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DC MEET Market

Calling all small businesses!

MEET Market hired to plan holiday market

Do you have a small business
and seek exposure? Apply to be a
vendor in Aprils DC MEET Market.
The market selects over 40 vendors for
the event each month. Craft categories
include: food and beverage, art, jewelry,
home goods, baby items, health and
beauty, clothing. If you are interested,
visit The DC MEET Markets website
and select the Vendors tab. A small
fee accompanies the short application.
Vendors who apply will be notified of
their status in early March.

For any questions, please feel
free to email info@dcmeetmarket.com.
The DC MEET Market is excited to
feature D.C.s talented businesses for the
2015 market season!

Capitol Riverfront
Business Improvement District
planned a holiday market and
recruited DC MEET Market staff to
design and organize the event. The
holiday market will take place in
D.C.s Canal Park from December
13th to the 15th. The purpose of
this market is to bring the new
Riverfront community together in
celebration of the holidays.

Fifteen vendors of various
craft categories will be featured. An
emphasis will be put on fashion,
jewelry and home good items.
The event will also have seven
food vendors in attendance. D.C.s
popular Baked and Wired and
Runningbyrd Tea Company

Dec. 13: 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 14: noon-9 p.m.
Dec. 15: noon-5 p.m.
will be present along with kettle
corn, barbeque and hot drink
vendors. The market will have
much more than just retail
attractions. The ice skating rink will
be open for everyone to enjoy.

This event will be a family
friendly market for not only the
residents of Capitol Riverfront,
but for the D.C. community, said
Capitol Riverfront Marketing
Coordinator Lyndsey Gore. We
hope to bring attention to our new
complex and as well support local
businesses.

Follow, Like and Connect With Us!

@DCMeetMarket

Upcoming Markets in D.C.

@fb.com/DCMeetMarket

Mark-et off your to visit list

On the first Saturday of each month in the heart of
Logan Circle, visitors gather at St. Lukes Episcopal Church,
but not for the reason you may think. Theres no religious
service, but instead, a community market! The DC MEET
Market attracts hundreds of D.C .residents every month to
come out and support local businesses and have a great time
with friends and family.

The DC MEET Market is a small-scale market that
highlights over 40 different vendors each month. Categories
of vendors vary from jewelry, cuisine, clothing, home goods,
art and baby supplies. Well-known companies like Honest
Tea, Relay Foods, Think Local First and Zipcar sponsor the
market. In addition to the vendors and sponsors, the DC
MEET Market has live music from bands around the D.C.
area. There is also an arts and crafts booth set up for children
who visit the market.

The market presents a relaxed atmosphere and
welcomes pets. The DC community is encouraged to stop by
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 15th & P St. NW.

Downtown DC Holiday Market:

When: Nov. 28- Dec. 23, 2014
Time: Noon to 8 p.m.
Where: F Street NW, between 7th and 9th Streets
Website: www.downtowndcholidaymarket.com

@dcmeetmarket

Volume 1 November 2014

In This Issue

Union Market

MEET Markets on fire.....................................2

When: Tuesday- Friday and Saturday- Sunday

Time: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends
Where: 5th Street NE
Website: www.unionmarketdc.com

Social media makes the market......................2

German Christmas Market

Calling all small businesses...........................4

When: Nov. 22, 2014

TIme: 12:30 p.m- 5:30 p.m.
Where: 8617 Chateau Dr. Potomac, MD 20854
Website: www.dswashington.org

Canal Park market...........................................4

Q&A with Virginia Arrisueno........................3

Vendor Highlight: Kate Zaremba...................3

A glimpse of the successful November market. The cold

weather couldnt keep the DC community from coming out
and supporting local businesses.
Photo source: Julia Steinly

The DC MEET Market is a way to not only recognize the
hard work of our vendors, sponsors and partners, but its an event
that brings people together in such a big city, said market director,
Virginia Arrisueno. A lot of planning goes into developing themes
for each market as well as the organizaing the details of the event.
We want everyone to leave the market happy and excited to come
back next month!

The DC MEET Market is a well-established event, but this
wasnt always the case. According to Arrisueno, when the market
began in 2012, less than 100 people attended. Now the market has
over 500 attendees each month. The market continues to grow and
never falls short of pleasing the D.C. community.

I cant wait for the first Saurday of each month because
the market is a great time, said market visitor Brian Topper. I
dont think theres a better way to spend my Saturday. I love the live
music, tasty cuisine and the friendly vendors and company. I cant
wait until the market returns in April!

MEET Markets on Fire

50 on Fire winners will be announced at

7p.m. on December 4th at D.C.s Howard
Theater. Photo source: 50 on Fire

Market Coordinator, Virginia
Arrisueno, never imagined that a small
market in the parking lot of a church would
receive such widespread attention and
positive feedback from the community.
This past October, the prestigious DCs
50 on Fire Awards notified the DC MEET
Market of its nomination for the Marketing
and Advertising Award. The Market was
nominated for its excellence in engaging with
the public through the use of strategic social
media platforms.

