The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair to Open Brick & Mortar on Streetcar Line
Shop Local KC to feature Kansas City only makers, gifts and florals; located next to Blakk
Jun 01, 2021
Kansas City, Missouri - The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair, The Midwest’s premier indie craft fair and maker’s market since 2011, will launch its first brick and mortar location, Shop Local KC, which will highlight exclusively local markers with a ribbon cutting on Friday, June 4 at 12:00 pm at 3630 Main Street.
Shop Local KC’s new retail space brings a unique experience with a curated flower and gift shop featuring exclusively local Kansas City artists and makers products, including jewelry, apparel, paintings, prints, cards, ceramics and more for adults and children alike. Plus, Shop Local KC will soon offer studio and meeting space for small makers and artists to utilize for their creative business needs including a classroom space where Kansas Citians can take classes from makers and an artist studio that will house over 10 local artists in a communal studio setting next door to the gift shop. Inside and outside the space, you’ll find floral themed murals by local women artists like Jenny Meyer-McCall, Kit Landwehr, and Jess Macy.
Shop Local KC will welcome Mayor Quinton Lucas, alongside the Kansas City Chamber to celebrate the opening of their new retail space. As a woman-owned business, Shop Local KC is excited to partner with fellow woman-owned business Blakk, located next door, to cut the ribbon between both stores. The public is invited to experience the soft opening of both Shop Local KC and Blakk following the ribbon cutting with local food trucks such as Cafe Ca Phe, Avec Moi Sweets, The What Truck? and more.
“The community we have built alongside our fellow local markers makes us a truly unique destination for shopping local that is unlike any other,” says Katie Mabry van Dieren, curator and owner of The Swing and founder of Shop Local KC. “Over the years, we’ve seen that Kansas City wants to shop local and have become loyal to our Strawberry Swing pop-ups. Now, we can offer that same experience in one location where you can support a community member’s dreams and receive something that is unique, original and made from the heart right here in Kansas City. Many of the makers are creating limited edition items just for our shop, and some of these small businesses do not sell their goods in person due to the pandemic, so it’s a chance to interact with a product you otherwise could not,” Mabry van Dieren says.
Founded in 2011 in Kansas City, The Strawberry Swing has become the place to go to find and meet your favorite and also, brand new, makers through highly attended pop-up events hosted at Kansas City landmarks such as Union Station, Wornall Majors Barn, Overland Park Farmers Market, West Bottoms, and more. Shop Local KC and The Swing strive to showcase the highest quality handmade goods in an inclusive and accessible environment. Examples of local, Kansas City artisans who will showcase their goods at Shop Local KC are:, Carly Rae Studio, Kansas City Canning Co., Messner Bee Farm, Modest Mallow, Wildwash Co., Tucker & Scout, KC Cool, Kit Landwehr, Colorblokc, and many more. Bouquets of seasonal flowers and floral arrangements will be offered, as well.
Recently selected as a Small Business Superstar by The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, as well as one of the Top 35 Craft Fairs in the World by Buzzfeed and featured in Inc. Magazine for our pivot to the virtual world, The Swing is excited to bring a truly local gift and flower shop to Kansas City’s Midtown area right on the new streetcar line.
About Shop Local KC
Shop Local Kansas City is a retail gift and flower shop in Midtown, Kansas City (3630 Main Street to be exact), as well as a curated, online marketplace featuring more than 300 Kansas City artisans. Shop Local KC is an extension of founder Katie Mabry van Dieren’s other passion project, The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair, established in 2011. Each and every handmade item you will find was created right here in Kansas City. Our goal is to bring together local creators from different industries and diverse backgrounds to showcase Kansas City’s unique culture. That’s why we strive to showcase the highest quality handmade goods in an inclusive, accessible environment. Clothing to candles, pottery to paintings, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone.
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