
IN DEPTH: Sellers find unity and success in pop-up markets
In 2020, when everyone was bored in the house due to COVID, Hoosiers became un-bored by starting their own businesses and becoming entrepreneurs. Some of these new start ups had no business experience, it was just their mind, their product, and the power of the internet.
Small businesses post-pandemic were strengthened after they launched during the pandemic, but the real fruition was when mandates were lifted and allowed the community to gather. According to the United States Department of Labor, 2020 was record breaking in all the years they've tracked the statistics of start ups.
From 2019 to 2020, there was a 20% increase which is double the growth than other years that the labor department has tracked. The department saw continuation of trends of selling online rather than having a storefront.
Fast forward to 2025, the manner in which small businesses sell their items now goes beyond social media, seller websites or storefronts. It's all about pop up markets, which means that businesses are invited as vendors to sell their items with other small business owners that then becomes a community in which they all support and promote what each vendor does.
Normally a host or coordinator of pop up markets will charge vendors a fee to have a section, booth and/or space for them to set up. Vendors range in what they sell — some sell clothes, accessories, handmade items, services, food and sweet treats.
Niomi Lara of N&C Pop Ups is an Elkhart County host and recruits vendors for their events that are held seasonally and usually with a theme attached to it. Before establishing her market in the county, she is also a business owner and has her booth set up at each event. Lara opened her business of selling Dulces Enchilados, also known as spiced candy in 2020.
Lara experienced her first market that same year when she was invited to the Hispanic Heritage Festival that is held annually by local Latino leaders with help of the city of Goshen. Lara said that at that time pop-up markets were not as common or trending the way they are now and that's when she and her partner had a lightbulb moment.
'We quickly realized how important attending markets could be,' she said. 'Participating in markets can be a transformative strategy for business growth, offering numerous benefits that extend beyond immediate sales. By engaging in these events, you have the opportunity to showcase your products or services to a wider audience, often attracting new customers who may not have discovered your business otherwise.'
Since Lara started as a vendor and later began to host markets, she was able to analyze the need or gaps as a vendor and as a market host. She described being a vendor and host of markets as unique and at times challenging but rewarding.
'As a vendor, you are directly involved in showcasing your products and engaging with customers,' Lara said. 'On the other hand, as a market host, you are responsible for organizing the event, coordinating with other vendors, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. This dual role requires multitasking and strong organizational abilities. The joy of seeing a successful market day, where both vendors and customers leave satisfied, is immensely gratifying.'
Jackie Velazquez was a stay-at-home mom and wanted to find a new hobby, so she began making candles. She stuck with her hobby of making candles and then she thought the candles could be a source of income for her and her family. One thing led to another and Velazquez found herself planning her own market, now known as 'Makers Market' located in Ligonier.
Velazquez said that creating a market and being a vendor was special as it was unexpected but something she now knows was meant for her.
'Being a vendor is very special to me because I am able to create using my own ideas as my own boss and leader,' she said. 'Being a host makes me a leader to vendors I work with. It can be different with other hosts because not all hosts will communicate with you or even talk to you during markets.'
Velazquez also mentioned that being a host allows her to change that narrative and bad experiences other vendors may have encountered. She made a commitment to herself and her vendors to ensure that they feel welcomed, attend more markets, and join the community of markets she brings together at Makers Market.
Both Velazquez and Lara enjoy the community aspect of what they do and being able to gather small businesses from all over the state of Indiana and even as far as Michigan.
Velazquez said the markets bring different people together as well as diversity and culture. Lara has also been able to cultivate the same sense of inclusion and diversity in her markets.
'Pop-up markets offer numerous benefits to communities, with one of the most significant being the boost to local economies,' Lara said. 'These temporary marketplaces provide a platform for local artisans, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers, often without the high costs associated with permanent retail spaces.
'This not only increases the visibility and accessibility of local goods but also encourages residents to support local vendors, keeping money circulating within the community. Additionally, pop-up markets can revitalize underused spaces, attracting foot traffic and fostering a vibrant community atmosphere.'
Location is a big factor of the success of a market and that's normally where Velazquez starts when she begins to plan the event.
'I always look for a good location. A location with good parking, a well known location, a place that is a good fit for all vendors and attendees, and accessible for dogs, wheelchairs, large families, etc.,' Velazquez said.
For Lara, as a host and vendor, she has found her groove when it comes to planning as she plans seasonal markets.
