Barrie business owner Paulette Morey believes in giving back to her community, and her side hustle, Events by Morey Made, allows her to do just that.
Morey, who previously worked fulltime in construction project management and now works in Human Resources, always enjoyed going to craft and vendor shows in her community.
“An acquaintance reached out to me, when things were opening up again after the pandemic, and wondered if I would help her run a craft show. I said, sure,” said Morey.
Morey’s acquaintance decided not to continue after that show, but “That show was so successful, and I had so much fun organizing and running it, that I just kept doing it!” said Morey.
Morey is now in her third year of running themed craft shows throughout the year in Barrie and has seen vendor numbers grow from 20 to 70 at each show. “We have a really good venue, East Bayfield Community Centre, and both vendors and buyers know that I put on a quality event,” said Morey. “I prebook all the dates for the year in early January, so vendors know the dates and can sign up for as many shows as they want to participate in. They like that.”
She continued, “As an organizer, you can have huge profitability, but I put my profits back into the show, and into giving back to my community, through the charity, Barrie Families Unite. It’s a charity that is near and dear to my heart, helping those who need it most in our community. I love that I can help them and help my vendors, while doing something that I enjoy so much. It’s very rewarding.”
Morey’s upcoming shows run November 18 and 19, and December 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, at East Bayfield Community Centre. “The theme for the November show is ‘Snowy Days Shopping’,” said Morey. “While the theme for December 2 is ‘Shopping with Santa’. I am hoping to get Santa out for both shows, but he will definitely be there for the December one. We will also be giving away door prizes, including a $100 gift certificate to one of our vendors,” she finished.
Each show will feature a silent auction with proceeds going to Barrie Families Unite, a free craft table which includes the opportunity to enter a colour contest and win an amazing gift basket, tattoos, balloon animals, and face painting, as well as the vendors, of course. “There won’t be all the same vendors each day,” explained Morey. “For some, two days is a lot, so there will be some differences even between the two days of the November show.”
Morey added, “We have free admission to each show, but we gladly accept food and other donations, as well as cash donations, to Barrie Families Unite. We have raised thousands of dollars in support of BFU’s programing and we hope to increase support with each event #CommunityCaringForCommunity. I want to invite everyone in the community to come out, shop locally, support our local artisans, and our local charity. It feels good to help others. We hope to see everyone out at one of the shows!”
Snowy Days Shopping will run November 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while Shopping with Santa runs December 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All shows will be at the East Bayfield Community Centre, at 80 Livingstone St. East, Barrie. For show updates, follow on Facebook here.