Over 35 small businesses filled Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery in Virgil on Oct. 19 for the final Little Hearts Market of the year.
The Cider n’ Sweaters market drew steady shoppers throughout the day, offering local makers a vital sales boost as the Canada Post strike and U.S. tariffs continue to complicate online business for Niagara artisans.
Co-owner Alex Harber said Ravine staff had to brew a second batch of cider mid-event after running out around 2 p.m. because of the large turnout for both the market and the cider tastings.
“We created a new batch just for today because the market next door took everything we had out of retail. It’s a good problem to have,” said Harber.
Organizer Ashley Langohr, co-founder of Little Hearts Markets, said the event was focused on giving small businesses space to connect with customers face to face and showing customers the value of supporting these pop-up markets.
“Skip the shipping and come out, visit the vendors, and take it home the same day,” said Langohr. “There’s a savings on both ends, and it supports everyone.”
Langohr said the partnership with Ravine has become an annual fixture for the vendor collective, now in its third year at the York Road winery. She said the venue provides artisans with visibility that online sales cannot match.
For vendors like Sarah Milan Bianconello, of Sarah’s Soaps, that connection matters as the ongoing Canada Post strike and U.S. tariffs have been a bump in the road for her operations.
“We’ve managed to ship through the Canada Post strike using other couriers, but with the tariffs in the States, it’s tricky getting to U.S. customers,” said Bianconello.
She sells natural skincare products and said the markets have become a reliable way to sustain her sales through the uncertainty.
“It helps to support your tiny little community,” said Bianconello.
Taylor Rice of Dreamy Haven agreed: the in-person setting gives businesses a chance to thrive while reinforcing local ties.
“Even aside from the financial, building a local community is more important than ever,” said Rice.
Rice sells handmade bookmarks and book-themed stickers, creations that began as a stress-relief hobby and have since built a loyal following among local readers and collectors.
“Things seem more and more divided, and the best part about doing the markets is the local community you’re building with everyone.”
Part-time knitter and full-time teacher Michelle Azzopardi of Stoney Creek said she relies on markets like this to balance her career with her creative business.
“Without events like this, there wouldn’t be as many small businesses in this area,” said Azzopardi. “Especially right now, it’s so important that we buy local.”
Artist and retired teacher Cindy Goldrick of Bench Artisans, who creates one-of-a-kind “junk journals” from vintage materials, said the market offers exposure that online shops can’t match.
“It’s great to create a platform for artists to meet people and sell their stuff,” said Goldrick.
As the season ends, Langohr said Little Hearts will take a short winter break before returning in the spring with new vendors and another round of community markets.