'Planning for a market involves several strategic steps to ensure a successful event,' Lara said. 'First, it's crucial to research consumer preferences, current trends, other events happening in the area, etc. This information helps in selecting the right products and pricing strategies.
'Next, setting clear goals and objectives for the market is essential. Creating a detailed business plan that outlines marketing strategies, budget, logistics, and timelines is also vital. Furthermore, choosing an ideal location, securing necessary permits, and organizing the layout for vendor booths and customer flow are key logistical considerations.'
Lara also emphasized the networking aspect that in the end makes or breaks the market and the work she has put in for preparation.
'Networking with vendors is an integral part of a successful market,' she explained. 'We start by identifying vendors whose products complement our offerings and align with our market's theme.
'When reaching out to potential vendors, it's important to communicate clearly about the benefits of participating in our market, such as exposure to a targeted audience or potential sales opportunities,' she explained. 'For every market we always create a group chat and communicate information leading up till the day of the market. We always share our market essential checklist, tips, and more. We also ask for feedback from vendors after every market to help us learn and grow.'
Velasquez also ensures that in all market planning, she too remains consistent with strong communication. She makes sure that everyone is connected, supported, and welcomed using group chats, like Lara, and reaching out to vendors who can join in.
The sense of community vendors experience, who all identify as a small business, and have yet to create a storefront, is a powerful way of building a platform and connection, leading to great success, according to Lara.
'People are increasingly gravitating towards building small businesses for several reasons,' she said. 'Firstly, the desire for independence and control over one's career is a significant motivator. Many individuals seek the flexibility to make their own decisions and create a work environment that aligns with their values and goals. Also, the trend towards supporting local businesses has grown, encouraging entrepreneurs to start ventures that cater to their communities, fostering a sense of connection and sustainability.'
As Lara and Velazquez continue to navigate their roles as vendors and hosts for pop-up markets, they can't deny the support they've received for both roles but most importantly the gratitude and positivity they receive when it comes to feedback from both the local communities and vendors who are experiencing the movement.
'The feedback we have received from both vendors, and the community has been so great,' Lara said. 'Receiving positive feedback from both vendors and the community is incredibly encouraging. Such feedback serves as a powerful motivator to continue building on what works, while also being open to suggestions for improvement.'
Velazquez has also received the same positive feedback in her work as a leader and business owner.
'Feedback I have received that is positive includes great communication, very organized, great turnouts, and welcoming,' all things that Velazquez said she wants to hear.
Both women enjoy everything they do and there are moments during the event or even after, they feel the support and boost their confidence knowing that they are helping and serving the community one market at a time.
'I always wanted to be a leader and role model. This is my opportunity to be that and the best part is seeing everybody's products, their creativity, and new inventions come to life,' Velasquez said.
When Lara thought of a moment in which she felt true value in what she does is when she received a thank you that made her appreciate the vendors she collaborates with.
'I received a letter from a vendor expressing how grateful they were for the markets we have been hosting for the community,' she said. 'It was such a heartfelt gesture and I'll forever appreciate it. Another success is seeing how many vendor applications we have been receiving, and interest in our markets. This is exactly why we started this.'
Goals that Lara and Velazquez look forward to is growing their business, more networking, more valuable connections, and benefit the community is the movement of pop-ups, markets, and small businesses.
'Our mission is to create a place where your unique talents can shine,' Lara said.
