Uptown now has its own miniature shopping mall for handmade goods.
Marvel Mini Booths, located two doors down from Serendipity on East College Avenue, displays crafts, soaps, jewelry and other goods being sold by local small-business owners. A booth costs $80 a month for any person or small business.
“We are a group of mini merchants from all around,” owner Rosaida Cestari said. “Small businesses have issues because to be a small business, it can be pretty pricy. If we can gather small businesses together, we can share overhead and the prices will be more affordable.”
Amy Kurt, who owns Jada’s Jewels and has a booth, said, “With Marvel Mini Booths, there is none of the risk of having a whole store, but there is the benefit of having a business. It’s a great concept and a great way for individuals or small businesses with a product to sell it.”
Kurt has seen good sales thus far and is excited for the future of her booth at Marvel Mini.
“We’re excited for the holiday season to come,” she said. “The key is going to be to mix up our jewelry that we have on display so people will keep coming.”
Most of the things that the sellers had on the shelves cost less than $30, including necklaces that were $15-20, candles ranging from $3-15 and assorted crafts, including ceramic jack-o’-lanterns that cost around $20.
Cestari believes that not only small businesses can thrive there, but also individuals and even Otterbein students.
“Having a booth gives the crafters the opportunity to have their product open to the community,” she said. “Students are welcome to come and apply for a booth. We’re very inviting and like to give people an opportunity to sell their product.”
Janelle Fwalley, who owns Rosaline All Natural Soy Candles and has a booth at Marvel Mini, has been involved since the start.
“I was interested before the shop was set up,” she said. “The people there are nice and cooperative. I put my candles in there to get some business, but it’s just starting so it may take a while.”
Freshman art major Jordan Johnson agreed with Cestari about selling student art there.
“I think that it would be a good way for students who can afford it to make money off their art and have extra spending money,” she said.
Senior art major Kassie Weidner also believes that art students might benefit from selling their artwork depending on their medium.
“I wouldn’t benefit much from doing something like that right now,” she said. “I think people in ceramics might have more success as they typically are able to crank out a greater amount of jewelry and household items that are easier to sell in that price range.”
