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PdC Handmade to showcase trendy, local craft vendors April 1

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Tanner Clausen

‘Not your typical grandma craft fair’

By Correne Martin

The number of trendy, talented local crafters is on the rise. Consumers are looking to shop small and support local entrepreneurs. Combining the area’s most up-and-coming handmade crafters with an opportunity for potential customers to purchase their products, PdC Handmade is a first-time vendor fair unique to the area.

On April 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at The Barn Restaurant, PdC Handmade will showcase about 10 innovative and stylish creators and in-home shop owners along with their customized pieces. The mix of products range from jewelry and baby clothing to artwork and bath essentials at a range of price points appealing to every age. Admission to the vendor fair is free and open to everyone.

Leading the charge behind this contemporary event is Tanner Clausen, a Prairie du Chien native, college marketing student and owner of A Little Hipster, a two-year-old, modern baby clothing and accessory business. Like most start-up businesses, Clausen has sold his hand-crafted fashions mostly via Etsy and Facebook and through friends and family and word of mouth. His goal with this event is to show off other local crafters’ work and to fuel the trend of shopping local.

Vendors include:
•A Little Hipster
•Emily’s Front Door (handmade burlap wreaths)
•Rustic Prairie (at-home workshops for custom signs)
•Yes, I Can Paint (one-of-a-kind paintings and artwork)
•Sew Cute by Erin (handmade bags)
•Naptime Creations (decals and customized products)
•It Says by Stacy (super trendy signs)
•Colorful Organics (all-natural bath essentials)
•Kathy Rose Jewelry (on trend, boho jewelry).

“This isn’t your typical grandma craft fair,” Clausen said.

“Most fairs nowadays are the same old vendors and mainly filled with consultants and [direct sales representatives], which is great, but there needs be a true craft fair that’s comprised of trendy, up-and-coming handmade vendors only,” he stated. “There really is a true need in an area that has so much unique local talent. Our area needs an event like this. I have participated in crafts fairs like this in other areas lately and the turnout and support is amazing.”

Clausen is hoping the PdC Handmade will have the same success. He said he’s noticed the region is slowly coming around to the importance of shopping small, “so having these events helps increase that movement.”

“There’s a story behind every crafter at this event and its really important to show your support for the area’s talent, even if it means just stopping to take a look at everything available,” he added.

Clausen would like to hold PdC Handmade in Prairie du Chien in the fall again. Eventually, he would like it to become a bi-yearly showcase. He’s excited to see how it can grow and which budding entrepreneurs it can sustain.

To learn more about PdC Handmade, find the event on Facebook. On the page, visitors will find pictures of the items they can expect to see at the event.

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