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Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Transat A.T. Inc. Reports Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2025
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(1) Non-IFRS financial measures Transat prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ["IFRS"]. We will occasionally refer to non-IFRS financial measures in the news release. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. They are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. All dollar figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. The following are non-IFRS financial measures used by management as indicators to evaluate ongoing and recurring operational performance. Adjusted operating income (loss) or adjusted EBITDA: Operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization and asset impairment expense, reversal of impairment of the investment in a joint venture, the effect of changes in discount rates used for accretion of the provision for return conditions, restructuring and transaction costs and other significant unusual items, and including premiums related to derivatives that matured during the period. The Corporation uses this measure to assess the operational performance of its activities before the aforementioned items to ensure better comparability of financial results. Adjusted operating income is also used to calculate variable compensation for employees and senior executives. Adjusted pre-tax income (loss) or adjusted EBT: Income (loss) before income tax expense before change in fair value of derivatives, revaluation of liability related to warrants, gain (loss) on long-term debt modification, gain (loss) on business disposals, gain on disposal of investment, gain (loss) on asset disposals, gain on sale and leaseback of assets, the effect of changes in discount rates used for accretion of the provision for return conditions, restructuring and transaction costs, write-off of assets, reversal of impairment of the investment in a joint venture, foreign exchange gain (loss) and other significant unusual items, and including premiums related to derivatives that matured during the period. The Corporation uses this measure to assess the financial performance of its activities before the aforementioned items to ensure better comparability of financial results. Adjusted net income (loss): Net income (loss) before change in fair value of derivatives, revaluation of liability related to warrants, gain (loss) on long-term debt modification, gain (loss) on business disposals, gain on disposal of investment, gain (loss) on asset disposals, gain on sale and leaseback of assets, the effect of changes in discount rates used for accretion of the provision for return conditions, restructuring and transaction costs, write-off of assets, reversal of impairment of the investment in a joint venture, foreign exchange gain (loss), reduction in the carrying amount of deferred tax assets and other significant unusual items, and including premiums related to derivatives that matured during the period, net of related taxes. The Corporation uses this measure to assess the financial performance of its activities before the aforementioned items to ensure better comparability of financial results. Adjusted net income (loss) is also used in calculating the variable compensation of employees and senior executives. Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share: Adjusted net income (loss) divided by the adjusted weighted average number of outstanding shares used in computing diluted earnings (loss) per share. Free cash flow: Cash flows related to operating activities less cash flows related to investing activities and repayment of lease liabilities. The Corporation uses this measure to assess the cash that's available to be distributed in a discretionary way such as repayment of long-term debt or deferred government grant or distribution of dividend to shareholders. Total debt: Long-term debt plus lease liabilities, deferred government grant and liability related to warrants, net of deferred financing costs related to the subordinated debt - LEEFF. Management uses total debt to assess the Corporation's debt level, future cash needs and financial leverage ratio. Management believes this measure is useful in assessing the Corporation's capacity to meet its current and future financial obligations. Total net debt: Total debt (described above) less cash and cash equivalents. Total net debt is used to assess the cash position relative to the Corporation's debt level. Management believes this measure is useful in assessing the Corporation's capacity to meet its current and future financial obligations. Additional Information The results were affected by non-operating items, as summarized in the following table: Highlights and non-IFRS financial measuresSecond quarter First six-month period 2025 2024 2025 2024 (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) $ $ $ $Operating income (loss) 37,270 (15,161) (14,686) (67,590) Depreciation and amortization 62,680 54,748 125,645 104,912 Reversal of impairment of the investment in a joint venture — — — (3,112) Effect of discount rate changes (887) (7,485) 6,262 (2,210) Restructuring costs 979 1,911 4,057 1,977 Premiums related to derivatives that matured during the period (1,596) (3,863) (2,863) (7,177) Adjusted operating income¹ or adjusted EBITDA¹ 98,446 30,150 118,415 26,800Net loss (22,884) (54,387) (145,416) (115,364) Reversal of impairment of the investment in a joint venture — — — (3,112) Effect of discount rate changes (887) (7,485) 6,262 (2,210) Restructuring costs 979 1,911 4,057 1,977 Gain on asset disposals — — (5,183) (5,784) Change in fair value of derivatives 92,241 (4,978) 88,779 17,181 Revaluation of liability related to warrants (2,119) (6,236) (2,126) 5,511 Foreign exchange (gain) loss (60,999) 28,170 (13,527) (13,957) Gain on long-term debt modification — — (216) — Premiums related to derivatives that matured during the period (1,596) (3,863) (2,863) (7,177) Adjusted net income (loss)¹ 4,735 (46,868) (70,233) (122,935)Adjusted net income (loss)¹ 4,735 (46,868) (70,233) (122,935) Adjusted weighted average number of outstanding shares used in computing diluted earnings per share 39,752 38,713 39,607 38,645 Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share¹ 0.12 (1.21) (1.77) (3.18) Cash flows related to operating activities 207,842 183,216 376,420 293,918 Cash flows related to investing activities (19,312) (31,247) (11,578) (59,992) Repayment of lease liabilities (46,251) (42,184) (93,434) (85,048) Free cash flow1 142,279 109,785 271,408 148,878 As at April 30, 2025 As at October 31, 2024 (in