The Calico Rock Community Foundation is announcing the planned opening of The Marketplace on March 1. The Marketplace will open in the location now occupied by the Calico Rock Museum Heritage Center on upper Main Street. There will be two anchor stores in The Marketplace–Wagon Wheel Antiques and Peppersauce on Main.The Marketplace is seeking vendors and consignors. Vendors will rent a specific space in The Marketplace on a monthly basis. Rent varies by location and size of the space, but generally runs from $50 to $125 per month.
Ultimately, The Marketplace coordinators anticipate charging a modest commission on sales, but for the first six months of operation, there will be no commission on vendor sales.
Consignors are individuals not ready for a full vendor space, but have items they want to sell in The Marketplace. Consignors will be charged a 20% commission on their sales.
“If a family has items from an estate they would like to sell, but they don’t want to go through the hassle of having an estate sale can consign at The Marketplace,” Janis Wilson says. Wilson and Kim Meierdirk, the current owner of Wagon Wheel Antiques, are working with the foundation to establish The Marketplace.
Meierdirk adds, “If someone is thinking about starting their own business but they aren’t quite ready to rent a whole space they can ease into it by being a consignor first.”
The Marketplace will be leveraging the success of the Wagon Wheel Antiques and Peppersauce on Main, along with the many connections the Calico Rock Museum and Calico Rock Community Foundation have amassed to promote The Marketplace.
“Our goal is to advertise, advertise, advertise. Calico Rock is serious about small business. We are here to support our vendors and grow Main Street,” Gloria Sanders says.
Sanders has a wealth of experience as an antique dealer and currently serves as executive director of the Calico Rock Community Foundation.
The Marketplace will be offering services and support for vendors and consignors as needed.
Becoming part of The Marketplace offers would-be vendors and consignors the opportunity to either get started in the business or grow their business with very little up-front investment and little to no risk.
Those interested in learning more or joining The Marketplace, can get additional details by calling 870-297-6100 or visiting The Marketplace.
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