09/22/2026
This is a post from a vendor at Nebraska City's Apple Jack Festival, and was shared by another local festival, the Wellfleet Junkin' in June. It really hits home. Chamber volunteers work hard for six months of every year to make the Sutherland Makerโs Market a success. We market the event to attract shoppers and buyers to our vendors - who hope to make a living creating or selling wonderful products.
It's a hard truth: when we skip local and default to Amazon or the big box store, small businesses feel it directly โ and so does our whole town.
The Makers Market is practically built for gift-giving. Before you order something online, think about who's on your list:
๐ Christmas shopping โ get ahead of the rush and find things nobody else will be giving
๐ Birthdays & anniversaries โ for every age, every relationship
๐ก Realtors โ closing gifts and client appreciation that actually says "I know you"
๐ Teacher appreciation โ handmade beats a gift card
๐ Work milestones & promotions
๐ New job, new baby, new house โ "welcome" gifts with real meaning
๐ Hostess gifts โ never show up empty-handed again
๐ Sympathy & thinking-of-you
๐ข Employee recognition & client gifts โ want more referrals? Give something that matters
๐ฐ Wedding gifts โ personalized, not generic
One Saturday, one street, dozens of makers who put their hearts (and a lot of hours) into what they sell. When you shop local, that money stays local โ it supports our schools, our fundraisers, our neighbors.
Mark your calendar: Saturday, Sept. 26, 10amโ3pm, Downtown Sutherland. CREATE. SHOP. ENJOY.
๐ sutherlandchamber.com/makers-market
This picture brings tears to my eyes.
This picture is a great visual for what this economy is doing to small businesses!
**I want to make note this was not an event coordinator issue. These ladies market their events like no show I've ever been a part of. Mel and her team at Creative Collabs are phenomenal event specialists! I'm so thankful for them doing these for us small folks.
This is an event that normally brings tens of thousands of people. 60,000-100,000 to specify.
I remember coming here as a kid and barely being able to walk anywhere because there were so many people.
That was not the case this weekend. This wasn't the only time there was only 1 customer in the walk way. There was no consistency.
The high school events I've done had more people walk through than Apple Jack this year.
If you've never been a vendor at an event you would be amazed at how much work we put into these shows.
Literal blood, sweat, and so many tears. The hours it takes away from our families. The working from sun up to sun down, buying product before you even have a single sale.
You start off in the hole- thousands of dollars. The space fee $140 (for ONE day here). Lumber, glue, paint, beads, ribbon, wire, twine, sand paper, greenery, florals etc.
So that first thousand(s) we "make" at a show is just what we put into it. We're simply breaking even.
You can't survive by breaking even.. That's not a business, that's a hobby.
This business is my dream. I absolutely love what I do most days. I love meeting all the people, I love designing, painting, I love seeing someone with tears in their eyes because they are so in love what they ordered. This has happened more times than I can count and it fills my cup every time.
I am so passionate about this little wood shop that when things like this happen I completely unravel.
I am heartbroken. I am angry. I am disappointed. I am scared.
And I'm going to guess that most (truly) small businesses are feeling this right now.
How can we change this?
Are we doing what we can to support local?
When you need a birthday gift are you asking local businesses or just ordering off Amazon for a quick gift? (no judgement because I do all of this too when I'm way behind)
A wedding? Perfect time to order a personalized gift. It shows you care.
Realtors? Are you showering your clients with box store gift baskets and items? If so-why?
This would be the perfect opportunity to support your own city, show your clients you are listening and are intentional in your gift giving, something that has actual meaning. This is the biggest purchase of their lives after all!
Client gifting-hello! Want more referrals? Give gifts that matter!!!
Team bonding events. Support local!
Career appreciation weeks. Support local!
I could go on and on.
We don't get the buy outs that big box stores do. We don't get loans or grants.
If our business goes down, WE go down.
The humans behind these businesses go down, their families and so does our town!
So this is my plea for help.
Please keep supporting local.
Whether it's purchasing from a small business, sharing their posts or work, or recommendations! It is ALL support for us and we need any kind of support we can get. ๐ฅน
I promise you won't like what happens to our cities without them. ๐ Remember, we are the ones supporting your non profits, schools, fundraisers, donations. Not Target, Walmart or Amazon.
Thanks for listening.
