ETSU’s Collegiate and Merchandising Association will be hosting their first annual Small Business Farmer’s Market, March 24, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., at the Cave in the Culp Center.
Vendors will be local small businesses from the Tri-Cities area, as well as various student organizations from ETSU. The CMA will also have an informational booth about the program and an arts and crafts station where students can paint articles of clothing.
The CMA Social Media Coordinator, Natalie Hale, shared that the event will be taking place on a larger scale than any member of the organization had expected.
“We were expecting between five to seven small businesses, and then it expanded,” Hale said. “We’re having a total, as of right now, of 15 businesses signed up to participate.”
Additionally, Hale has seen the event transform from the organization’s original vision to an event that will hopefully please a broader audience. She said that the CMA’s original goal was to promote local clothing businesses that wanted to get their name out, but the list of vendors participating has grown so that the event will have more than just clothing.
In addition to clothing stores, the event will promote other industries, including spa services, photography and handmade jewelry. Additionally, Smokestack Records, a mobile record store, and two Vintage resale shops, Thoughtful Vintage and Flashback Heat, will be participating in the event.
Hale expects that the range of vendors will draw more people to the event.
“It’s really exciting that we’re going to have a good variety for our first time of doing the event,” Hale said.
Hale also hopes that the event will not only promote local businesses, but also get students interested in the CMA.
“As a program and a club, we are going to network with students and the participating small businesses and try to expand our club and get our information out there,” Hale said.
The CMA is a student organization affiliated with ETSU’s Fashion Marketing and Merchandising program. Hale said that the club currently has about 30 members, which is relatively small. Anyone is able to join the CMA, so students don’t have to be majoring in its affiliated program or a similar field.
“We are trying to include all people who have a love for fashion, merchandising, whatever it may be within that industry,” Hale said.
Hale adds that the club is focusing on hosting more events, to hopefully increase student involvement.
“It’s kind of hard to get involved with a student club or a student organization when there’s not much to offer,” Hale said.
The CMA holds movie nights, fashion trivia nights and interest sessions. In fall semesters, they also participate in the annual fashion show, hosted by the Fashion Advertising and Promotion class.
Students interested in getting involved with the CMA can visit their Instagram page @etsumerchandising or visit the Fashion Marketing and Merchandising page on ETSU.
