The Missoula County Fairgrounds hosted a successful Little Red Truck Vintage Market, bringing together local vendors and the community to celebrate vintage goods and support small businesses.
On Saturday, the Missoula County Fairgrounds transformed into a vibrant hub for the local community as it hosted the Little Red Truck Vintage Market, an event aimed at supporting small businesses and fostering connections among vendors and attendees. The market, held over the weekend on Friday and Saturday, featured a diverse array of vintage goods and was particularly well-attended by those looking to shop locally while enjoying the unique atmosphere.
Julie Epperly, a bartender at the Rhinoceros Bar, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “[I]t’s great to meet all the vendors and we’ve made lots of great relationships with the vendors and so we’ve kind of gotten some business from that as well, which is helpful obviously for us.” Her sentiments reflect a shared experience among many vendors who benefited from the networking opportunities the market provided.
Heidi Schnarr, founder and president of Heidi’s Kitten Rescue, emphasized the importance of exposure for small businesses like hers, saying, “It gives them exposure to lots of people that come through.” This sentiment highlights the market’s role in helping lesser-known enterprises gain visibility among potential customers.
Janie Scheben, the owner of Little Red Truck LLC and one of the organizers of the market, noted the dual nature of many of the vendors’ endeavors. “So ever since my kids were little, I always worked in a demo office and did shows. And it was just kind of a nice balance of something for my brain, something for my creative heart. And I would say probably more than half of the vendors have a regular job and a creative job,” she explained. She added that this supplementary income can be beneficial for various personal expenses, stating, “It helps with special things, like when you need tires or you’re going to buy a plane ticket. So it’s really nice for people to have an extra source of income that they can do around their schedule.”
The vintage aspect of the market not only appealed to shoppers looking for unique items but also aligned with an eco-conscious approach to consumption. Scheben noted, “[T]here’s also with the vintage goods, the aspect of reusing, renewing, not throwing things in the landfill. And so there’s something that should make you feel good in that regard.”
Rayda Flint, a maker of vintage jewelry, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the aesthetic value of vintage items. She observed, “I want to reuse some of this stuff that’s already here and beautiful.”
The event drew attention not just for its offerings but for the community spirit it fostered. As the market wrapped up, attendees were encouraged to look forward to future opportunities, ensuring that the support for local businesses and the celebration of vintage culture continues in the coming years.
Source: Noah Wire Services
