This holiday season, I had the chance to set up two awesome pop-ups
One in Pasadena's Shopfest Market and the other at Anaheim’s MAUM Market.
Getting ready for these events always takes a lot of prep, but this time, I really focused on creating some special holiday items. I made festive stickers and exclusive designs, and one of my favorite pieces was the Studio Ghibli Christmas stickers! Seeing people light up when they saw them made all the effort totally worth it.
My first stop was Pasadena's Shopfest Market, and the vibe was amazing! There were so many talented creators there, and I felt lucky to be a part of it all. Even though my booth was tucked into a corner, plenty of people found their way over and took an interest in my stuff. I was a little stressed about the weather since the forecast called for rain, but thankfully, it only drizzled for a few minutes, and my products stayed perfectly dry.
One of my favorite moments in Pasadena was meeting this young girl who said she was starting her own sticker collection because of my booth. How cute is that? Little interactions like that remind me why I love doing these pop-ups. It’s so cool to hear people’s stories and see which designs they connect with the most.
Next, I headed to Anaheim for the MAUM Market at the Packing District. If you’ve never been, the Packing District is such a cool spot with artisan eateries, unique shops, and this historic, artsy vibe. My favorite part of the day? Seeing familiar faces drop by to say hi and meeting new people who wanted to connect on socials or grab my contact info.
That said, the MAUM Market did have its downsides. The vendor fees were pretty steep for a short, four-hour event, and I was hoping for more foot traffic from art lovers. A lot of people just walked by or asked a few questions before moving on. Don’t get me wrong—I’m super grateful for the connections I made, but financially, it was more of a break-even kind of day. If you’re an artist thinking about this market, I’d say to carefully consider the costs, especially if you’re working with a tight budget. I really had to hustle with some last-minute promos to make it work.
At the end of the day, these pop-ups remind me how awesome and supportive the creative community is. It’s not just about selling products; it’s about connecting with people who share your passion. To everyone who stopped by my booth, shared kind words, or supported Avocado Artt this year, thank you. You made 2024 unforgettable!
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