Husband and wife team Chris and Rachelle Duffy, behind The Little Big Markets, are taking their event model national, starting with Auckland.
The historic Victoria Park Markets will this summer play host to Tauranga's established artisan craft and food market, The Little Big Markets.
The Little Big Markets will feature 50 pop-up craft, fashion and food vendor stalls and live music in Auckland every Saturday from November 7.
Event director Rachelle Duffy created the original Little Big Markets in Mount Maunganui in 2009 and said receiving a lot of positive feedback from Aucklanders at their regular Bay of Plenty events meant taking it to Auckland was the next natural step.
"Many of our Auckland-based stallholders have wanted growth within the Auckland market but wanted to remain under our event brand and it has always been our long-term goal to replicate what we've done in the Bay of Plenty and take our event model nationwide. So expanding into the Auckland region first, in such an iconic location, is very exciting," she said. Victoria Park Markets, home to one of Auckland's original markets, has undergone a large-scale refurbishment to invigorate the historic building, creating a fresh, vibrant central city food and shopping hub.
What originally started out as a hobby in 2009 with 20 stalls at the monthly Mount Maunganui markets, The Little Big Markets now hosts 150 stallholders and has become a full-time job for Miss Duffy and husband Chris, who joined the team full time earlier this year. The working couple have also created the Little Big Events company to manage hundreds of events in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato annually. This is their first foray into the Auckland market.
"The Little Big Events ethos from the beginning has been to create diverse and vibrant events to bring communities closer together while offering a platform for more small New Zealand businesses to flourish. We know Kiwis appreciate the opportunity to buy local and we are passionate about working closely with local businesses and artisans to provide a platform for them to grow," Ms Duffy said.
As a result, over the last six years The Little Big Markets have become a springboard for many New Zealand small businesses that have gone on to open their own brick-and-mortar stores. The Little Big Events company has grown 300 per cent in the last six months; a move encouraged by Geoff Ross, CEO of Moa Beer, who mentored them earlier this year through the 2degrees Building Smarter Business campaign.
We know Kiwis appreciate the opportunity to buy local and we are passionate about working closely with local businesses and artisans to provide a platform for them to grow.
"Having the opportunity to be mentored by Geoff, who has such a depth of business experience, really helped us cement our plans for expansion and reminded us that a little community market can go on to achieve big things. He was really impressed with our organic growth over the years and gave us the support and confidence to initiate new community-focused events both at a local and regional scale," Ms Duffy said.
"Life is busy enough for people as it is, so it's important for us to replicate the same vibrant atmosphere as The Little Big Markets at Victoria Park, creating an inviting space for people to catch up with friends, sit and relax with a coffee and chat, without having to shop and leave. We will have activities for the kids too and regular live music, including a very special performance from Anika Moa at our first November market," Ms Duffy said.
Bayley's commercial lease manager for Victoria Park, Leah Lahood, said re-establishing a regular market environment with a focus on quality New Zealand-made artisan goods has always been part of the strategic plan for the new-look Victoria Park, and welcomes the arrival of the ethos and reputation of the Little Big Events team.
"Having witnessed the growth and success of The Little Big Markets over the last six years, we knew partnering with their team would be a positive step to further reignite Victoria Park."
Rachelle Duffy will be appearing in the indulge Speaker Collective, in association with Craigs Investment Partners tonight. The event is being staged at the ASB Arena and starts at 5.30pm. For more information and to purchase tickets before the event visit bayofplentytimes.co.nz.
Markets
The Little Big Markets - Victoria Park will be open every Saturday from November 7, from 9am- 2pm and will feature 50 pop-up stalls offering coffee, quality food, arts and crafts, fashion, fresh flowers, fresh produce and regular live music. For more information, visit instagram.com/victoriaparkmarkets.
If you are interested in becoming a stallholder or playing music at The Little Big Markets - Victoria Park, please visit littlebigevents.co.nz/joinus.