March 8, 2024

By AJ Heckenlaible, for SiouxFalls.Business

It’s the second Saturday of the month this weekend, which means another chance to shop local at a growing pop-up event in Brandon.

Every Second Saturday, Tim Jorgenson, owner of SplitRock Furniture, opens the doors of his showroom at 715 N. Splitrock Blvd. to show off goods made by himself and other local artists.

While he originally started the business to sell his own handmade work, it has blossomed into a collaborative space that invites other artisans to share their creations.

“It’s just been probably within the last two years that I’ve invited my friends in to sell with me,” Jorgenson said, emphasizing the recent transformation of SplitRock Furniture into a creative collective.

Motivated by the growing artistic community, Jorgenson decided to host events more frequently.

“I have a lot more people making stuff, and so I wanted to just give them more opportunities to have their stuff seen and sell it,” Jorgenson said.

Aligning with Brandon’s Second Saturday initiative, the monthly sale at SplitRock integrates into the local community’s rhythm, he said.

Second Saturday, organized by the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, is an event designed to support the community and promote shopping small with special deals offered by a variety of local businesses. Here’s a link to this month’s offers.

The variety of work on display at SplitRock Furniture showcases local artists creating with reclaimed wood, repurposed materials, metal art, handmade bots, ceramics, reclaimed baseballs and more.

With more than 10 artists selling in SplitRock, the event offers everything from furniture and metalwork, to handmade cards and ceramics, to clocks and signs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 9.

“SplitRock Furniture is … our showroom; we just invited more people to come into it. I have plenty of my own stuff in there as well,” Jorgenson said.

Jorgenson’s goal is to show off as many local artists as he can fit under his roof.

“I just want more people to enjoy buying stuff from local artisans,” he said. “I love giving them an opportunity to be seen and sell their stuff.”

The community of shoppers is responding, he said.

Jorgenson recalled an interaction with a customer where “she thanked me for having the sale, and I thanked her. … If you continue to buy, we’ll continue to make,” Jorgenson said.