Not your average craft show.

A local shopping event with food trucks, drinks, and live music? Yes please! Fun for you to attend (+ for us to plan), Merchants and Makers is an event designed for creatives and community. With events popping up in venues across West Michigan 10+ times per year, it’s not just an art show, craft fair, or vendor event.... it’s a true party.

Come hang out and shop a a variety of local goods! Grab a cider, beer, wine, cold-pressed juice and locally made food {we’ve featured pizza, tacos to die for, burger, smoothies, lattes, and MORE}. Merchants and Makers events aren’t just for a girls’ day/night out {though can be.} They are for couples, friends, families. They are for you! Come explore and support your local movers, shakers, merchants and makers. We can’t wait to meet you.

JOIN THE

Shop Local Movement.

MEET THE EVENT CREATOR

Hi, I’m Shyle Lyons.

I’m on a mission to create incredible gatherings while supporting local makers. As a former social worker turned small-business owner who often sold products at events, I dreamt of markets that could be more fun for all — the vendors, the attendees, and the community as a whole. West Michigan has so many amazing gathering locations and is bursting with creativity. What if a curated group of awesome makers could pop up around our beautiful state in family-friendly atmospheres; fun for all ages and life stages? What if the events could be full of live music (one of my passions!) and feature delicious local food vendors? And hey, why not a bar!?

With that vision in mind, I created the first Merchants and Makers (M+M) event in 2017. Its success made me realize how much fun I had planning it and the void in our community it filled. Why not do it again? I scouted locations and deepened relationships with makers, venues, bands, and food trucks. I recruited my former Hope College roommate + friend to do branding. I organized all aspects of event production and learned over time what shoppers wanted and what makers craved: fun, ease, quality local products… and community over competition! M+M continued to gain momentum as community members and makers alike loved the vibe — shoppers found unique products they wanted, and makers found a kind, supportive community & a platform where their businesses flourished. Today I’m beyond grateful to continue to grow our market and brand. The number of events has increased every year since that initial event, and our team is growing!

Click below to meet the M+M team and learn more about our events!