Independents' day: Best Melbourne markets

Melbourne’s retail scene is forever evolving. Once known mostly for its inner-city shopping strips, such as Bridge Road and Chapel Street, and behemoth centres like Chadstone, shoppers are being tempted by the surge in independent markets.

The Finders Keepers market, founded in 2008, has grown to include more than 1200 vendors a year nationally – mostly jewellers, fashion designers, homeware makers, plant sellers and small food purveyors – accompanied by live entertainment, workshops and street-food vendors.

The market began as a side project for designers and founders Brooke Johnston and Sarah Thornton, but has since become a full-time business with eight staff. Thornton credits the ‘‘handmade movement’’ for the market’s success.

“Everything became mass consumerism; fast, cheap and lifeless,” Thornton says. “It is no surprise to me that people started searching for more meaningful connections, products, stories and creativity.”

The Creators Market and The Makers and Shakers Market are more recent additions to the expanding hand-crafted scene.

The Makers and Shakers founder Emma Morris says this business model provides a middle ground between the bigger markets, which require high stock levels, and boutique or smaller local markets, which may not monitor the quality of sellers as stringently.

Morris say she investigates prospective vendors’ production methods and ensures product makers will be there personally to meet customers.

“After our event is done, customers can continue the relationship with makers through social media,” Morris says. “Markets allow genuine relationships to form between buyers and sellers.”

Since their first event in January 2015, The Creators Market has expanded its schedule to Ballarat, Bendigo, the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas and runs about 10 times a year.

Event director Megan Luscombe tries to ensure a variety of Australian-made products at each market. “We are helping someone keep their business alive and consumers want to support Australian-made,” she says.

Last year also marked the first Melbourne Ceramics Market – a niche event enabling emerging and established artists to sell their wares, founded by local ceramicists Tina Thorburn of Clay by Tina and Daisy Cooper.

This market also has a charitable arm supported by entrance fees and sales, which has raised money for the not-for-profit , supporting female migrants in Australia, and The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The Rose Street Artists’ Market operates every weekend in Fitzroy. It started in 2003 as a place for co-founder Christian Ferrante’s brother to sell his work without high gallery or retail commissions. Fifteen years later, the market is considered an iconic part of the Fitzroy scene.

Ferrante also runs the monthly outdoor at Heide Museum of Modern Art, now on a winter sabbatical. “We have seen a real evolution in the level of skills on display, where the quality of product, the stall display and the visual merchandising will rival any high street retailer,” he says.

Upcoming events

THE FINDERS KEEPERS

July 13-15

The Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton

$5 entry fee

THE MAKERS & SHAKERS MARKET

November 18

Coburg Town Hall

$2 entry fee

THE CREATORS MARKET

May 27

Terindah Estate, Bellarine

Free entry

MELBOURNE CERAMICS MARKET

November 10 & 11

Location and entry price varies

THE ROSE STREET ARTISTS’ MARKET

Every Saturday and Sunday,

11am-5pm

60 Rose Street, Fitzroy

Free entry