Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Bear.
Hi Julie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Three antique vendors (from the same mall in Olathe, Kansas) happened to find ourselves at the same garage sale and were standing in the driveway talking. All three of us had operated booths for many years and were either pursuing or thinking about other ways to sell outside of that traditional mall booth environment. As we weren’t aware of any “open air” or outdoor vintage-style markets currently in the south KC area, we thought this might be something we should try. We got together several more times to make a plan, iron out the details, and set a date for the first Pony Creek Road Vintage Market.
Since my husband Randy and I lived in the area on a 30-acre property, our place would be the location for the market. We have an open pasture for parking, a small barn and several outbuildings for those dealers who want to set up indoors and plenty of outdoor space for more dealers. We’re only 2-3 miles off the main streets, and you can access our place on all-paved roads (no travel on gravel required).
We recruited vendors and hosted the first two-day Pony Creek Road Vintage Market in September, 2023, with the goal of hosting a market each spring and fall. Seven vintage markets later, we remain true to the things our customers value – the quiet country setting, cottage garden, eating lunch in the outdoor seating area, and shopping with great vintage and antique dealers from around the area. Weve added simple things like a vintage scavenger hunt for the kids (created by one of our dealers), and we decorate for the seasons.
The PCRVM is only as good as the dealers who join us for each event. We have a top-notch group of core dealers, most of whom have been with us since that very first market, and new dealers join us each time. We support our dealers by offering flexible set-up and tear-down options (i.e., they get several days to set up their booths and remove their merchandise following a sale), dealer recruitment incentives and an all-dealer lunch on the Thursday prior to the sale. We have about 30 total dealers for each market, but we always have room to welcome more.
Our goals have not changed – we seek to host a vintage market that attracts quality local vintage dealers, brings vendors and customers together, showcases vintage and antique stores in Missouri and Kansas and provides a great customer experience.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Generally speaking, yes…it has been a smooth road. Once we had done a couple of shows, we refined the “routine” of setting up for each event.
Our main focus is recruiting quality dealers for each show, which is our biggest challenge. Although our dealer count remains steady, I sometimes stress out as to whether we will have enough dealers to service our growing customer base. But, maybe I should stress a little less, as we’ve had customers tell us that one of the things they like about this show is that it isn’t so big that you can’t get around to all the dealers,
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Both Randy and I are retired, which allows us to focus on the Pony Creek Road Vintage Market.
I’ve been a vintage dealer at Sentimental Journey Marketplace in Olathe, Kansas for the past six years (Fox on the Barn Vintage). Prior to that, I maintained a booth at several local malls, including The Front Porch in Ottawa, Kansas and Simpy Selah in Louisburg, Kansas.
I think several things set the Pony Creek Road Vintage Market apart: 1) the quality of our dealers – of the merchandise they bring and their created booth spaces, many of which look like a booth in a store. Their visual merchandising work is top notch every time, 2) the fact that this market is not so “high end” that customers can’t afford anything here – the dealers offer a variety of items and price points, so there is something for everyone, and 3) the ambiance of our country setting – people comment a lot about how they “feel” when they are here…they enjoy getting away and experiencing the country for a few hours.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love visual merchandising, especially utilizing vintage, so I get inspired seeing what other people have created in their booth spaces, stores, shows or homes. I like visiting shops in person – where sometimes I’m not even really shopping, but marveling at created booth spaces and trying to figure out how the booth owner made this happen. For me, having a booth is about pushing that creativity as well as about what I’m offering for sale. I take a bunch of cottage, garden and vintage magazines and am constantly perusing those.
Pricing:
- $50 for a 12 x 12 outdoor booth
- Indoor booth prices vary (when available – dealers tend to hang onto these)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ponycreekroadvintagemarket/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ponycreekroadvintagemarket
