Check Out Denise Griffith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Griffith. 

Hi Denise, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My two daughters (Cora Fager & Caitlin Perdew) and I have owned a brick & mortar business for 20 years (FYN & Co. Mercantile) in downtown Pickerington OH and traveled as vendors to other markets across the Midwest for the last 15 years. During those years, we developed many friendships with our fellow vendors and we wanted to bring this vintage & handmade market experience to our local community. Together we formed the Vintage & Made Market LLC in 2014 and began searching for the best venue to host our large vendor markets. 

We found the perfect location at the historic Round Barn and charming grounds of the Fairfield Co Fairgrounds in Lancaster OH and hosted our first Vintage & Made Market there in the fall of 2016, and called it Fall at the Round Barn. The following year we added a Spring at the Round Barn market there and have held two markets there each year for the past 6 years. We bring together 125+ modern makers & purveyors of vintage finds, mobile clothing boutiques, pop-up shops, food trucks, and live music at each of our events and draw 6-8k shoppers at each one. 

For 2022, we decided to expand to the northwest side of Columbus and we hosted our first Spring Gathering in April at the Franklin Co Fairgrounds, and have a Harvest Gathering market scheduled for October 14-15 there as well. 

We are also hosting a new market concept called THREADS + MADE that features specifically vendors of boutique clothing and apparel + modern makers (no vintage) and hosting these at the BrewDog USA in Canal Winchester OH. We have two scheduled for 2022 May 21st and December 3. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being a new market, it usually takes a while to build your vendor list as established artisans want to vend at tried-and-true markets, but we really didn’t struggle with the vendor aspect of it as we had built those relationships as a vendor ourselves. The community embraced our markets wholeheartedly and are excited to attend each one. 

Now being an outdoor and barn markets, our biggest struggle each market can always be dealing with the weather – both rain and heat and cold conditions. It is Ohio after all! 

Being a family business helps immensely as everyone in our family and close circle of friends is always there to help wherever then can at each event. We call them our Market Crew and we couldn’t do it without them! 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets our market apart from other craft shows or markets in Ohio is the time we spend jurying each and every vendors. We pride ourselves on selecting vendors that not only have the best products but ones that do amazing over-the-top displays at each of our events. These are not vendors that pop up a table and set their goods out. They create mini pop-up shops that are walkable and fun to shop in. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We see a shift in more modern makers that are specializing in one or two items in their brand and then focus on that and do them very well, In the past, you would see vendors who had a little of everything in their space, now we are seeing very focused, on-trend and a lot of branding of their items with color and specific style that sets them apart from others. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thevintageandmademarket.com
• Instagram: @vintage_and_made_market
• Facebook: @vintageandmademarketohio

Image Credits
Krista Craven Richards