Christmas fairs return with more expectations and cover a wide number of entrepreneurs

These types of events are held during the weekends in person and virtually. They propose strategies to attract customers.

Making businesses visible and empowering them is the main objective of the Christmas fairs, which this year come with more expectations due to vaccination.

In 2020, these types of events were somewhat diminished by the COVID-19 pandemic due to mobility and capacity restrictions. Now it includes more entrepreneurs, who, with the expectations of recovering what was lost, propose strategies to attract customers with discounts and raffles.

There are close to a thousand business owners who will participate in these in-person and virtual events that started yesterday.

The Handy Market is located in the Policentro Shopping Center, a fair that has been taking place since 2017.

Scarlett Suárez is part of the ventureBrompope Susibeland offers the products in flavors of coffee, mint,red velvetand the traditional one with discounts. For example, three 350 ml bottles at $15.

Érika Briones is also another of the participants with the businessFioré. They display creams, soaps and natural oils. “These spaces are good because we have the opportunity to make ourselves known,” he says. ADVERTISING

In this edition, 20 businesses are participating that offer wines, cosmetics, personal care products, jewelry, bags, decoration items, sweets, clothing, among others.They will be there today and tomorrow from 11:00 to 20:00.

Mariella Pesantes, head of marketing at Policentro, assures that they carry out these activities in order to expand the product offering and support entrepreneurs who do not have the capital to acquire a location.

In some DK Management shopping centers there will be these events. The marzipan craftsmen's fair will be held at Portal Shopping in Quito and embroidery from December 13 to 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Christmas and home decorations will be for sale.

Instead, in Quicentro ShoppingFrom December 23 to 27, a Christmas fair will be held with products from this season.

This initiative is also promoted in open places. For example, in thePlaza Guayarte and Panama Street, in Guayaquil, there will be 60 entrepreneurs in the so-calledGuayaco Market.

This is organized by the Guayaquil Entrepreneurship Center, operated by the Municipal Public Company for the Management of Innovation and Competitiveness (Épico).

There will be various sectors, among them,textile, gastronomic, jewelry, home decoration and others.

“2020 was an atypical year due to the conditions generated by COVID that did not allow massive events. In 2021, as circumstances improved due to the pandemic, we had the opportunity to promote in-person activities,” says Catalina Vera, entrepreneurship director at Épico, who adds that to date, the 20 editions have sold close to $40,000.

The next events will be on December 11 from 09:00 to 14:00 on Panama Street; on December 17 in Plaza Guayarte starting at 5:00 p.m. And others on December 18 and 19.

Meanwhile, there will be other spaces where more cultural products will be exhibited, such as theMercado Siembra, in its Christmas edition.

It will be at the Aerovía terminal in the Abel Gilbert citadel sector 3, in Durán, every Saturday of this month.

Among the items for sale are toquilla straw hats, embroidery on clothing, crafts, jewelry and more.

“It fills us with pride to know that farmers and artisans take advantage of this traveling showcase and bring all the effort of their work to display it. The mission is to ensure that they receive an economic benefit from their sales,” says Eddy Cepeda, manager of Nuestra Siembra de Cervecería Nacional.

This year more than160 artisans and entrepreneurial farmers from nine provinces, who obtained sales of around $10,000.

In Cumbayá,155 businesses will be at the Grand Bazaar Christmason December 10, 11 and 12. Of that total, 40% are participating for the first time. There will be exhibitions from casual, formal and sportswear for women, men and children; designer items for the home, toys and others.

Virtual fairs will also have their space this Christmas season. Today from 09:00 to 15:00 theInternational Entrepreneurship Fair of the María Luisa de Moreno Foundation.

More than 700 entrepreneurs from thirteen countries will be in the virtual Convention Center.

There will be two segments: products and services. The first includes food of different types, beauty items, furniture and household items. The second refers to consulting, transportation and event organization.

“The expectations of these fairs are to make visible and enhance the ventures of the participants. They are completely free for entrepreneurs and visitors,” says Tulia Leguizamo, national director of the foundation in Ecuador.

How can they register for the fairs?

• In the Policentro Handy Market, entrepreneurs can register by email marketing@policentro.com and send the business presentation. The requirement is that it be an artisanal and quality enterprise. Four exhibitors are chosen per category to generate healthy competition.
• For the Mercadito Guayaco, registration is required through the website www.epico.gob.ec, then business owners will be invited to participate in activities such as consulting, workshops, use of a photographic laboratory, where they can present their ventures and be selected.
• And for the next editions of the virtual fair of the María Luisa de Moreno Foundation, the requirement is to be a student and have a business idea or one underway. The operational capacity, production, and ability to sell virtually at a local, national or international level are examined.