On a crisp Saturday morning, July 11, a buzz of excitement filled Darling Works Echuca, as young entrepreneurs prepared to open their very first market stalls.
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But this market was fashioned and run by different stall owners than usual — Mini Maker Market was populated by stalls run by six- to 14-year-olds.
Organised and run by Peggy Coffee owner Jess Fanning, who supplies Darling Works Echuca with freshly made coffee from her van, the event ran from 10am to noon.
Ms Fanning said the idea came from her daughter, Lacey, who received a sewing machine for her birthday and began making scrunchies and wanted to sell them at her mum’s van.
“She wanted to sell her scrunchies over the school holidays,” Ms Fanning said.
“So it was her idea, and then we just put it out to the community to see if anyone else wanted to join and then it became a big thing.”
Inside Darling Works, 11 lively stalls came to life, each one bursting with handmade products and services lovingly crafted by the young entrepreneurs themselves.
“We only had a restricted amount of space, so we had to cap it to eleven stalls,” Ms Fanning said.
“It was wonderful. I think everyone had a great day and some very creative little kids out there.
“It was really for the kids to build some confidence and showcase their work that they’ve been working so hard on.
Ms Fanning said the market featured an impressive variety of handmade products created by children of all ages.
Stalls overflowed with knitted beanies, crocheted toys, beaded bracelets, key chains, heat packs and potted succulents — and one particularly special stall offered live portraits sketched on the spot by a talented six-year-old artist.
“There was a really big range of different things,” Ms Fanning said.
With stallholders spanning a range of ages and skill levels, Ms Fanning said the community embraced the event and supported the young entrepreneurs.
“Everyone seemed to get really good support from the community,” she said.
Ms Fanning said her daughter had been nervous before the market, worried she wouldn't sell anything.
“She ended up selling out,” she said.
Ms Fanning said the response from both stallholders and shoppers exceeded all expectations.
“When I put a post on our coffee page asking if anyone wanted to have a stall, we had heaps of responses,” she said.
Once the participants had been confirmed, the event was promoted to the wider community.
“The number of people who turned up was wonderful. We were blown away by the community support, and I think the kids were too,” Ms Fanning said.
Ms Fanning said the market also brought new visitors through the doors of Darling Works, a creative precinct that is steadily growing into one of Echuca’s most exciting community spaces.
“It was really cool to have people come who maybe wouldn’t normally visit and see what else is happening down there,” she said.
Ms Fanning said creating a welcoming community atmosphere had always been part of her vision when opening the coffee van.
“I wanted it to have a real community feel,” she said.
Although the kids’ market came together quickly, she believes it perfectly captured that vision.
“We’ve had such amazing positive feedback that I think it’s something we’ll definitely do again,” Ms Fanning said.
The event looks set to become a regular fixture on the Echuca calendar, with Ms Fanning exploring options to run it during school holidays or at set intervals throughout the year.
She said the market offered children something far more valuable than simply the chance to sell their handmade creations.
“It’s so good for their confidence and self-esteem, and even just speaking to adults and socialising with other people,” she said.
“It's just a really good day.”
With Darling Works continuing to welcome new businesses, Ms Fanning is hopeful the precinct will flourish into a vibrant, bustling creative hub at the heart of the Echuca community.
“I really like what they’re doing down there. The owners are amazing and they have such good ideas for the place,” she said.
Peggy Coffee is currently open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with trading hours being trialled from 6.30am to 9.30am.