Fifty-five local artists and small-business owners gathered Saturday at the Icehouse on Fifth Avenue and Jackson Street to sell their products and raise money for charity in a flea market-type setting at the AZ Share That You Care event, put on by local organization Pineapple Triangle.
About 300 customers showed up, each paying a $5 entry fee to shop, watch a live music performance by the band 76th Street and snack on food from Buzznbeez Food Truck.
Twenty percent of the entry fees were donated back to the participating 55 vendors, and each of them donated 20 percent of their day’s profits to a charity of their choice.
Pineapple Triangle also hosted the AZ Wear That You Care event, a flea market for local apparel and jewelry vendors, last June.
The June event included 22 vendors and about 150 customers, about half the makeup of Saturday’s event, which lasted from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Pineapple Triangle owner Maggie McGrath said the events were intended to provide a platform for small businesses and artists to display their work, make extra sales and network with other entrepreneurs and customers.
McGrath said her inspiration for the event came from visiting numerous trunk shows and flea markets put on by Phoenix boutiques. The artists needed more opportunities for exposure, she said.
“I like to schedule my markets between other big markets so that artists can be a part of big events every month,” McGrath said.
Though McGrath still works a full-time job in addition to Pineapple Triangle, she said she hopes to file the organization as a 501(c)3 nonprofit within the next year and make it a full-time occupation.
For now, McGrath said what makes it worth it is being a part of growing other businesses. She said during the past six months with Pineapple Triangle she has seen artists quit their day jobs to pursue their crafts full time and make a living off of following their dreams.
Celestial Williams, designer and owner of Just Ruby Clothing, participated in both events put on by Pineapple Triangle.
Williams said the foot traffic didn’t seem as heavy at the event, most likely due to the location being somewhat tucked away, but that she still made 12 sales, which is higher than an average day, and could have made five more if she had all the right sizes.
“I am trying to get rid of my leftover spring and summer collections before I bring in the next season’s,” she said.
Despite serving fewer customers than at the first event, Williams said the networking was great, listing several new connections she had made.
“It’s nice to get sales, but the point is also to network and make different connections,” Williams said. “I met a lot of really great people, and that’s the best part about what I do. It’s so comforting to meet great people who are smiling and happy!”
Brandon Young, owner of Letter Craft, a decor company specializing in reclaimed wood signs, also said meeting with people was great.
“The vendors and venue were amazing,” Young said. “The diversity of people was amazing.”
But the most valuable part of the event, Young said, was the ability to raise money for charities.
“I really think the charities are what made [the event] great,” he said.
It was Young’s first time participating in a Pineapple Triangle event, but he said he was definitely interested in participating in future events.
Pineapple Triangle plans to host the next AZ Share That You Care event in June 2015, again in downtown Phoenix, but this time at an indoor venue to avoid the summer heat.
“I get a lot out of it,” McGrath said. “I get to create a market where people can come shop, but they also give back to the community at the same time!”
Contact the reporter at Taylor.Seely@asu.edu
