Cassandra Torres was looking for a creative outlet in 2022, after she stopped working in retail. Having recently moved across the country, she decided to pursue a new project – Cassontherocks.
“I started selling cups – like cans and glasses – with designs on them,” she said. “I started by doing markets.”
As a vendor, Torres was offered retail space to sell her glasses in Makers Vintage + Handmade store in Dublin, Pa. She built such a strong relationship with the owner of the boutique that when it was closed, she was offered the space.
“And I just felt like this is such an amazing business concept and business model, and I wanted to continue it, but that was a little far for me,” she said. “It was an option to take it over, but it just didn’t work out. I think that was like the biggest blessing in disguise, that it didn’t work out in that location, because I was able to find this place in Brewerytown.”
Soon, Tinker and Trade was born.
The space
Torres’ store hosts over 30 vendors, and she says all of the offerings are unique.
“We have polymer clay jewelry and crochet animals,” she said. “We have sensory kits, Play-Doh and paint kits for kids, we have dog treats. We have a 10-year-old who sells plants in the store. We have a tea company.”
In designing the space, Torres said she kept diversity in mind. She wanted to create a space that could offer many different products.
“I really try to curate the space to make sure that there isn’t any overlap of similar creatives,” she said. “So not 10 candle vendors or 15 jewelry vendors, really giving a variety in the store.”
Prospective vendors apply to be featured in the store, and the store’s contents change over time as some offerings are phased out of the store and new businesses step in.
“The business model is they pay a small space fee and then a small commission fee,” she said. “On top of that, they work on a four- to six-month contract, and then from there, we decide if they want to stay on or if they decide to leave. Then [if they leave], we bring in a new business in its place, coming off of the waitlist.”
Philly’s first romance bookstore, The Broken Spine, is also located on the bottom floor of the space. Having the store in the space helps to create community partnerships, Torres said.
“A big reason why I wanted to have the romance bookstore downstairs as it brings in two different communities,” she said. “So we get the handmade community of people who want to buy and shop small, and they come in for that. But then we also get the other side of it, where people are coming in here for romance books, and then, in turn, they find all of these amazing handmade goods.”
The bookstore and shop also collaborate frequently to host events, such as author signings, “book-ish creator” meetups and Philly Bookstore Crawl events.
Supporting small businesses
As a creator herself, Torres said she understands the hustle behind creating, marketing and selling products. She said a big part of her storefront is getting people’s products out there.
“Many times for people’s own businesses, they wouldn’t be able to open their own storefront,” she said. “It’s not something that’s feasible, especially in today’s market. So [we’re providing] that smaller space where they can get their products out there in a brick-and-mortar type of retail space, and then I promote their products and I market them. We bring events in here, so that it gets more eyes on their products.”
She said her storefront can also be more cost-effective for creatives – by offering a monthly fee that may even be cheaper than what they may pay at smaller vendor markets.
“You’re doing these markets, and you’re paying a couple of hundred for a few hours, and you’re putting so much work into making your products and getting there and setting it up, and you’re only there for those few hours time,” she said. “Here, they pay less for an entire month, and their items are up for four to six months without them having to be behind the table and talking themselves up and hoping someone comes by.”
Torres said she is grateful that a store similar to Tinker & Trade was there for her as a beginner creative, and hopes to promote the T&T vendors with information throughout the store.
“Coming from when I was a vendor, it was so nice to be able to be home with my kids and be given that opportunity to have my items in a store and get that creative release,” she said. “A lot of the vendors in here have amazing stories behind it. They each have signs up in their space that say what led them to create this business themselves.”
Tinker & Trade has a distinct community focus. In addition to a complimentary tea bar and loyalty program, Torres said the store has built up a strong connection to community members.
“We have a community board in the store where people can put up things that are happening around the area,” she said. “So, we’re really community-focused, especially just being here in Brewerytown. We really love the community we’ve built up just being here in the last six months. And we love allowing people to use the space, and they don’t necessarily have to be a vendor to be in here, we like to open it up to everyone.”
Torres would love to open another location or offer space for a lower cost. However, she wants to stay true to the root of her business.
“I don’t want it to grow so much that we lose sight of the small business aspect of it,” she said.
You can visit Tinker & Trade over in Brewerytown.
The post Philly’s Tinker and Trade creates space for community, creatives to prosper appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