thousands of dollars) $ $ Long-term debt 705,562 682,295 Deferred government grant 106,626 120,784 Liability related to warrants 6,393 8,519 Lease liabilities 1,369,221 1,465,722 Total debt1 2,187,802 2,277,320Total debt 2,187,802 2,277,320 Cash and cash equivalents (532,611) (260,336) Total net debt1 1,655,191 2,016,984 About Transat Founded in Montreal 37 years ago, Transat has achieved worldwide recognition as a provider of leisure travel particularly as an airline under the Air Transat brand. Voted World's Best Leisure Airline by passengers at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards, it flies to international destinations. By renewing its fleet with the most energy-efficient aircraft in their category, it is committed to a healthier environment, knowing that this is essential to its operations and the destinations it serves. Based in Montreal, Transat has 5,000 employees with a common purpose to bring people closer together. (TSX: TRZ) Caution regarding forward-looking statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Corporation, including those regarding its results, its financial position and its outlook for the future. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate" "believe" "could" "estimate" "expect" "intend" "may" "plan" "potential" "predict" "project" "will" "would", the negative of these terms and similar terminology, including references to assumptions. All such statements are made pursuant to applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such statements may involve but are not limited to comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results for a number of reasons, including without limitation, economic conditions, changes in demand due to the seasonal nature of the business, extreme weather conditions, climatic or geological disasters, war, political instability, measures taken, planned or contemplated by governments regarding the imposition of tariffs on exports and imports, real or perceived terrorism, outbreaks of epidemics or disease, consumer preferences and consumer habits, consumers' perceptions of the safety of destination services and aviation safety, demographic trends, disruptions to the air traffic control system, the cost of protective, safety and environmental measures, competition, maintain and grow its reputation and brand, the availability of funding in the future, the Corporation's ability to repay its debt from internally generated funds or otherwise, the Corporation's ability to adequately mitigate the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine issues, fluctuations in fuel prices and exchange rates and interest rates, the Corporation's dependence on key suppliers, the availability and fluctuation of costs related to our aircraft, information technology and telecommunications, cybersecurity risks, changes in legislation, regulatory developments or procedures, pending litigation and third-party lawsuits, the ability to reduce operating costs through the Elevation program initiatives, among other things, the Corporation's ability to attract and retain skilled resources, labour relations, collective bargaining and labour disputes, pension issues, maintaining insurance coverage at favourable levels and conditions and at an acceptable cost, and other risks detailed in the Risks and Uncertainties section of the MD&A included in our 2024 Annual Report. The reader is cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Corporation's forward-looking statements. The reader is also cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on a number of assumptions relating to economic and market conditions as well as the Corporation's operations, financial position and transactions. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: The outlook whereby the Corporation will be able to meet its obligations with cash on hand, cash flows from operations, drawdowns under existing or other credit facilities. The outlook whereby, for fiscal year 2025, the Corporation expects an available capacity increase of 1.0%, measured in available seat-miles, compared to 2024. The outlook whereby the initiatives implemented to date are expected to generate an annualized adjusted EBITDA run rate of $67 million and the Corporation remains on track to reach its goal of $100 million. The outlook whereby following the transaction, the outstanding debt with CEEFC is expected to decrease from $773.4 million to $333.7 million. In making these statements, the Corporation assumes, among other things, that the standards and measures for the health and safety of personnel and travellers imposed by government and airport authorities will be consistent with those currently in effect, that workers will continue to be available to the Corporation, its suppliers and the companies providing passenger services at the airports, that credit facilities and other terms of credit extended by its business partners will continue to be made available as in the past, that management will continue to manage changes in cash flows to fund working capital requirements for the full fiscal year and that fuel prices, exchange rates, selling prices and hotel and other costs remain stable, the Corporation will be able to adequately mitigate the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine issues and that the initiatives identified to improve adjusted operating income (adjusted EBITDA) can be implemented as planned, and will result in cost reductions and revenue increases of the order anticipated by mid-2026. If these assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The Corporation considers that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable. These statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance, speak only as of the date this news release is issued, and represent the Corporation's expectations as of that date. For additional information with respect to these and other factors, see the MD&A for the quarter ended April 30, 2025 filed with the Canadian securities commissions and available on SEDAR at The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities legislation. ( Media: Andréan GagnéSenior Director, Public Affairs and 514-987-1616, ext. 104071 Financial analysts: Jean-François PruneauChief Financial 987-1616 ext. 4567 Media site and image bank: SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc. View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Weak condo markets in Toronto and Vancouver threaten future housing supply: CMHC
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Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
BioNTech to Buy CureVac for $1.25 Billion to Boost Cancer Arm
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