Dozens of local businesses will participate in a ‘Spring Soiree’ this weekend. Here’s what you can expect
Published at
CHUBBUCK — More than 50 small businesses are banding together for the Spring Soiree event at the Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, providing visitors an opportunity to support local establishments and mingle with others in the community.
This event brings together vendors from across southeast Idaho and runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 13.
“The feeling when the market opens and all of the shoppers are mingling — it makes my heart happy,” said event organizer Nikki Waliser. “At the end of the day, we all have this, ‘What just happened?’ look on our faces. It truly is magical.”
As the brains behind the “Spring Soiree,” Waliser created “W Group Pocatello” as a way to help small businesses with social media and marketing. While helping clients, she noticed a lack of events that showcased local businesses so she organized the Spring Soiree. This is her second year crafting this event.
“It has expanded by 20% this year,” says Waliser. “I want to take every vendor, but we usually have 75-100 on a waitlist for the events.”
A wide variety of vendors will be showcased at the event, including representatives for jewelry, art, tattoos, a hat bar, tumblers, home-baked goods and the Butterfly Haven.
One vendor, Aubry Thompson, owner of “Golden Permanent Jewelry,” has been in business for almost two years and offers permanent jewelry to clients. Many people have never heard of permanent jewelry before.
Thompson described it as “jewelry that is custom fitted and welded together so you never have to deal with a clasp or worry about putting it on and taking it off. I offer bracelets, anklets, necklaces and rings. All my jewelry is very high quality. I’ve searched high and low for the best, and I’m confident in what I offer.”
Her booth has been well received by many people in the past.
Jackie Morris is the owner of Happy Paws Bakery, which caters to pets. Founded in Oct. 2022, she bakes fresh, organic, limited-ingredient, soft bake dog treats. It takes a lot of work for her to be ready for an event like this — baking fresh products, labeling and conducting “quality control,” which is joyously taken on by her own dogs.
She also has organic pet shampoo and pad balms, which help keep her dogs’ paws soft and reduce cracking, “which is common in the warmer months.”
Another business owner, Arianna Nicolaysen operates Milk Wise Lactation Consulting, which she started in January. As a certified lactation counselor, she provides inpatient and telehealth services.
“I hold a weekly postpartum support group in town,” she said. “I love helping parents with all of their child’s feeding needs! I also make t-shirts, simple jewelry, and other little parenting-related knick-knacks that I sell at these events. To get ready for an event I make sure to have enough of what I make available to sell.”
This is only a fraction of the vendors in attendance at next week’s event. Vendors will be spread throughout the Pine Ridge Mall.
For more information, visit the Facebook page here.
