By Bryanna Lapiner
During the month of December, citizens of San Luis Obispo reach for two goals: finding the perfect gift and supporting the local community. When holiday cheer is at an all-time high, locals visit the SLOcally Made Holiday Market, an all-in-one storefront with over 65 local makers and vendors selling everything from wool to beeswax candles. It is the perfect solution for supporting local businesses without traveling to storefronts miles apart.
Sadie Rogers and Kerry Long, whose fathers were Central Coast craftsmen and long-time friends, are the creators of this annual event. When the holiday season started to become a time of the year to dread for small businesses instead of the most joyous, they knew there had to be another way to sell local items without dragging all of their materials to every holiday sale. Shortly after this idea was proposed, they had secured a storefront in downtown San Luis Obispo in 2017 for the month of December. They joined the Cal Poly CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as clients in February of 2023, and received assistance from expert advisors regarding legal questions, company growth, and navigating the retail industry.
“What first started as just a group of 17 friends selling their goods one holiday season 8 years ago is now a large and thriving community of makers and creators who come together each December to share art with the local community. Although Kerry and I orchestrate the event together, SLOcally Made is for the people. It is community run and supported, and we are merely the ones who create the container and curate the crew. We love seeing how those involved each year create a unique biome and vibe,” says co-founder Sadie Rogers.
The first showcase offered gifts from 15 vendors and makers, a smaller number compared to this year’s 2024 SLOcally Made, which will house over 65 vendors. This year, Rogers and Long have secured their largest downtown space yet and are collaborating with Thrifty Beaches at 877 Monterey St. (formerly Beverly’s sewing section) to showcase 68 local makers and artists.
This year will feature items such as art prints, bucket hats and resin jewelry from sellers like Maitri Verde, Surf Gems and Peaceful Plants. Gifts will also be available from fellow SBDC clients Manifest Essentials, Taddo’s Tallow, Staley Pearl and To Be Honest Bev Co. Cutting boards, olive oil, honey, books and greeting cards will be for sale at the month-long storefront.
SLOcally Made will be open every day from 10 AM to 7 PM beginning Saturday, November 30th until Tuesday, December 24th. Visit their website and learn more at https://slocally-made.com/.
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