Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Vayda.
Hi Liz , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started the greater goods market back in 2015, two years after I began developing my then pop-up based business, B.Willow. At the time, there were only a few craft markets happening regularly around Baltimore. I figured since I knew a good amount of other small businesses and artists (who are also always looking for market opportunities), why not start something myself and invite them to join! I had a studio in Bolton Hill at the time and knew that the building had a large room that would work well for a market, so I went for it. We had our first event in December 2015, a holiday market. I think we had about 15 vendors or so. It went really well and people seemed to have a good time so I decided to keep it going…! In 2016 we hosted a handful of greater goods markets at an event space in Hampden , Church And Co. After I opened my B.Willow storefront in Remington in 2017. I talked with R.House about moving the market to their garage space. We were the first market to regularly operate out of that space! Nowadays, we also partner with True chesapeake restaurant where we host quarterly, seasonal markets at Whitehall Mill in the Penguin room. The markets there are environmental in theme, featuring not only craft vendors with sustainable practices, but environmental groups as well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Between 50 to 80 vendors participate at each market, so it definitely involves a lot of coordination, moving parts, and unexpected challenges. In general, the road is quite smooth, since we have been fine-tuning our operation for over 10 years now. Having a small business myself and still doing pop-ups through B.Willow, I am always trying to see things through both the vendors’ and the customers’ perspective, which I think helps a lot.
I try to maintain the mindset that though it’s possible to have a flawless event, something can always come up… stay calm, be a good listener, and problem solve as efficiently as possible. Vending is a lot of work – and it can be stressful! Meeting people where they are is important. There are always going to be challenges and problems to solve, but all of this is completely outshined by our amazing vendors, the energy they bring to our events, the joy shoppers feel being able to purchase something handmade by someone extremely creative and talented. It’s just all part of running a large event!
As you know, we’re big fans of B.Willow. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
B.Willow is a boutique plant shop and a plant care service provider. We sell all sorts of indoor plants, pots, gardening materials, as well as botanical-themed gifts. We also create our own botanical designs in shop like terrariums, mounted plants, kokedama and more. We’ve been voted Baltimore’s best plant shop by Baltimore Magazines readers poll from 2023-2026!
We offer plant care services for peoples homes, businesses, virtually, and in shop. This involves a lot of repotting, diagnosing health issues, advising on suitable plants for indoor spaces, and providing weekly/bi-weekly/monthly/one time plant care visits for businesses around the area. We are very passionate about care and Darva to make it approachable, fun, and enriching for people.
We are also a community hub, offering a lot of programming specifically for kids and environmentally focused initiatives and events. We take a lot of pride in being a very welcoming space for anyone who wants to experience a room full of plants in the middle of the city, and who wants to learn how to take care of them!
What makes you happy?
Right now my 1 year old daughter and fiancée make me the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ve been working so so hard on my business and my market for the last 13 years. Though having a baby is energy zapping in the expected ways, it is truly rejuvenating me – I’ve desperately needed this for a while now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Bwillow.com
- Instagram: Greatergoodsmarket_
