Today we’d like to introduce you to Sussana Kelly.
sussana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My entrepreneurial journey began with collaborating with creatives internationally to bring beautiful handcrafted jewelry and shawls to market. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for artisan craftsmanship and the importance of building meaningful relationships with makers.
From there, I started selling at local markets, where I developed a strong understanding of customer engagement and what it takes to grow a business from the ground up. As the business evolved, I opened a brick-and-mortar shop and partnered with a variety of vendors to create a shared retail space that supported small businesses and independent makers.
That naturally led me to organizing holiday and night markets, providing local artists and makers with opportunities to showcase their work while creating vibrant community events. Throughout my journey, I’ve been passionate about connecting talented creatives with customers, building collaborative partnerships, and creating spaces where small businesses can thrive.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the most rewarding aspects of building The Little Market is that, overall, the journey has gone
remarkably smoothly. If I had to identify our biggest challenge, it would actually be a good problem to have:
selecting the artists and vendors for each market.
The DMV is home to an incredibly talented community of artists, makers, and small business owners. We
receive far more outstanding applications than we have space to accommodate, making the selection
process both exciting and incredibly difficult. I truly wish we could include everyone.
We’re committed to curating a market that is diverse, creative, and filled with high-quality vendors while
also providing opportunities for as many local artists and entrepreneurs as possible. Striking that balance
has become one of the most meaningful—and challenging—aspects of growing The Little Market. It’s a
responsibility we don’t take lightly, and we’re grateful for every artist and maker who chooses to be part of
our community.
Another reason The Little Market has been so successful is our partnership with St. Luke’s Church on the
Avenue. We feel incredibly fortunate to work with such an amazing venue. St. Luke’s has been a wonderful
partner from the very beginning, sharing our commitment to supporting the local community, artists, and
small businesses. Their generosity, encouragement, and belief in our mission have helped create a
welcoming space where creativity and community can truly thrive.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One of the things I’ve loved most about my work is that it’s given me the opportunity to travel the world and build relationships with incredibly talented artists and makers. Those experiences have inspired beautiful collections, but what means the most to me is making sure everything stays true to The Little Market’s mission and high standards. I also love supporting the many artists and makers who participate in our markets, giving them a platform to share their work and connect with our community. It’s really about celebrating their craftsmanship while creating products and experiences that are thoughtful, high quality, and meaningful.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is helping artists and makers get the recognition they deserve. One of my favorite parts of curating our markets is creating a space where they can share their work, tell their stories, and connect directly with people who truly appreciate what they make. There’s something really special about watching a customer discover an artist for the first time and seeing that connection happen. Knowing that our markets can help give makers more visibility, grow their businesses, and celebrate their incredible craftsmanship is what makes the work so meaningful to me.
Pricing:
- All of our markets are free to the public
Contact Info:
