Mums create new indoor market
There are so many local creative people and funky small businesses in Ka¯ piti, it’s great to be able to tell the wider area about them. Nicola van Rooijen
Two busy mums and businesswomen are adding another string to their bow, creating a quarterly indoor market for Ka¯ piti creatives to showcase their products.
For the last few months Rachel Killen and Nicola van Rooijen have been organising Ka¯ piti’s first indoor market to be held in Ka¯ piti College’s sports hall.
Rachel is the business change manager for an investment company in the city and has experience in managing projects of all sizes.
She owns a small hand-craft business called Wee Squiddlies.
Nicola runs two businesses from home with an enthusiasm for sustainability, reflected by both her businesses.
Charlie & Flo’s gives preloved clothing another adventure, and Just Bring Baby aims to make your travels easier by renting what you need rather than buying it.
As small business owners both women are passionate about providing an event where small artisan business owners can showcase their products and customers can get up close and personal with the products and people that created them.
“We both run small businesses from home which we’ve looked to expand by attending some of the local weekend markets but unfortunately we’ve been thwarted by the weather,” Nicola said.
“We’ve had blown away gazebos impaled on the construction fence behind our pitch and our stock flying all over the place and getting soaked,” she said.
“We know we’re not the only locals who run a small business but have no way of showcasing our products and services, no way of allowing customers to see, feel and hear about in person what great things we have on offer.”
Not wanting to brave the weather any more, Nicola and Rachel decided to set up the indoor markets so they could display their own businesses and products and help others in the same boat, ‘bringing something cool and exciting to their local village’.
“There are so many local creative people and funky small businesses in Ka¯ piti, it’s great to be able to tell the wider area about them.”
Not only will the market support local artists, designers and small businesses, it is also being run as a not-for-profit organisation hosting a different charity each time raising funds for their cause.
First up is Little Sprouts Ka¯ piti who give baby boxes with everything a baby needs in it at birth to vulnerable families.
The first market will take place on Sunday, June 24 in the sports hall at Ka¯ piti College, Raumati Beach from 10am-3pm.
Products at the market range from Ma¯ ori woven art pieces to made-to-measure dog coats, candy floss to Stewart Island smoked salmon with everything in between.
■ For more information and to check out the stalls go to www.kapiti-indoor-market.co.nz.