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Owner Erin Sudhoff places a loaf of sourdough bread as she stocks the tables at the new Minster Market.
MINSTER - From homemade jams and spices to jewelry to candles to home decor, Minster Market is making holiday shopping holly and jolly.
Minster native and business owner Erin Sudhoff opened what she describes as an artisan market on Oct. 26.
"Everything in here, besides the (remaining) Hallmark inventory, is (from) local artisans or businesses," she said. "The vision that was put on my heart is a space or a way to support and encourage local artisans in their craft and growing their business, and at the same time growing, helping the community. It (is) a full-circle share type thing."
The business, occupying the old Hallmark store at 340 N. Main St., houses products from 40 Ohio vendors.
Although Sudhoff just opened the business, she is wanting to expand the vendor list. Currently, the market offers fresh-baked foods, jam, honey, spices, pretzels, sourdough bread, apparel, woodworking, health and beauty items, jewelry, candles, dog treats, cards, art, plants, home decor and kitchen items.
"I'm looking to expand that even more because there is such a wealth of talent in our area of artisans," she said.
Sudhoff said the public has been grateful and welcoming of the market.
A collection of baked goods including pretzel croutons, honeycomb, brizza and more.
Shelves filled with jewelry, mugs, keychains and home decor line the south wall of the artisan market.
"People will say, 'Thank you so much. We've really needed something. It's going to be great to run in here and grab a gift or to be able to support our friends and neighbors easily.' Most everybody here in the market has some sort of social media presence, but it's so hard to remember (who's who). This helps alleviate that," she said.
Sudhoff has a sale agreement between the market itself and the vendors, meaning community members can take comfort in knowing they are putting money straight into the community.
"You're helping put food on somebody's table," she said. "That's a huge thing."
In April, when the area was in the path of the solar eclipse, several artisans and small businesses tried to plan an event that would showcase their product to potential out-of-town guests. Although the event didn't quite pan out, Sudhoff said the idea sparked her business plan. She cites God as the inspiration.
"All of a sudden when it came together, it was like God downloaded this game plan on my heart. (I said) 'Oh, I see what you were doing. Now I know, now I understand.' There were still long discussions between God and I about the whole process. He made it very plain that this is his plan and he wanted it done."
Sudhoff said the easiest way to describe the nudge is that God "plugged in a USB port, like there was a download just all of a sudden of a whole game plan, the whole blueprint. I see it and now it's my job to make it happen, which is terrifying."
She said the biggest lessons were to trust God and the community.
"The biggest lesson was, and it's my new mantra, God's got this," Sudhoff said. "Through the process, starting in February-March time frame to now, there have definitely been hurdles, sharp curves, mountains and valleys. Several times, it was like, 'Nope, it's not going to happen.' I wanted to throw up my hands, but the next day, guess what? (God) had the solution. That's the biggest thing, he's got this. He'll get you through it.
A table filled with festive home decorations greets customers.
"Our community is truly, truly, excited and ready to support local. They truly do. They really want to be here and support - they just didn't have an easy avenue."
She hopes the market will give the community that outlet to shop local in a dedicated space. Even though she hand-selected all 40 artisans, she said she can't pick just one as a favorite because the vendors are so gifted.
"We just have so much talent, it's hard to choose," she said. "They're all my favorites because I picked them to be in here. They all are wonderful, talented and great people."
In addition to its retail products, Sudhoff said the business will have a make-and-take area for pre-packed gifts and an artisan studio, which will serve as a classroom and workshop space.
The make-and-take area would include pre-made crafts or gifts that would allow the customer to do the craft at home. Sudhoff hopes the area will act as a gathering space.
"For example, you go to lunch with your girlfriends on a Friday afternoon because you're all off for whatever reason and you're like, 'Okay, well, then let's go do something.' You guys want to do a craft, but you don't wanna get your house dirty (or) don't have the room."
She said customers can either make the craft at home or in the shop.
The other component, the artisan studio, is a dedicated workshop space where people can register for a workshop making a specific product.
The market will host a wall rosary workshop on Dec. 3 where participants can make a wall rosary.
"Along with having this retail side to support the artisans, this is another way to support (them)," Sudhoff said. "I've been calling it a way to to have some self-care. You and your girlfriends want to go and do something, come to a class. It takes you out of your element for a little bit, it takes you out of the house for a little bit, it gives you time with your friends for a little bit, it helps do that reset."
Minster Market is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit minstermarket.com.
Stuffed unicorns and pigs adorn a shelf at the new Minster Market.
