Big exposure for businesses

FORM’s new initiative, the West End Collective, is set to raise the profile of some of the Pilbara’s creative microbusinesses.

The collective is a network of small-business participants in the West End Markets and aims at giving stallholders an opportunity to gain exposure in a larger and more competitive market scene.

Six of the most established stallholders within the collective have been selected to participate in one of the State’s most prominent makers market, the Fremantle Bazaar Christmas market.

Established almost 40 years ago, the Fremantle Bazaar runs for three days next month and is a hotspot for picking up some of WA’s finest locally designed and crafted wares. The six businesses and artists selected for the Fremantle Bazaar are photographer Stuart Bell, artist Helen Komene, home decor businesses Gypsy-Rose Designs, Pompeii Linen and Muesli and Yoghurt and Spinifex Hill Artists.

FORM regional programs co-ordinator Katie Evans said the collective was a huge opportunity for Hedland’s creative small businesses.

“This is an opportunity for the participants — all of whom have participated in some capacity in our creative business development series — to put their learnings in place and showcase/sell their work to a larger audience,” she said.

“The market is WA’s premier Christmas market with 25,000 people passing through the gates — the big time so to speak.”

FORM is seeking sponsors to cover $8000 in associated costs involved with the West End Collective participating in the Fremantle Bazaar.

“(We are) looking for a freight company to sponsor the shipping of the items to Perth and another sponsor to assist with the flights,” Ms Evans said.

The West End Collective will also launch an online directory early next year where West End Market stallholders can promote their product and business, connect and collaborate with each other and the wider community and expand their creative network.

“The online directory will be ready for the bazaar, and officially launched early next year to allow for as many creatives to be part of the directory,” Ms Evans said.

“We are currently developing the SEO campaign, along with marketing material — to make sure the whole of the Pilbara knows the directory exists.”

The online platform will showcase artists, craftspeople, makers, provedores, food and plant growers as well as musicians, face painters, graphic designers and performers who participate in the West End Markets.

Stallholders can apply to be featured on the West End Collective by filling out an application package available from the Courthouse Gallery and website form.net.au.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Ms Evans on 9173 1064 or katie@form.net.au.