On Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, a new vintage market will host its second monthly opening featuring vendors with one-of-a-kind items.
Picker Place Vintage Market opened in May on Park Road just off of Interstate 4. Unlike other shops in the area that sell vintage and antique items, Picker Place Vintage Market is only open on the third weekend of every month.
Owners Gavin Anderson and Stacy Carpenter believe that the market’s limited hours allow for them and their vendors to pursue other projects.
“They don’t have to constantly be here,” Anderson said. “They can sell their vintage stuff without having to work full time.”
The weekend hours have also allowed for Anderson and Carpenter to promote their market as an event to vintage and antique lovers in Plant City, Tampa and Orlando.
“The response to this has been pretty cool,” Anderson said.
The market currently has 17 vendors. Although they are seeking more, Anderson and Carpenter don’t want to exceed 40 vendors. They accept vendors who sell shabby chic items, as well as painted furniture and project pieces.
Vendors are in charge of pricing their own items, but Anderson and Carpenter encourage them to price to sell — there is no price negotiation between shoppers and vendors at Picker Place.
“We’re not a flea market,” Carpenter added. “If something is special enough to you, it’s fair.”
The decision to sell items at a fixed price was done to protect vendors and has gotten positive feedback thus far. Anderson and Carpenter have received great responses from vendors, customers and friends.
“It’s just something we want to do for our vendors,” Carpenter, who formerly owned Kindred Spirit Vintage, said.
The perks aren’t just for vendors. Market customers can enjoy shopping at the different booths in a spacious, air-conditioned facility. Picker Place Vintage Market also offers a holding area, where customers can set aside items they want to purchase as they continue to shop.
Although items are occasionally featured on the store’s website or on Facebook, items cannot be reserved ahead of time. Purchases are first come, first serve. Carpenter and Anderson believe that by not letting people purchase until the day of the market, they are being fair to everyone.
As an added bonus, those who see an item they might want online won’t forget to check out the market when the booths are finally open. The owners believe that the items featured are ones that can’t be found anywhere else.
“We live in a disposable world,” Anderson said. “This stuff is made to last.”
Although they’ve been spreading the word about their new business for over a month, Anderson and Carpenter are currently working on attracting customers from other nearby cities.
After customers visit the market, the owners send them to other local businesses in the area, including antique stores and restaurants.
“We don’t see the other shops as competition,” Anderson said. “The (local) places are the ones that help the area.”
The owners are firm believers that promoting other local businesses and local sales keeps funds in the Plant City area, making it a better city. Both owners also noted that they have received support and encouragement from fellow local shop owners.
“We’re just excited because it’s something new in the area,” Carpenter said. “We have a great mix of items from antiques to handcrafted to vintage.”
Some of the items that will be available next weekend can be found on the market’s Facebook page, Picker Place Vintage Market, or at PickerPlace.com.
IF YOU GO
Where: 709 N. Park Road
Call: (813) 699-3501
Website: PickerPlace.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Facebook: Picker Place Vintage Market
FUTURE DATES
July 18 & 19
August 15 & 16
September 19 & 20
October 17 & 18
November 21 & 22
December 19 & 20
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
