How Fredericton’s Northside Creators Market Acts Like A Mini Business Incubator
FREDERICTON– The Northside Creators Market was born out of the pandemic when the previous Northside Market closed. Now, it is home to over 40 vendors and is considered a business incubator for Frederictonians looking to test their products out.
Jim Middleton, chairman of the board of directors, is one of the seven vendors who run the market. When the previous Northside Market closed during the pandemic, Middleton along with other vendors, believed it was still important to have a spot for vendors on Fredericton’s northside.
“[COVID] was certainly something that put a lot of people in a place to reconsider what they were doing with their careers and a lot of people decided to make that leap to try to run their own business,” said Middleton.
A spot like the Northside Creators Market lets people from the area come test out their products with the public.
The Northside Creators Market started in the Picaroons Roundhouse in August 2020, where it operated for its first six months. This was the market’s phase one and they had around 20 vendors at the time.
Moving into phase two, the market moved into a unit at 170 Main St. in January 2021. In this current location, they have around 40 vendors every week, selling things like hot food, arts and crafts, and baked goods. This August, the Northside Creators Market received a $10,500 donation from the Nashwaaksis Lions Club, which went to building 50 new booths for the vendors.
Since the opening of the Northside Creators Market, there have been three vendors who have moved into permanent locations.
Before this summer, the sister-owned Oh So Sweet bakery was set up at the Northside Creators Market for just over a year. In a story with Huddle last week, Kelly Richard, co-owner of the business, said it was the duo’s dream to have a career in baking.
The sisters tested their desserts at The Cultural Market which was located at the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition, some pop-up markets, the Northside Creators Market and the Garrison Night Market.
Their dream came true as they recently announced they are opening a permanent bakery location at 215 Main St. Construction is ongoing and Richard hopes to open Oh So Sweet in December.
Alongside Oh So Sweet, Saffron Indian Foods and Goodvybz Catering have branched out from the Northside Creators Market as well.
RELATED: ‘Incredibly Satisfying’: Saffron Indian Foods Moves From Fredericton Market Into Permanent Location
Middleton is an artist and started taking his artwork to the public during the first year of the Garrison Night Market. He was part of the Capital Art Group, which gave him a chance to get his artwork out to the public every week.
When the night market closed at the end of the summer, Middleton was looking for somewhere else to go show his work, so he inquired about space at the previous Northside Market.
“I spent the first six months at the Northside market selling literally nothing. It was a place to sit in line, paint, and talk to people about my art. But all I had was original paintings,” said Middleton. “Not everybody taking a walk through the market that’s there to grab a coffee or samosas necessarily looking to buy a several hundred-dollar piece of art.”
Over Middleton’s time at the previous market, he started doing commissioned pieces of art. He also started adding smaller items like magnets and prints of his original artwork. By doing this, Middleton was able to see where he fits into the market space and what people were looking to buy from him.
Christmas is a busy time for Middleton and he does a lot of commissioned work around this time of year. But overall, attending the market every weekend with his art is like a “mini pop-up gallery” for him.
The North Side Creators Market has developed a New Entrepreneur Startup Training (NEST) approach, which allows new vendors to come in and speak to the board of directors and current vendors so they can learn from their experiences.
“We’re really supportive of one another. There’s a lot of cross pollination you’ll see,” said Middleton. “Anything that can share the wealth across the board and get potential for multiple people.”
“Cross pollination” means vendors cross-sell other vendors’ items throughout the market like the hot foods vendors offer hot sauce from Spicy Boys, a hot sauce vendor.
Some of the vendors within the market come with a passion project in mind.
“The reason why the ‘creators’ is part of our name, the Northside Creators Market, is we want to encourage makers and creators. The person who’s coming up with the idea of creating whatever the product might be is always the most passionate about it,” said Middleton.
Even Middleton’s wife is a recent creator of her own items at the Northside Creators Market. The two have always talked about what she was passionate about, which led her to start her own business named Let it Bee Balms.
Middleton said this endeavour allows her to have fun and get her passion out to the public.
The Northside Creators Market is considered a business incubator. Middleton said the market gives vendors a “safe environment” to test their products to the public. By doing this, it allows different business ideas to see what works and what doesn’t, before putting the money down on a storefront.
Even hearing feedback from customers for things the vendors would never have thought of. Middleton’s wife created a balm with no essential oils for those who do not like scents, but a customer said it would also work for tattoo care recovery.
In other cases, for selling at a market, Middleton said customers might come for specific vendors, but be intrigued by their neighbour’s products too.
“I love to see people have a great day, having people come in to specifically find their products,” said Middleton.
Jessica Saulnier is an intern for Huddle in Fredericton. Send her feedback or tips: [email protected].