SACRAMENTOS BAZZARDAY, the sacrament of conscious consumption.

INN Networking event, 2021.

The experience of Covid-19’s pandemic forced small producers, crafters and independent entrepreneurs from all-over the world to search for new channels to commercialize their creations in order to survive.

Screenshot from 小红书.

In China, this situation has not been different. Some brave crafters and low scale producers, even lacking knowledge of digital marketing or having very limited resources, had quite the success thriving in a market where a vast majority of consumers might prefer well-known brands available on different platforms over hand-made…but at the same time there’s a trend among Chinese consumers looking for new niche brands that satisfy their mental and physical well-being.

Picture taken in HK, 2019.

VSP at Sacramentos.

Rumble in the Jumble at Modernista, 2018.

People are caring more and more for the environmental impact that they cause, and maybe these new brands could help them to increase their sense of wellness...are these new emerging brands ready for the Chinese market?

…Probably not…for a small producer it takes time to put “a brand/company” together…the list of “to-do’s” is long and the resources very limited or virtually non-existent…but what is the perfect platform for enthusiastic brand-new entrepreneurs? Pop-up markets and bazaars. This is the essence of #bazzardays.

Matin Zamani, 2015 (that day he only sold one carpet)

BAZZARDAY

Bazzardays are opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase their creations or services, pitch their stories, try their selling skills, test price schemes, receive feedback and meet new, and hopefully, enthusiastic followers. 

On the other hand, customers can feel supportive of these small producers when they choose hand-crafted products with a cool story behind it, knowing that products are one-of-a-kind or produced in small batches, and, in the process of manufacturing these products, biodiversity has been respected…so, without sacrificing indulgence, fashion and very special preferences, they can feel like conscious consumers.

Startup Grind MKT, 2019.

Rumble in the Jumble at AOTU Space, 2020.

Our favorite bazzarday is at Rumble in the Jumble, that since 2015 has been popping up in different locations around Beijing, especially in bars and restaurants. A pop-up market with a heart of epic proportions, a family where many emerging brands have started and grown and become recognized. 

Over these years, more than 70 events have been produced and it’s expected to keep offering a solid development platform through the years to come.

Other very cozy venues for bazzarday are Zarah Cafe, that host a sustainable market with community talks, featuring a handful of emerging brands and services providers; and The Hutong, which does a great job bringing together cultural and entrepreneurial activities.

Gorana, Cake Republic, Zarah Cafe 2021.

Winter Fayre, The Hutong, 2020.

It’s a great sense of accomplishment after having a full bazzarday, feeling like what has been done had a positive impact, and is steadily and sustainably growing. 

Now we have to get ready for more and more challenges…a never-ending endeavor with days of crying and others full of joy.