Kickstarter campaign for new downtown market didn’t reach goal

Market merchandise sales continue to help with start-up costs of new market

One of the downtown’s newest attractions, the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market, failed to meet its $15,000 funding goal on Kickstarter in June.

But that doesn’t mean the new market won’t be able to cover its startup costs.

On June 1 the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Network launched a campaign on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter to help cover startup costs associated with launching the new market.

The campaign ran until June 30 but, through 53 donations, made only $3,732.

Due to Kickstarter’s rules, if a campaign does not reach its funding goal, no money is handed out and it is returned to donors.

For donation incentives of $10 to $500, the campaign offered tote bags, T-shirts and an “evening harvest dinner” for two.

Although the campaign didn’t reach its goal, the market will still be able to cover its startup costs, said Peter Hughes, development manager of the market, which is located in the Citi Centre courtyard at Aylmer and Charlotte streets.

“I think it’s safe to say we will exceed our fundraising expectations. If we haven’t already, we’re darn close,” Hughes said.

Merchandise was initially exclusive to Kickstarter backers, but Hughes says that partway through the campaign the market realized it needed to change strategies to make up the funding.

Branded T-shirts, tote bags, hats and even a few baby onesies became available for sale at the market.

Coupled with the high number of customers and sales, he says he’s not worried about making up for the failed Kickstarter campaign.

Since launching the new market in June, he said, each weekend has seen increased sales over the last, even though customer volume has dropped on some weekends due to poor weather.

Many of the people at the market are walk-in customers who live in the area, Hughes said, and he’s also noticed many customers coming downtown who never used to.

He’s talked to customers who are beginning to come downtown more often and spend money at the market, as well as buying lunch at local restaurants.

“So much of this is about helping people establish new habits,” Hughes said.

The new market is an experiment in promoting small, rural businesses and generating more revenue for the downtown, he said.

“This is a local economic-development project,” Hughes said.

Those who want to support the market can do so by purchasing from vendors and grabbing merchandise either at the market on Saturdays or at Kawartha Local downtown.

The current set of merchandise will soon run out, Hughes said, and after a short break new merchandise will become available.

NOTE: The market is looking for volunteers, who can sign up on their website.

So much of this is about helping people establish new habits.

PETER HUGHES PETERBOROUGH REGIONAL FARMERS MARKET