Shopping local for Christmas gifts could help avoid supply chain issue

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - One way to help avoid higher prices and supply chain issues? Shop local, and that’s what many did in Fort Wayne Friday night.

The Fort Wayne Villiage Marketplace is back for its third year at SportOne Fieldhouse after the event was canceled last year.

Over 130 vendors came by selling their products, from food, home decor, clothing, and a lot more.

Fort Wayne’s NBC News talked with one of the vendors, Union Farm Goods. Tammie and Brian Imel founded their business in 2016. They live in Union Township outside of Fort Wayne. They greeted many customers looking at their handmade goods.

“Most of these things are utilitarian. You can use them if you want to go to the garden, or you want to have guests over and put stuff in them, or just use them for decorations,” Brian said. “It’s kind of neat that you can do those things with them.”

Customers told Fort Wayne’s NBC News they like the fact that they can take them home, right away.

“The wood caught my eye,” Barb Parker said. “My husband was a craftsman so they caught my eye.”

Parker says holiday shopping at a place like this means no waiting on shipping.

“It’s local and it’s important to me. A whole lot better than those big box stores so that’s why I’m here,” Parker said.

As supply chain issues grow across the country and local vendors work to recover from the impact of the pandemic, Purdue University Fort Wayne Community Research Institute Director Rachel Blakeman says shopping local can help address two issues at once.

“The ability to go to a local marketplace like the pop-up shop is that they have goods right now ready for you to buy and then you’re also supporting the local economy,” Blakeman said.

This was a much-needed boost considering they couldn’t even hold this event last year.

“It is just so rewarding to see us working really hard and take the year off and actually seeing it come to fruition and to be together with everyone is super fun,” Event Coordinator Kim Boyce said.

The Imel’s who have dealt with the impact of COVID-19 personally are finally starting to regain hope.

“We love the markets because we love people. We love talking to people, we love connecting with them,” Tammie said.

If you missed Friday, the pop-up shop is open again Saturday from 9-5. It’s five dollars at the door and children 12 and under are free.

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