Market Manager Opportunity

Posted on by E-G Market

The Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market is looking for a new manager to lead the market into its eighth season in 2020.

This is a unique and profoundly rewarding volunteer opportunity for someone — or several someones — to make a lasting impact on multiple fronts:

  • Helping fledgling or small-scale farmers get a vital foothold in the local economy.
  • Providing nonprofits and other organizations with an effective, face-to-face outreach platform.
  • Increasing access to healthy, affordable, locally grown food beyond the high-disposable-income demographic.
  • Hosting a positive, vibrant, community-oriented event in a space that would otherwise be empty.
  • Bringing together individuals, couples and families whose paths might not cross under any other circumstances.
  • Contributing to a more sustainable food system.
  • The list goes on.

The current manager has overseen the market for the past seven years. In that time, the vendor count has grown along with foot traffic, volunteers, community partnerships and regular activities/events. A new manager would be taking control of that established platform and all its possibility.

Lack of experience isn’t a disqualifying factor. What’s far more important is dedication, resourcefulness and vision.

This role also isn’t limited to one person. If you’d like to divvy up the managerial responsibilities and work alongside others as a team, that should be doable.

The current manager is committed to advising and actively volunteering, and there’s an existing pool of committed volunteers from the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council who are willing to handle specialized roles (e.g., music booking, volunteer coordination, kids’ activities) and assist with setup, point of sale and teardown during market days.

And, finally, there is the possibility of pay. There are potential funding sources and other resources that could be pursued should that be a priority of the new manager(s).

If you’re interested, pleased e-mail market@emersongarfield.org or call (509) 255-3072. You can also stop by the market on any of the next three Fridays in September (3 to 7pm, 2310 N Monroe) and come to the market info booth.

Without a manager (or managers) firmly in place by January, it’s unlikely that the market will be able to continue.

2019 Market Sponsorship Opportunities

Posted on by E-G Market

Our full-season sponsorship wall is returning once again this year, and we’re looking for kind donors to help fill it.

This highly visible 10’x10′ banner hangs at the back of the central market canopy for the entire season, making it a great spot to highlight your business or organization (for a really affordable price, too) while supporting our neighborhood’s grassroots, all-volunteer market.

Banner sponsorship breaks down into three tiers:

Tier 1: Blue ribbon – For $200, your logo shares eye-catching top billing on the sponsor wall. You can also supply us with plenty of take-home literature (e.g., business cards, flyers, brochures), which will remain on display at the booth’s info table throughout the season. Two spots available. All gone. Thanks to Gene Brake of eXp Realty and Spokane City Credit Union!

Tier 2: Grower– For just $100, your logo gets a central full-season spot on the sponsor wall. Not quite as large as the ones above, not quite as modest as the ones below. Plus your business cards will be displayed on the info table. Three spots available. All gone. Thanks to the North Monroe Business District, Mission CPA and Diamonds in the Ruff!

Tier 3: Sower – For a mere $50, your logo will be displayed on the sponsor wall all season long at a size that says, “Grandiosity isn’t our thing, but you definitely should still check us out.” Four spots available. All gone. Thanks to 1889 Salvage Co., Kelly Cruz, Spokane Edible Tree Project and New Destiny Tabernacle!

This year, we’re also holding one-day sponsorships again.

For a $250 donation, your business or organization will have the chance to “take over” the market on a date of your choice through branding, activities and outreach. This gives you a really great opportunity to connect face-to-face with potential clients or customers while taking advantage of our existing event framework with its own built-in draw.

Here are some ideas on how your organization might leverage this:

  • Advance ads in the local paper(s): “Join us for [Your Organization] Day at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market!”
  • Signage and banners provided by your organization and displayed across the market on the day of the event.
  • Flyers or door hangers promoting your organization’s day at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market, provided by you and distributed door to door with help from market volunteers.
  • Booking entertainment of your choice. This could be an employee with his or her own band or even something out of the ordinary, such as a magician or an Elvis impersonator to generate buzz.
  • A central outreach booth on the day of the event where you distribute print materials and promotional items — for example, discount coupons or branded tchotchkes.
  • A donation/fundraising drive or similar to add to the impact of the event.
  • Plugging into our cooking/gardening demos or our weekly popular KERNEL kids activity to create a theme or build excitement about the event.

All donations are used to cover essential market operational expenses, such as funding our weekly KERNEL kids activity, paying the market musicians, or our service fees for our point-of-sale devices. Donations are tax- deductible through our 501(c)3 partner organization, the North Monroe Business District.

No matter what kind of sponsorship you choose for your organization, you’ll also get plenty of shout-outs on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) throughout the season too.

So if you’re interested in supporting our grassroots market and benefitting from the promotion through one of these affordable sponsorship tiers, please send us an e-mail or give us a call at 255-3072.

2019 Market Vendor Application Now Available

Posted on by E-G Market

The vendor application for the 2019 season—our seventh!—of the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market is now live.

Interested vendors can apply using our online form. It’s easy and free.

Alternatively, you can download the vendor application as a PDF, print it out and mail it to the address provided.

Full-season fees are the same as in prior years. It costs $250 up front, but vendors who attend at least 15 of the 17 markets will receive up to half of their fee back. That works out to a booth fee of just $7.35 per market.

We look forward to receiving your application! If you have any questions, please e-mail market@emersongarfield.org or call (509) 255-3072.

