When the doors open to Vintage Charlotte’s Winter Market on Saturday, more than 4,000 shoppers will flood the Fillmore for a chance to buy curated vintage items and locally made products.
In six years, founder Amy Herman has grown the pop-up market into a can’t-miss event by carefully selecting vendors and always thinking one step ahead.
When Vintage Charlotte first launched, the sale drew 800 people and 17 vendors. Herman selects about 65 vendors now, aiming for 25% new booths each sale to keep things fresh.
“I think a lot of it is just about the quality of the vendors. Our market has really exploded among desirability for vendors with more than 200 applications,” she said. “It is extremely competitive.”
The Winter Market caters to people looking to kickstart their holiday shopping. They’ll find diverse offerings from ugly Christmas sweaters and vintage Hornets gear to handmade art prints and jewelry.
The overall business has grown as well.
Last year Herman debuted an extended holiday market in Latta Arcade that will repeat this year (starting December 8). She’s also adding a pop-up market at one of Sycamore Brewing’s Food Truck Fridays this year.
That’s on top of a Summer Market and a vintage rental business.
The Winter Market opens at 10 a.m. for early birds with a $7 admission or 11 a.m. with a $2 general admission.
“The main thing I will say is a lot of the really great stuff goes early,” Herman said. “Limited edition or one-of-a-kind items sell within the first hour.”
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