After moving to Simcoe County from Calgary, Allie Kazakoff was looking forward to hosting the region’s first Mom Market.
It, like many events, was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the markets have gone virtual.
That’s the case for all of the Mom Market Collective events in the country.
“It’s a great way to get to know small businesses and, right now, it’s imperative that we support them,” said Kazakoff, director for the markets in both Simcoe County and Calgary.
The Mom Market Collective features various vendors who typically gather at one location to sell their products and services. The in-person markets feature local businesses, but the online markets will include businesses from across the country.
The virtual markets have been happening monthly since March.
“It’s been amazing,” Kazakoff said. “People were a little unsure at the beginning. As we went into the second one, they were super-successful in sales and exposure. It was amazing to give them a little bit of hope during a hard time.”
The next market is happening Aug. 22 and 23. It runs for 24 hours, starting at 8 p.m. Aug. 22. Local vendors who want to take part can apply here. Vendors do not have to be moms or women.
The online market takes place through the group’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Participating vendors will be promoted on those pages in the lead-up to the market. While the market is taking place, shoppers can get more information on those pages about how they can purchase products or services.
Kazakoff is hoping to hold the county’s first in-person market in September.
“It’s just a matter of where the world’s taking us,” she said. “We’re doing our best to make the most of what we can do now.”
