The second annual Women Make Arkansas Market will look a bit different this year, but in good news, it is HAPPENING! Virtually, anyway, on Thursday, April 30 from 9am to 5pm in a Women Make Arkansas Market Facebook Event page.

Plans to conduct the Market at The Bernice Garden obviously won’t be possible and the world is upside down. We are traumatized, we are worrying, we are grieving . . . and yet, we are also learning and growing. Through this challenging time, we make. Human creativity and ingenuity matter more than ever. Story matters more than ever. This Market hopefully brings new customers to you, but more than the power of buying, it brings the power of sharing—your passion for your work, the projects that are giving you hope, your creative drive, your entrepreneurial spirit. It is about remembering that who we are and all we experience is inextricable from what we make.

This event was such a high-energy success last year. This year, there isn’t as much time to plan but I know we can still pull off something awesome. Last year, the event was restricted to women who appeared in my book Women Make Arkansas: Conversations with 50 Creatives. This year’s event will remain in the spirit of the book, but can include any Arkansas woman artist, musician, writer, jeweler, food producer, circus performer, poet, robot maker . . . any creative woman—defined as broadly as imaginable—is welcomed and encouraged to apply. (If you are not familiar with the book, you can find more at etaliapress.com.)

THE DEETS:

Via email to womenmakersofarkansas@gmail.com with the subject line “XXX (Name/Business Name) Virtual Vendor Application,” submit a 75-word personal or business bio, a link to your website and/or business page on social media, and three product pics. Applications are due by Tuesday, April 7 at midnight (EXTENDED DEADLINE), but please submit them as soon as possible. To be clear, your video is not part of your application and is only necessary if you are accepted (see below).
Philanthropic component TBD. If you have ideas, add them to the bottom of your application. It must relate to the creativity of women and girls.
Follow @etaliapress on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The list of those selected as Virtual Vendors will appear on Et Alia Press’s social media on or before Wednesday, April 8.
I am hoping to curate 50-75 Virtual Vendors.

ITEM DELIVERY/LOOKING AHEAD: If you are selected, YOU MUST BE VERY SPECIFIC in your video (see more below) about your plans to HAND-DELIVER OR SHIP any items purchased (and follow through ASAP after the event). If you simply want to share your story and your business is closed or you cannot ship/deliver, THAT IS OKAY! Please still apply if you are interested. You can always sell gift certificates if you like, or just join in to share your story. (For example, maybe you’re starting a podcast right now that is dynamite and you want to share about it, but you’re not selling anything; maybe you’re reading a selection from your book; maybe you’re singing; maybe you’re performing with fire.)

FEES: Since these are uncertain times and something new for me and for all of us, there is a sliding scale on “booth fees.” I understand that many of you also have websites and Etsy stores. Please be honest about what you think the event helped you sell, and I will trust you to do so.

Sell:

$50-$100: Fee is $5
$101-$200: Fee is $15
$201-$300: Fee is $20
$301-$400: Fee is $25
$401-$500: Fee is $30
$501-$600: Fee is $35
$601-$800: Fee is $45
$801+: Fee is $50
Fees due via PayPal to etaliapressbooks@gmail.com within 5 days of event

VIDEOS FROM SELECTED VIRTUAL VENDORS: More information/details will be forthcoming if you are selected, but generally, be prepared to create a video of roughly 3 minutes about the history of your work and/or business, what you make, and why you make it, and showing your work. Certainly, this can include items for sale and prices, but the real thrust of this event is sharing the creativity and creative process of women, so the focus should be on getting to know you and what you uniquely offer through your craft. For those accepted, more details will follow about key elements of your video.

I’m looking eagerly forward to celebrating the ingenuity, innovation, and indomitable spirit of Arkansas women during this unusual moment. I cannot wait to see your work, learn more about your story, and see what we can do together.

Warmly,

Erin Wood, Founding Owner/Director

Et Alia Press

etaliapress.com

501-545-9605

womenmakersofarkansas@gmail.com (*preferred contact*)