As we approach the end of a year rife with challenges, many of us are wondering how we can make a difference in our world. Being an advocate might seem like a daunting task, but we all have the ability to be impactful.
Each day, we make choices about where we buy a meal, a cup of coffee, a gift for a loved one, items for our homes, books to read, and the clothes we wear. What if the choices we made supported our community and local economy instead of giant corporations?
Our purchasing power is a superpower – it’s an easy and effective way to enact change. When you shop locally, you are making an investment in your own community, and that makes you a vital part of our economic growth. With each purchase from a small business, local maker, or artist, you are helping cultivate a city that is vibrant and diverse, create jobs and opportunities, and build generational wealth for small business owners.In that spirit, Create Birmingham is excited to launch Create Market, an online marketplace featuring the products, talents, and services of the graduates of our CO.STARTERS program, all in one convenient place. New vendors will be joining regularly, so check back often!
With traditional markets, pop-up events, and other brick & mortar options closed or operating at limited capacity due to COVID-19, we want to offer an easy way for customers to shop and support their favorite local ventures and discover new ones right in their own neighborhoods.
The best part is that you can shop Create Market knowing that, as a service of Create Birmingham, 100% of the proceeds from your purchases go directly to the vendors.
While our initial launch focuses on the amazing creative entrepreneurs who have come out of CO.STARTERS, we do have plans to feature a broader selection of Birmingham vendors in the future, so stay tuned.
As we look to the holiday season, let’s consider what our purchases really mean — not just to the friends and family on our gift lists, but to the neighborhood stores and makers who count on our business. We have the power make a difference.
Because, together, we create Birmingham.
