PORTLAND, Ore. – Shoppers seeking unique holiday gifts will again have a wide variety of choices at the second annual MESO Makers Winter Market, opening Sunday, Dec. 4, at Alberta Commons, 376 N.E. Sumner St. in Portland.
Hosted by the nonprofit Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), the free market will run until Dec. 23. The hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
All the local small businesses represented at the three-week market are primarily BIPOC- and women-owned clients of MESO. Shoppers will be able to purchase products that include beauty, body and hair care items; jewelry; art; and apparel.
For more information, contact MESO at (503) 841-3351 or go to www.mesopdx.org/events.
“Our first market last year was a huge success, both for our participating clients and for the many shoppers who purchased unique, quality gifts,” said Jataune Hall, MESO’s Business Development Services manager.
“This market is another way MESO supports local entrepreneurs and helps them achieve their business goals,” Hall added.
This family- and community-oriented event is open to all ages. Weekends will include chair massages, beard grooming, and henna tattoos.
Donations to MESO will enter the donor an opportunity to win Adidas gift bags and a bike from Specialized Bike.
MESO staff will work at the market, allowing the entrepreneurs to continue working their day jobs and/or managing their own store locations.
Prosper Portland will provide MESO the space at Alberta Commons for December. City Liquidators and Anthropologie will provide furniture and fixtures.
The market organizers will recommend shoppers wear a facemask and keep six feet away from others. The market will include sanitation stations.
About MESO
Based at 4008 N.E. MLK Blvd. in Portland, MESO provides a wide array of services and programs to small businesses, including micro lending, guidance with a MESO business development manager, educational classes on a variety of business-related topics, marketing assistance, networking, and links to other local resources.
MESO started out as a grassroots initiative in 2005 under the umbrella of the Black United Fund of Oregon to assist small businesses that were experiencing challenges in the wake of gentrification, new development, and increased rents in North/Northeast Portland. The pilot’s success and the continued support from funders encouraged MESO to form its own non-profit in 2008. More information: www.mesopdx.org.
MESO Mission
Our mission is to elevate and empower historically excluded and under-resourced entrepreneurs with tailored business assistance and flexible capital to build family wealth through small business ownership.
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