This April, the Crafternoon Tea Market will be proud to become a part of the Grey Lynn community.
Thank you for taking the time to speak to me, could you start my telling me about the Crafternoon Tea Market, where it all begin?
Crafternoon Tea’s started in Auckland about 10 years ago, and at the time it was based around Ponsonby and then around the Kingsland area.
When we took over we decided to really specialise in highly crafted New Zealand-made goods and to shine a spotlight on some of the local makers that might not have shop front, or a major online presence.
We also really want to bring people back from the shopping malls, so, if you want a nice gift there are a lot of other options available.
What kind of products are you making at the moment for crafternoon’s?
I make eco reusable products, that are plastic-free alternatives, like beeswax food covers and produce bags and I’ve been doing that for the last six years.
We love that we can showcase some local Grey Lynn talent like Isla Osbourne making brand Wearing Glass, and Ella Rose Shnapp who makes handmade beeswax candles, and presses flowers from her garden.
So Crafternoon Tea Market is coming to Grey Lynn, could you tell me what attracted you to the area?
I love the Grey Lynn area, and as a vendor I used to go to the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. There’s a lot of talent in and around that area, and one of the things I get asked all the time is ‘can you bring your market to us’.
We’ve got one in Albany and one in Mt Albert, so having one in Grey Lynn was the next choice for us.
Could you tell us specifically a bit more about the event?
The Crafternoon Tea Market will be held in the afternoon; it’ll include food trucks, live music and of course our usual beautifully curated craft market featuring several Grey Lynn artisans.
Are there some things you can’t accept or that wouldn’t fit into what you’re trying to achieve?
First it has to be New Zealand made, and it has to be beautifully presented and really great quality.
Is there a target audience per se?
Anyone who values quality, New Zealand-made goods and our message is support local, shop local. Our target audience would be the people that are sick of having the same stuff as their neighbours have, and who value quality products.
Do you think the quality of products has gone down with the introduction of, say, the two dollar shops?
I think everyone likes a bargain, so that definitely plays into it.
Lastly, is there anything that you’d like to say or add about the Crafternoon Tea Market?
We brought Crafternoon Teas because we loved the family vibe and the feeling of community, and we’d like to invite people to come along and see and feel it for themselves. (KERRY LEE)
The Crafternoon Tea Market will be at the Grey Lynn Community Centre and will be held from 3pm to 7pm on 27 April, for more information please visit: www.crafternoontea.co.nz