Re: “Sechelt Briefs - Mobile Vending,” Feb. 23
Editor:
As a long-time vendor at the Sechelt Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market, I find the claim of competition to Sechelt merchants by the Farmers’ Market to be disingenuous.
Many vendors at the market are doing so to make ends meet. We are all home-based micro-businesses selling high-quality, made-from-scratch, small-batch hand-crafted and locally grown/produced artisanal products. The Sechelt Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market brings customers to both Sechelt merchants and our own (once-a-week for six months of the year) market by advertising on the ferries with both brochures and posters.
The market is a member of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and are listed on their website. People who might otherwise not visit Sechelt have come here because of this membership.
The market maintains pages on Social Media, and this also brings customers to Sechelt and its environs. The market itself is a non-profit society and allows many community groups to participate free of charge. Perhaps most importantly, our vendors are themselves customers at local Sechelt businesses.
The Sechelt Farmers’ & Artisans’ has been in its present location for approximately five of its 25-year history. It appears that those in opposition or expressing fear of losing business to our seasonal Market have only been worried (according to the quote from councillor Muller) for the last couple of years.
I would recommend to those who object to the Sechelt Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market that they welcome and embrace the tourists and locals who visit Sechelt for whatever reason, rather than criticizing something that benefits everybody.
Joy Thomson, Halfmoon Bay
