What's the big idea?
Have Company is a mobile shop and artist residency featuring handmade goods, zines & vintage clothing. It is housed in a 1966 coachman travel trailer and will be brought to art fairs, craft fairs, music festivals, and other events. It will provide a place for established & emerging artists to both sell & create work!
Right now the camper has been purchased, gutted, & is ready for action. It’s a tiny idea that has the potential to grow into something much bigger. It can be anything folks want or need it to be. A constantly growing idea & project.
Describe the nearest player in your field.
Miscellany & Minty Keen are both brick & mortar stores that sell vintage clothing and handmade goods in Grand Rapids. Local colleges and art spaces provide artist residencies as well as cabin-time art camp which is a roaming artists residency.
How are you different from that player?
The mobility and flexibility of Have Company is different than anything else happening in Michigan right now. We allow artists working on projects to be site specific, as well as provide a store space wherever we want! Parking lots, yards, craft fairs, music festivals, you name it!
How's the world different with your idea in it?
More people making!! Providing a space for crafters and publishers to sell there goods in Michigan is exciting and rare. There is so much energy bursting in Grand Rapids and it deserves to be spread & shared. Have Company not only allows for this, but requires & encourages more people to MAKE.
Why are you the one to run with this idea?
As I continue to refine my own craft both as a dancer & zine maker I am always looking for new spaces to practice, sell, and share in. I know my style of making & living could make something like this possible & sustainable. With a small investment, we’d hit the ground running, full speed.
There have been 12 replies to this idea
Marie-Claire Camp
I really like this idea Marlee! It’s like an ice cream truck or food truck BUT for art. Very cool idea. Also will you have a twitter or Facebook account so people know where to find it? Very cool!
Marlee Grace
yes! here is the facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/HaveCompany?ref=ts&fref=ts
and i should get on that twitter feed eh!
Prudence Rachel Kauffman
like the idea!! question.. how dicey are the laws regarding licensing and issues of parking/selling? From what i’ve seen in GR its not easy to operate a food truck or mobile retail establishment.. you need special permits to park in any lot.. even if its owned by a company and you are invited by said company.. just wonder how you plan to work around that?
Julie Schrauben Goble
Love it Marlee! I’ve always had a thing for vintage trailers. I will repost on my Facebook wall.
Sandi Gunnett
Love this idea! Great!! ; )
Marlee Grace
i am no whiz on laws and legal things.
it’s absolutely one of the reasons i am interested in working with the start garden team, rather than just jumping into it by myself and having to scrape by to figure it all out.
although michigan has it’s specific laws, mobile stores in vintage campers thrive in many other states, and i have no doubt we can figure out how to make one thrive in michigan.
also, so many events on the avenue for the arts. craft fairs, music festivals, etc have no laws against our participation. it would simply be the same as if we were to put up a tent somewhere.
and yes, lots more to research! thanks for the question.
Marlee Grace
here is a link to an interview with the lady who runs ‘wanderlust’ a mobile vintage shop in portland! lots of good insight on the topic of permits, etc
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/09/here-we-go-again-retail-trucks-run-permitting-issues-everywhere/3372/
Prudence Rachel Kauffman
very cool.. i’m sure start garden would have great expertise to help.. I endorse.. =D
Michelle Murphy
yes! LOVE THIS IDEA! Hope you make it a reality and come to Cleveland!
Jon Dodge
If you haven’t been to a Start Garden update night, be sure to think about how you are going to scale this concept to provide a significant return. Perhaps you could speak to that?
Joel Westrate
Jon, my thought exactly!
Mary Ross
What an amazing use of mobile space! Congratulations on your funding. You’ve inspired me.
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