Back in September, news outlets began to report shipping delays, warning shoppers to begin their gift buying early in preparation for a disrupted holiday season. The pandemic’s disturbance to the supply chain is still in effect, causing a scarcity of needed products.
There is still a lack of truck drivers for distribution, freight costs are rising and a few COVID closures in China over the summer have combined with a surge in demand for products to make shortfalls.
Local artists want to fill that need for the holidays with handmade, readily available goods.
This weekend two markets offer over 100 vendors for a huge selection of Savannah shopping along with food and music at both. Here’s a roundup of what they have to offer:
Cohen’s Retreat Pop Up Market
There’s no shortage of entertainment at this seventh annual hosting of local vendors. Cohen’s is open Friday from 5 - 8 p.m. for their girl’s night out.
Signature cocktails are available in the bar and Josephine Johnson will perform her blend of soul, country and folk in the foyer.
Saturday will bring a more barbecue vibe from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., an outside pig picking offering BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers and more cookout-style food to be washed down with Creature Comforts Brewing, Old Smokey Distillery and 3 Taverns Brewery. Performances by the Lowcountry Crooners in the morning and Charlie Fog in the afternoon will complete the experience.
A diverse range of artisan products will be available at the market. Shoppers might purchase a new houseplant from New Roots Co. and combine that with a handmade macrame plant hanger from fiber artist Spanish Moss Macrame. There are bright bracelets from Lou Bangle, sustainable home solutions from the Lite Foot Company, hand forged metal jewelry from Gillian Trask and quality dog treats from Moose Chews. Over fifty companies will participate over the weekend events.
Cohen’s Retreat, 5715 Skidaway Rd.
Marsh & Co. Holiday Market
Shoppers can head out to the islands for the first annual Marsh & Co. Holiday Market at St. Andrew’s School in their lower school parking lot. On Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., around 50 vendors will offer their goods for visitors interested in art, fashion, jewelry or gifts and the first 50 guests will get a free prize. Proceeds from the event support the school.
About half of the vendor list already have their products for sale in the Marsh & Co. store. The gift shop is unique, born of the need for a retail location for Allison Mol’s Marsh & Co. body care and home products.
Mol explains, “I had an opportunity to open a retail spot but didn’t have enough merchandise to fill it. I decided to reach out to some of my vendor friends to see if they could contribute and it grew from there.”
The location is in itself a gift market with over seventy local and regional companies and sourced items that stock the store full of local goods.
For the Holiday Market, Latin Chicks and C. Alexander’s food trucks will be serving up latin-style dishes and burgers with Jenni’s Treats on the Street providing ice cream for dessert. St. Andrew’s student and talented guitarist Sarah Koegler will be performing while shoppers can indulge with some face painting or henna body art from Glitterboxx Studio.
St. Andrew’s School, 601 Penn Waller Rd.
Marsh & Co. Boutique, 444 Johnny Mercer Blvd.
