BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Winter markets, like this one here in downtown Burlington, are important opportunities for small businesses to make personal connections with their customers.
Holly Bahnsen has an online store for her business ‘Wild Perennial’ but she says most of the orders come from customers who met her in person.
“I’m more of an in-person kind of gal. I like to tell people stories about walking my dog and picking flowers and where I find four-leaf clovers. It’s a better experience for everyone, and I meet a lot of cool people, and you just don’t get that online,” said Bahnsen.
Aside from being able to examine the products, in-person shopping tends to be more spontaneous, artist Anne Meredith says.
“I think also online you have a lot of time to decide if you want something or not. So, if they see your stuff and they like it, maybe they’ll buy from you in a year, but if they see your stuff and they like it in-person, they have four hours to buy from me and that’s it or they’re only here for 10 minutes,” said Meredith of ‘Anne Meredith Design’.
Shopper Ethan Brodie said gifts purchased on a whim can feel more special. He dedicated his Saturday to shopping for gifts for friends and family hoping he has to buy fewer things online.
“Online, scrolling through everything sure, it may be easier than taking a day to drive out somewhere to a shop and look at all the things they have, but I don’t know, I feel like you lose a little bit of the soul involved in it,” said Ethan Brodie of Alexandria, Virginia.
Another shopper, Catie Tyrrell of Cavendish, wants to avoid online shopping entirely.
“I think I’m going to try to do everything in person. It just seems easier and makes sure that everything comes to me on time,” said Tyrrell.
Although in-person sales are exciting, an online platform helps Lee Cornell sell the clothing anytime, anywhere.
“I do love that about the in-person part of it, but then again, there’s only so much of that that you can do, whereas you can be anywhere in the country 24/7 on your website and still provide your goods to folks that want to shop your stuff,” said Lee Cornell of ‘One World Brothers’ store.