This morning chamber of commerce volunteers were chalking lines on the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena floor to create a floor map for tomorrow’s big event.
The annual Collingwood Spring Market kicks off tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. and will feature more than 90 vendors representing different businesses in Collingwood and surrounding area.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow (May 12) and has grown significantly over the last twenty plus years it’s been hosted by the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce.
“We do it to promote business, small and large,” said Irwin. “It’s about getting the word out to the public how vibrant collingwood is and what it has to offer.”
Last year, shoppers were lined up down the street before the doors opened at 10 a.m. One vendor brought 1,500 butter tarts to sell in packs of three. She was sold out in the first two hours.
The busy indoor market began as a business networking event with no on-site sales allowed. Initially it was more of an expo for local businesses to show off their products. Soon the rules changed to allow on-site sales and the event opened up to include non-chamber members and eventually non-local businesses. The event moved from the curling club to the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena after the new concrete floor was installed at the Eddie Bush.
“It’s more centrally located,” said Trish Irwin, the general manager and CEO of the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce.
Irwin said the vendors are extremely varied.
“Anything you can think of, it’s here,” she said.
There are vendors in the business of wellness, food, home and bath, home improvement, baking, travel, senior networking, chocolate and candy, catering, and banking.
Collingwood Town Council will also have a table.
