to the rink, more people have come."
Taylor agrees. "The Arcola Craft Show is a success, but it's still a laidback show. It gives people from the area a chance to support home-based businesses from our area and from throughout the province. We've had a great turnout and we're happy with the attendance and we're happy with all of the vendors. It keeps getting bigger and better."
