Local vendors benefit from fair’s marketplace

By Lethbridge Herald on August 23, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

For many, Whoop-Up Days is a place for entertainment, food and rides, but for many local vendors and community groups, it offers an opportunity to showcase what they have to offer. 

Hollie Hanson, owner of Holli Hanson Hobbies, a first-time vendor at Whoop-Up Days, said the opportunity to showcase her product was fantastic, as not only she received exposure but she also made a lot of sales. 

“I do a lot of custom crochet, and I have been doing this as a local vendor for about 13 years, and I try to keep up with the trends people see on social media,” said Hanson. 

She tries to keep her prices as low as possible to offer an opportunity for everyone to be able to afford something to remember their visit to events she takes part of, in this case Whoop-Up Days. 

“This is the best three days I’ve ever had, today is day four, but yeah, the first three days have been fantastic. It’s an investment, but you’re getting your money back.” 

Having a marketplace at Whoop-Up Days helps vendors get exposed to a variety of people, said Hanson, instead of the niche audiences from other events, which helps drive sales up a lot. 

“Coming here, you get to see those people that normally don’t attend craft shows, or other trade shows, so there is a lot more exposure to a whole new clientele.”

Hanson’s time at Whoop-Up Days Marketplace had been so good that she was running out of things to sell and therefore needed to make more while waiting for clients. 

Trevor Lewington, CEO of Economic Development Lethbridge, said the marketplace is a great opportunity to showcase local businesses. 

“With the tens of thousands of people that come through the doors, it gives these businesses an opportunity for pretty good exposure,” he said.

Unlike a social media post or advertisement, being part of the marketplace allows vendors to connect with clients face to face. 

“Right now, people are looking for alternatives and looking for Canadian sources and it’s always better if you can shop local,” said Lewington. “There is a number of studies out there that say that for every one dollar spent locally, it has an economic impact of seven.”  

He pointed out that local businesses tend to have more local staff, they tend to invest in things like sport teams, they have local suppliers, and therefore the impact of every dollar spent locally is much bigger than if people buy a national brand or a chain. 

With some of the vendors coming from out of town, Lewington said the economic impact of Whoop-Up Days expands beyond its gates. 

“It attracts thousands of people into the city every year, every day that is going on. The region comes to Lethbridge, and we get to showcase our city, and hopefully those people are staying in hotels, and eating at restaurants,” said Lewington. “And that extra traffic is going to have an economic impact as people spend money on services and products that wouldn’t happen without this event.” 

The Whoop-Up Days Marketplace also had an impact on community organizations that were given the opportunity to showcase their services. One of those organizations was Lethbridge Family Services. 

Dryden Roesch, marketing manager at LFS said their booth was free of charge and that provided them with an opportunity to show members of the community to make people aware of their services. 

“It has been a great opportunity for us to tell people about our services, connect with families and individuals who may or may not need our services, or have family members who need our services,” said Roesch.