I want to throw an idea out to everyone and see where it goes.
One of the biggest opportunities we have at Market Street Creatives is that we have 230+ vendors under one roof selling all kinds of different products. Instead of always thinking about our products and spaces individually, what if we started thinking about how some of our products could work together?
For example:
- One vendor sells camping gear and another sells handmade fire starters. Put them together and suddenly you’re creating a camping experience instead of displaying two unrelated products.
- One vendor sells a dining table, another sells handmade plates, another sells candles, and another sells home décor. Why not style the table using products from several vendors and create a complete dining-room setting?
- A vendor selling gift baskets could incorporate products from other MSC vendors.
- Clothing, jewelry, handbags and accessories could be displayed together to create a complete look.
- Kitchen products, sauces, spices, cutting boards and serving pieces could be combined into one display.
Because everything is individually barcoded, the products can still be sold correctly regardless of which vendor’s space they are displayed in.
The goal is simple:
Help each other sell more by creating better stories for the customer.
I’m not suggesting we create a bunch of rules around this right now. I’d rather put the idea out there and see what all of you come up with.
If you see another vendor whose products would complement yours, reach out to them. Talk about creating a small display together. Try it for a few weeks. Move things around. Take photos together. Promote the collaboration on social media.
You could even use the comments on this post:
“I sell ______ and I’m looking for a vendor who sells ______ to collaborate with.”
There are probably dozens of combinations throughout MSC that we haven’t even thought of yet.
The more we can make MSC feel like a connected shopping experience rather than 230 individual businesses, the stronger the entire market becomes.
So let’s hear some ideas. Who could you collaborate with?