Keeping the market community connected

Inaugural event this October at Casadio Park

It all started back in August last year and October 1 this year, the newly formed Limestone Coast Market Network (LCMN) will host its inaugural market at Casadio Park, Mount Gambier.

At its heart, it started on the back of discussions around some stallholders across the region’s markets struggling with the use of modern technology and social media as part of their business model and it simply grew.

Limestone Coast Market Network communications officer Jedda Glynn said those initial discussions between now LCMN president Sue McDonald and a collective of stallholders led to a series of workshops, discussions and eventual formation of the network.

“They (stallholders) saw the ‘young’ stall holders thriving in these aspects,” Jedda said and it was those initial concerns that spawned an August 11 meeting at Metro Bakery and Café, followed by workshops, other networking events at the Commercial Hotel, with guest speakers also deployed and a facebook group established.

“It (facebook page) was a great platform for us to share collated market calendars for the whole of the Limestone Coast and Western Victoria, sharing and promoting of markets and market applications, a place for stallholders to ask each other advice on products, insurance, stall set ups and a place for encouragement and positiveness,” Jedda said.

A working committee was formed with Sue MacDonald (President), Rosemarie Williams – Life by Crystals (Finance), Jedda Glynn – The Springs Creative (Communications) with committee members, Bron Telford, Karina Leerson- Body Shop at Home and Alarni Holmes – Bear and Co Creations.

Having gone through the usual nuts and bolts of setting up a new organisation, including creating a constitution and sourcing financial assistance to get up and running, the October 1 date was set for the inaugural market event for the LCMN.

“We plan to hold more markets throughout the Limestone Coast area over the market season,” Jedda said.

The LCMN facebook group has already garnered more than 180 members, using the platform as an information sharing and promotional tool.

“When planning our first LCMN Market in October, we sat down as a committee and ensured there were no clash of dates with other markets, so we could encourage our members to attend any market they wish,” Jedda said. “We are also excited to have in the pipeline a collaboration with another group within our community of hosting a market together which we can’t wait to share more information about.

“The LCMN is all about helping each other, our main focus and purpose of formation was for the market communities to network together to encourage the growth of everyone’s unique businesses and creative talents.”

Applications have already flowed in for the October 1 launch market and applications will remain open until September 22.

There is already a diverse group of stallholders looking to be part of the Casadio Park event with the Bay Road facility chosen because of its proximity to the Blue Lake Caravan Park and Pine Country Caravan Park, given the market falls on a Long Weekend.

“With lots of tourists flocking the district, we felt between the two caravan parks, as well as a busy road heading down to the Coast – Casadio Park was the perfect location,” Jedda said. “Rocco Bueti and the Italo-Australian Club have been very accommodating and supportive with assisting us to get this market off the ground.

They will also be serving delicious Wood Fire Pizza along with tea and coffee at the market.”

And while the October 1 market is the focus of the LCMN, they have other plans in the works.

“Our vision ongoing, is to hold more markets as the LCMN within the Limestone Coast, and we have plans in motion for a market between Christmas and New Year at Port MacDonnell as well.”

Funding from the Mount Gambier Bendigo Bank and sponsorship from Willow Finance have assisted the LCMN in establishing their group and covering insurance and other costs related to running markets.

Application forms for the October 1 Market can be found via our Limestone Coast Market Networkers Facebook group or by contacting [email protected] or calling Jedda Glynn 0408 730 369

Market stallholders and small businesses can have access to the ‘Limestone Coast Market Networkers’ Facebook group and can also sign up as financial members for $60 per year.

The public can find the LCMN on Facebook/ Instagram – @ limestonecoast_marketnetwork Contact – [email protected]. au or contact Jedda Glynn (Communications Officer) on 0408 730 369 or Sue MacDonald (President) on 0417 844 603.

MARKET MOVERS & SHAKERS: Cydi Earl Jedda Glynn, Sue Macdonald, Rosemarie Williams & Karina Leerson

PHOTO BY FRANK MONGER