At the Finders Keepers, we love celebrating our host cities, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne! They’re all unique and offer up individual market experiences and shoppers in each state. We pride ourselves on creating different spaces as well as support from our local creative communities. Have you attended your city and feel ready to travel interstate? We encourage all our stallholders to extend their business reach and discover it for yourselves.
As a Seller it can feel overwhelming when planning to attend a new city, but we think the benefits far outweigh the risks. Planning is key. The interstate move can support you to broaden your reach, touch new audiences and create lifelong connections. All of these things can strengthen the direction of your business.
To support your consideration to branch out to Brisbane, read on. What better way to share the sunny city than via our Brisbane Finders Keepers Stallholders locals. Grab a cuppa and settle in for their insights, Brisbane bonus highlights, plus things to do outside of the markets.
Come on the journey to Find, Love & Keep with us in 2020!
FIND
Finders Keepers Brisbane is the most significant design festival of it’s kind in Queensland. Offering a very unique experience to set up shop for a weekend of conscious shopping, live music, food and drinks.
The Brisbane community is bright and fun. They are welcoming & warm personalities who love shopping directly from mindful local makers!
Finders Keepers Brisbane AW20 June 19 – 21
The Brisbane Showgrounds
Friday 19th June 5pm -10pm*
Saturday 20th June 9am – 5pm
Sunday 21st June 9am – 5pm
*For existing stallholder please note our new FriYay time.
**Plus we have a fabulous 3×2 stall size!
Applications are now open, closing on Monday 10 March! That’s soon.
We recently caught up with Brook from Brisbane bedding label more than ever. Brook generously shares her Brisbane experience and what it has meant to the growth of the business in just over one year! Be sure to visit MTE’s online marketplace too!
What do you love most about being part of the Brisbane, Finders Keepers community?
Definitely the sense of community! A lot of us work for ourselves and often from home, so it’s wonderful to get the chance to meet other makers and small business owners. Everyone is friendly and happy to be there! I made some lovely connections that I wouldn’t have met otherwise and most likely would have admired from afar.
What made you first apply for Finders Keepers?
Mandie and I have been attending Finders Keepers as shoppers for years. We loved the vibe, shopping small and supporting local businesses. We found ourselves wanting to know more about our purchases, where it was made and whether it was ethically produced. When we set up ‘more than ever’ we knew we wanted to be a part of the community we felt so aligned with.
We hear you’ve been in Collab~land since More Than Ever first attended FK in 2018!
Yes! ‘more than ever’ debuted in AW18 and at that time I’d been stalking Jericho Road Clothing, coveting a particular piece from their collab with Lordie Dordie. I was very brave and introduced myself. Once we got chatting, we decided then and there that we’d love to work on a collab and even had the design in mind. Fast forward one year later and that design launched at AW19 Brisbane Finders Keepers. We now have 2 more upcoming collabs together!!
At FK SS19 I introduced myself to Ellen at Blushing Confetti. I already own one Blushing Confetti shopping bag, and had heard that she was Brisbane based too. So I thought we’d be a good match! She agreed to work together (yay!) and you can now preorder lunchboxes with my blooming cacti design!
These connections and collaborations have definitely given me more confidence to share my work, try new things and to be brave and go for it!
Lastly in November we launched a collab with Kate from Denz & Co. We’ve known each other for quite some time created our own little mutual admiration society, so an earring collab was born. Both earrings are still available at Denz & Co, they’re super fun! I have one more collab coming with another Finders Keepers seller who approached me, via the Jericho Road girls and we met at the last market too. That collab is under development, keep your eyes peeled!
LOVE
Many of our Brisbane Stallholders have also expanded into their very own Brick and Mortar stalls. When visiting Brisbane make time to visit these stores and say hi to the makers!
Alice Nightingale
Alice Nightingale first attended Finders Keepers in 2011, her stand out colourful and ethical style was an instant hit with Brisbane (see her comments below). Alice’s business expanded to opening her very own shop in 2018 after attending Finders Keepers for 7 years.
Located at:
California Lane
22 McLachlan St,
Fortitude Valley Q 4006
Be sure to put her gorgeous shop at California Lane on your ‘must visit’ list, say a big hi from us!
How did you come to be a seller at Finders Keepers? Tell us about your journey so far and describe your label.
I’ve always been a crafty lass. After leaving school early to do my Diploma of Fashion Design, I started Alice Nightingale at 17 (selling mainly to friends and at local markets). My first Finders Keepers market, in 2011, was such a game changer. Not only did I find a community of artists who also design and make their wares locally, I also met wonderful humans who truly appreciated the effort I put into all of my designs! This really pushed me forward creatively and encouraged me to keep doing what I’m doing – and I haven’t looked back!
What would be one piece of advice you would give a first time seller at The Finders Keepers?
Have fun and chat with everyone you can! It’s very easy to get caught up in the stress and fatigue of a busy, full weekend market. I’ve met some of my best friends from chatting to fellow stall holders and locals at Finders Keepers and you never know where these connections will lead! I also think heading to the event each day with a positive attitude can only result in great things.
Flash back to our interview with Alice Nightingale here.
Paper Boat Press
Much loved Brisbane ceramic business Paper Boat Press has been attending Finders Keepers for 11 years now! Kylie founder of PBP opened her Red Hill gallery and studio in 2012. Over the years Kylie has collaborated with ceramic artists exhibiting their work in her gallery space!
Paper Boat Press continues to do Finders Keepers and often pops up in all cities! Read more on her business journey on our blog.
Located at:
60 Ashgrove Cres,
Ashgrove QLD 4060
KEEP
Inspired and ready to take the plunge?! Grow your business and and create forever friendships and #brisbanefinderskeepers moments in 2020! Apply Now!
Be sure to visit our Small Business Hub for tips on applying to Finders Keepers and getting the best out of your market experience.
Plus discover more Brisbane highlights from 2019 City Feature interviews with Sarra by Rachael Sarra and Jericho Road Clothing!
Bonus Brisbane Highlights
Kate & Chloe of Jericho Clothing share their top places to visit outside of the Brisbane markets.
Kate: Go for a drink on sunset at Howard Smith Wharves. Dinner at Longtime in The Valley. Pop up to James Street for a coffee and to check out the new Calile Hotel. Actually, if your budget permits, stay there the night. It really is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen.
Chloe: I second Kate’s Howard Smith Wharves idea but I’m gonna add a little something. Park your car near New Farm Park and grab yourself a Lime Scooter, scooting along the Brisbane Riverwalk to the wharves is a heap of fun! Pack yourself a picnic and bottle of wine and spend an afternoon in the sun at New Farm Park. Spend a night at Netherworld where you can grab Dinner/Craft Beer/Arcade Games.