This is the first time the DC MEET
Market has been nominated for this award

and its truly a humbling experience, said

Arrisueno.

Organizing the market is not
an easy task. I dedicate hours of work to
the market along with my husband and
two interns. Even if the market doesnt
make it to the final rounds of this award, I
couldnt be any happier with how far this
event has come. Our strategic social media
plan helps the market expand and receive
recognition.

Arrisueno is excited for the results
of the award that will be announced on
December 4, 2014.

Q&A with market owner, fashion designer and mom

Current DC MEET Market intern, Julia Steinly interviewed market owner, Virginia
Arrisueno, about managing two successful businesses and still finding time for family.

Every day when the DC MEET

Market interns come into the office,
the first thing on their to-do list is
social media engagement. Posting on
social media is a crucial part of their
responsibilities. The act of social media
engagement is proven to not only grab
the publics attention and bring them to
the market, but also, create loyal market
customers and visitors.

As soon as I hear a ping from
my laptop, I jump onto social media and
respond as quickly as possible, said DC
MEET Market intern Marissa Sherman.
Its so important to show the public that
we care about their opinions. We work
everyday to help gain recognition for the
market and its vendors.

DC MEET Market coordinator,
Virginia Arrisueno, stresses the
importance of social media engagement
because of what data suggests. Arrisueno
conducted a study from June to
December of 2014 to see how the public
heard about the market. In addition, she
wanted to see if there was a correlation
between posting more on social media
and increasing attendance numbers. At
the market each month from April to
November, Arrisueno had all guests fill
out a survey. The question was, How did
you hear about the market? Guests could
then circle either Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram, word of mouth, news article,
flier or other. Arrisueno used that data
to not only monitor the number of guests
attending each market but also the trends
with social media.

Over the course of the eightmonth study, each month guest attendance
increased by nearly 5 percent from April
to August. From September to November,
market attendance spiked by nearly 9
percent each month. Arrisueno said that
she decided to increase the amount of
posts on social media from September to
November to see if social media made an
impact, in which it did.

The second part of her
study focused on which channel of
communication market

visitors engaged with to find out about the

event. The leading channel was Facebook,
followed by Instagram, Twitter, word of
mouth, other, flier and then news article.
From this information Arriseuno was able
to strengthen the weaker channels and use
the stronger ones.

I think that this study can be
helpful for any small business trying to
increase consumer awareness or attendance,
said Arrisueno. The more you engage, the
more you see the positive effects. Its a great
feeling to know that hard work pays off.

How did you hear about the DC MEET Market?

3%

10%

Photo source: Virginia Arrisueno

Arrisueno relaxes with her son in her eclectic studio apartment that she
designed from start to finish.

Julia Steinly: As we know, you are the coordinator for the DC MEET Market, but you
run another business too?

Craft: Textiles, paper goods, illustrations and

custom designs

JS: How do you manage both the DC MEET Market and DeNada?

Services: Freelance illustration, wholesale

inquires and custom service design

VA: Fortunately, I have wonderful interns who help me with both businesses. If I
didnt have their help, I would be overwhelmed. But at the same time, when you are an
entrepreneur, you have an urge to do everything you can to help your business grow.
So if that means working more hours, then thats what has to happen. Its absolutely
worth the extra time because it is so satisfying to get positive feedback from customers
and the DC community.

JS: What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring to be a business owner?

JS: Is it difficult to find family time with all your endeavors?

18%
Credit: Julia Steinly
Source: DC MEET Market

22%

7%

Photo Source: Kate Zaremba

Virginia Arrisueno: I am a business owner of a fashion line named DeNada. DeNada is

high-quality knitwear line where the entire product is made from alpaca fur. DeNada
is my brainchild and passion, and I would love to see the brand expand. My vision is to
one day open a store in DC.

VA: The biggest piece of advice I can give someone is to believe in your brand or
concept. Its almost impossible to become an instant success. You have to put in the
time and effort, but it will be worth it. So dont get discouraged if you arent where you
want to be quite yet.

5%

35%

Kate Zaremba Company

The DC MEET Market invited The Kate
Zaremba Company to join the market this
past November. Kate Zaremba manages a
successful business in D.C. and has won
many awards for her illustrations and textile
designs. The market would like to recognize
her success, craftsmanship and funky designs.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. This
past month, Actress Zooey Deschanel
ordered Zarembas wallpaper for her new
home.

Social Media makes the market

Vendor Highlight

VA: My husband and I are both artists and business owners, so its hard to set aside
time to spend with my son. We are always going to promotional events or working
after hours, but at the same time we make it work. Our son, Atticus, is the most
important part of my life so we always find time for family.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts from

Kansas City Art Institute, Graduate school at
Corcoran College of Art
Experience: Assistant for designer, Jonathan
Adler, and designed textiles for fashion
designer, Rachel Antonoff
Mission: Using CSF certified papers to create
ethical and sustainable products
Price Range: $4-$100
Shop: www.katezarembacompany.com
Follow her on: