Conversations among small business owners and community members filled the Illini Union Board’s second annual Winter Market on Sunday. Students and community members shopped around the Illini Rooms and South Lounge for handcrafted holiday gifts and trinkets, bringing vendors and the community closer together.
Tables covered with handmade jewelry, knitted plush animals and fresh chocolates lined the sellers’ tables. In addition to doing some holiday shopping, event-goers could even take a picture with the Grinch.
The Winter Market made its resurgence last year after a 16-year hiatus. The Union Board, a student group that plans all events at the Union, decided to bring it back due to the yearly success of the Moms Weekend Craft & Vendor Fair.
“(The Union) used to have a Winter Bazaar until fall of 2008,” said IU program adviser Asako Kinase-Leggett. “In 2024, we decided to bring (the Winter Market) back. It’s partly as a fundraiser, but also as a fun activity to do in the winter for people to get their holiday gifts.”
This year, the Union Board hosted 50 local vendors.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Randy Phipps is the owner of Mandarin Mountain Memories, where he designs and crafts colorful wooden signs. Phipps sells his signs on his website and has sold his signs at University craft fairs in the past.
“I enjoy talking to some of the local people,” Phipps said. “I get to see a lot of people that are from Moms Day and a lot of returning customers that come out.”
Jordan Hartman, owner of Designed With Hartman, completed her doctorate in natural resources and environmental sciences at the University and is now a conservation geneticist. The stickers she designs are inspired by her time in graduate school, mental health and nature.
Hartman was able to talk to several customers at the Winter Market and explain the meaning behind each of her stickers.
“It’s just really nice to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Hartman said. “And I love getting to talk to people, especially if they’re also researchers or scientists.”
The Union Board’s Vice President of Programs, Cody Drake, junior in Media and FAA, helped bring back the market last year. Although he didn’t plan the event this year, he guided a fellow Union Board member as they curated a list of vendors for the event.
“It’s a lot of work,” Drake said. “It’s months of planning that happens in advance, especially because we had to bring this event back. It’s a lot of reaching out to our vendors, working with them, trying to see if this is something that’s more viable for them.”
The money generated by the market supports Union activities, such as Illinites and movie nights.
Ella Frank, freshman in LAS, was studying in the Union. She and her friend were taking a break when they saw the market.
“I always look for fun jewelry or clothes at a cheaper price,” Frank said. “I love thrifting, so that was exciting.”
Frank ended up buying a ring and some skin care products.
“Everything’s really unique,” Frank said. “You wouldn’t find it in a regular chain, and (all of the sellers) are so nice.”
On April 11, the IU Board will host even more vendors for Moms Weekend Craft & Vendor Fair, which is its biggest craft fair of the year.