2018 Market Sponsor Opportunities

Posted on by E-G Market

Just like last year and the year before, our full-season sponsorship wall is returning. This highly visible 10’x10′ banner hangs at the back of the central market canopy for the entire season, making it a great spot to highlight your business or organization (for a really affordable price, too) while supporting our neighborhood’s grassroots, all-volunteer market.

Banner sponsorship breaks down into three tiers:

Tier 1: Blue ribbon – For $200, your logo shares eye-catching top billing on the sponsor wall. You can also supply us with plenty of take-home literature (e.g., business cards, flyers, brochures), which will remain on display at the booth’s info table throughout the season. Two spots available. All gone! Thanks to the North Monroe Business District and Gene Brake of Keller Williams Realty!

Tier 2: Grower – For just $100, your logo gets a central full-season spot on the sponsor wall. Not quite as large as the ones above, not quite as modest as the ones below. Plus your business cards will be displayed on the info table. Three Two spots available. Thanks so far to the West Central Community Center!

Tier 3: Sower – For a mere $50, your logo will be displayed on the sponsor wall all season long at a size that says, “Grandiosity isn’t our thing, but you definitely should still check us out.” Four spots available. All gone! Thanks to Elliots – An Urban Kitchen, the Spokane Edible Tree Project, Carquest on Monroe and the Center for Justice!

Sponsorship Tiers
2016 Banner

This year, we’re also holding one-day sponsorships again.

For a $250 donation, your business or organization will have the chance to “take over” the market on a date of your choice through branding, activities and outreach. This gives you a really great opportunity to connect face-to-face with potential clients or customers while taking advantage of our existing event framework with its own built-in draw.

Here are some ideas on how your organization might leverage this:

  • Advance ads in the local paper(s): “Join us for [Your Organization] Day at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market!”
  • Signage and banners provided by your organization and displayed across the market on the day of the event.
  • Flyers or door hangers promoting your organization’s day at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market, provided by you and distributed door to door with help from market volunteers.
  • Booking entertainment of your choice. This could be an employee with his or her own band or even something out of the ordinary, such as a magician or an Elvis impersonator to generate buzz.
  • A central outreach booth on the day of the event where you distribute print materials and promotional items — for example, discount coupons or branded tchotchkes.
  • A donation/fundraising drive or similar to add to the impact of the event.
  • Plugging into our cooking/gardening demos or our weekly popular KERNEL kids activity to create a theme or build excitement about the event.

All donations are used to cover essential market operational expenses, such as funding our weekly KERNEL kids activity, paying the market musicians, or our service fees for our point-of-sale devices. Donations are tax- deductible through our 501(c)3 partner organization, River City Youth Ops (formerly Project Hope Spokane).

No matter what kind of sponsorship you choose for your organization, you’ll also get plenty of shout-outs on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) throughout the season too.

So if you’re interested in supporting our grassroots market and benefitting from the promotion through one of these affordable sponsorship tiers, please send us an e-mail or give us a call at 255-3072.

2018 Market Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on by E-G Market

Interested in volunteering at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market this season?

Our market is entirely volunteer-driven, which is why your participation could make the difference between something great and something amazing.

Here are the broad areas where we can use your volunteer assistance followed by a brief description of what’s involved. The commitment is flexible — there’s something for everyone and their busy schedules.

Bear in mind that there’s a how-to and existing resources for each of these areas, so you won’t be starting from scratch or going it alone. If something piques your interest, let us know and you’ll be given all the support you need to do it.

Scheduling musicians

Identify musicians who can perform each week at the market. Enter their contact info into a schedule. Ideally, be onsite during setup (2:30-3pm) to help them get them settled.

Vendor relations

Approach new vendors (typically farmers, bakers, ranchers, food trucks). Handle incoming applications. Make sure they’ve paid their fees and their questions are answered. Keep the process of application/payment/scheduling organized. We like to have about 25 vendors each week.

Social media

Post regularly on the market’s Facebook and Instagram pages with recipes, news, events, opportunities, photos, videos, etc. Create Facebook events each week to promote the market. Interact with vendors, customers, foodies, other markets on social media.

School market poster contest

This year it involves Garfield and Audubon Elementary. Get K-6 students to design market posters with the help of their art teachers, announcements in the Monday folders, etc. Collect and judge their submissions, notify the winners.

Print marketing

Get the market posters designed (maybe you know a graphic designer who can augment the school drawings?), printed and hung across town. Get market leaflets designed, printed and distributed.

Community partnerships/events

Got some ideas about fun community-centric activities you’d like to see? Use the market as a platform to put them into action! We like to involve churches, nonprofits, community centers, libraries, schools and other local organizations in the market. You would help identify and approach those organizations as well as plan and promote any special events, such as food truck rallies, our annual Craftwalk event, fun activities, themed market days, etc.

Cooking demos

Work with area chefs to hold cooking demonstrations using market ingredients about once per month.

Day-of volunteering

This means being onsite each Friday during the market season to help staff the market booth (info and payments), supervise the KERNEL kids’ activity, or set up and tear down. There’s already a place where you can sign up for individual shifts during the market season: http://bit.ly/EGFM-vols2018

Volunteer coordination and recruitment

Many hands make light work! If you can help bring more volunteers—family, friends, neighbors, classmates—into the fold, it means we can do bigger and better things with less individual effort. If someone wants to take the lead on organizing our volunteers, it would free core staff to concentrate on managerial stuff.

… so get in touch!

If one or more of those areas might be up your alley, or if you’d just like to learn more about what’s involved, just drop us a line and we’ll get back to you.