Dec. 5, 2024

After more than a decade helping produce locally made pop-up markets, the co-organizer of the 605 Made events is transitioning to a new maker.

Stacy and Kyle Wengler, owners of Knotty Gnome Variety & Salvage in Hartford, have worked in partnership with SiouxFalls.Business since 2017 to produce the 605 Made event series, which includes a holiday market and a night market.

Before that, Stacy Wengler began by setting up her handmade work in her sewing room and inviting friends to shop it, then expanded to a friend’s husband’s store.

“We’re always preaching it. We’re always saying you have to support local, and I think that we really gained a core group of customers — the people who understand how important it is, and we’ve relied on those customers to spread the word too,” she said.

SiouxFalls.Business founder Jodi Schwan discovered Wengler’s grassroots event and ultimately worked with her to launch an early version of 605 Made in 2013 in a production area of Argus Leader Media.

“From the start, Stacy’s ability to transform an everyday space into an incredible pop-up experience, combined with her credibility and relationships within the arts community, allowed us to bring the vision to life,” Schwan said.

“When I started SiouxFalls.Business, I saw an opportunity to grow this marketplace for local makers into something even bigger, and Stacy and Kyle were on board from the start. They’ve been incredible partners ever since, including in how they’re transitioning to our new organizers.”

The Wenglers will be transitioning as co-organizers to Karli and Shawn Raymond, owners of Sew Doggy Boutique and regular vendors at the 605 Made events.

“They’ve been so active in helping us that it just seemed natural. They’re the ones staying from setup until we’re completely finished. Shawn gets right up there on a ladder putting lights up with Kyle,” Wengler said.

“Once we opened our storefront, that consumed so much of our time, and we’re really just choosing to prioritize our time at the store because I don’t think people realize how much work the market is. We literally work on it 12 months out of the year in one shape or form.”

They also now are the second-generation owners of metal fabrication business Beaverbuilt Inc. in Hartford.

With the Raymonds, “they were kind of like mini (versions of) us, and it was nice to see them as a couple working together,” Wengler said. “And seeing her do the same thing I was with a side business and a full-time job, but she’s so passionate and cares about her business that you’re willing to do crazy things like stay up all night and set up a market because you really do care about it.”

Raymond, who lives in Tea and works full time as a paralegal, started Sew Doggy Boutique in 2018, inspired by her new puppy, a mini Goldendoodle named Opie. When he came home from the groomer in a confining bandana, “I started doing over-the-collar bandanas, so they slide right on the collar, and you don’t have to worry about them falling off or being too tight,” she said.

“And I loved making it for him and thought maybe I should start making them for other people because I’ve always loved being crafty, so I started on Etsy in April 2018 and got my first order and thought it could be a fun passion project, creative outlet.”

She began selling her items that August at the 605 Made Night Market and has participated in every market since then.

“It was just so fun how Stacy and Kyle are so passionate about small businesses, and going into the market, they really want to see every one of us do well,” she said. “They just put so much time and energy into it to make sure that we’re successful too.”

In deciding to take over organizing the events, “my husband from the get-go said: ‘Let’s do it. Let’s go. I’m excited.’ And I was like, I think we can do it. Hopefully, we can do it as well as Kyle and Stacy have because they’ve made it what it is today, and we have big shoes to fill,” she said.

SiouxFalls.Business will continue to co-host the events and manage marketing and sponsorship. This year’s events are co-sponsored by The First National Bank in Sioux Falls and Dakota Business Finance.

“These businesses — our sponsors and our co-organizers — are the reason why even the smallest, newest makers are able to afford to try out selling their work and the reason why our community has a chance to support them,” Schwan said. “I’m so grateful to Karli and Shawn for sharing this commitment to local artists and ensuring we’re able to continue offering these events.”

The Raymonds have been working hand-in-hand with the Wenglers this year and will do so again this Saturday, when the 605 Made Holiday Market returns to the underground parking garage in the original Cherapa Place building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Next year, the Wenglers will continue to assist in the markets while the Raymonds take the lead organizing, and in 2026, the Raymonds will be running the events on their own.

“And then I’ll be around for whatever she needs after that,” Wengler added. “I think it will bring them as much success as it has with our business. The markets are why we started our business. Whenever anyone asks how I started my storefront, it all goes back to doing the markets and making those connections with the makers … and it’s great to pass on those opportunities to Karli.”

To learn more about the makers who will be featured at this year’s 605 Made Holiday Market, click below.

605 Made Holiday Market vendor guide