There’s a buzz of excitement in the air as young vendors line their tables with homemade treasures at Smyrna’s Kids Handmade Market. With handmade signs, carefully priced goods, and proud grins, these pint-sized entrepreneurs are showing the community just how big little makers can dream.
The idea for the market began with Jodi Mills, Recreation Services Manager with the Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department, who helped launch the popular Sunday Smyrna Handmade Market. “When we started the Smyrna Handmade Market, I started thinking about adding a kids component,” she says. “But I didn’t want the kids to take away from the regular vendors. So I decided to give them their own spotlight.”
And what a spotlight it is.
At the Kids Handmade Market, shoppers can find an array of creative, colorful, and completely kid-made items: baked goods, lemonade, paintings, resin art, crocheted creations, jewelry, and more. The variety is impressive -- and the creativity is contagious.
“Every single vendor makes me smile,” Jodi says. “It’s just so fun to see them and their excitement for the event.”
But the experience goes beyond just fun. The market serves as a powerful hands-on learning opportunity. “It encourages kids to explore their talents,” Jodi explains. “They gain confidence by having a real-world experience selling and interacting with customers. They learn about pricing, marketing, budgeting, and customer service. It builds business thinking and financial literacy at a young age.”
And it’s not just the skills that stick with them -- it’s the feeling.
“You can almost see the transformation,” she says. “As people stop by their booths, ask questions, and buy their creations, the kids’ confidence soars. They leave with a pocket full of money and a confidence meter through the roof!”
That feeling rang true for young vendor Gerard Peceros, who sells portraits and keychains. “It felt good when someone bought what I made,” he shared. “I was left knowing that they will leave it for decoration on their wall if it's a portrait or use it on their backpack if it's a keychain!”
Moxie Marsh, another young entrepreneur, offers this advice to first-time vendors: “Be yourself and show or sell what you want to -- not what everyone else is doing.”
Events like the Kids Handmade Market don’t just benefit the young vendors -- they also bring the community together. It’s a feel-good event filled with joy, inspiration, and a shared sense of pride in supporting local youth.
The next Kids Handmade Market will take place on Saturday, September 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and promises another day full of talent, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit. Come for the creativity, stay for the smiles -- and leave inspired by Smyrna’s next generation of makers.
Want to Join the Fun?
The next Kids Handmade Market takes place Saturday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Interested young vendors can email Jodi Mills at jmills@smyrnaga.gov to learn more and sign up.