2025 Holiday Pop-Up
Our inaugural Collab Collective 2025 holiday pop-up wrapped last week and we're still processing how good it was!
No fake networking energy. No pushy sales tactics. Just small business owners supporting each other along with people genuinely excited to shop local.
18 local vendors showed up with their best work.
Over 200 people came through.
Real conversations happened.
Sales were made.
Connections were built.
What made it work
The vendors brought their A-game. Handmade jewelry, customized stationery, woven bags, paper tableware, kids clothing, vintage decanter lamps and even a brand new product…a Menorah Tree. Every table had a story behind it.
Walking through the space, we watched a jewelry maker explain how she sources her materials. A gratitude journal vendor talked about how her journals have changed the lives of countless children. A photo organizer talked about her process of sorting and labeling old photos and then creating beautiful photo books.
This is what community looks like when you strip away the noise.
The vendors who stood out
Here's what we noticed. The vendors who did best weren't the ones with the fanciest displays or the most inventory.
They were the ones who talked to people. Not at them.
They explained their process. They shared their why. They made it personal.
One vendor told us she made more connections than sales, and she was thrilled about it. Those connections will turn into future customers, collaborations, referrals. That's how small business actually grows.
A Pop Up Highlight
Watching our vendors shop from one another and creating deeper connections.
What the shoppers cared about
The people who seemed happiest weren't rushing through. They weren't treating it like another errand. They asked questions. They cared about where their money was going. They wanted to know the person behind the product.
That's the difference between shopping local and scrolling through Amazon at midnight.
When you buy from a small business, you're funding someone's dream. You're supporting a mom building something while her kids are at school. You're helping someone turn their passion into their livelihood.
Small businesses win when we show up for each other. Period.
Here is a list of our pop up vendors with links to their websites. If you are interested in future pop ups please fill out this form.
Final thoughts
Watching our community come together last week reminded us why we do this work.
It's not just about pretty pictures or growing your Instagram. It's about building something real. Creating connections. Supporting each other.
You're doing more than you realize. Your business matters. The work you're putting in matters.