Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board, I submit the following report for your consideration.
When I started Phoestivus in December of 2010, we had about 20 vendors and three food trucks. Attendees numbered in the hundreds. (Please see our video from last year.)
This year, we expect to see over 10,000 attendees over two nights. We have booked over 200 vendors. We have 18 food trucks.
The feats of strength is a regular event, and it changes every year.
The Airing of Grievances has become an annual story telling tradition.
The seasonal Phoestivus Ale continues to be a hit and is distributed around the state.
The Phoestivus Pole has been re-built and is still the tallest one, as far as we know.
Phreddy the Yeti is more popular than ever, and you can see him all around town this time of year.
People line up down the street to get a photo with the Hipster Santa.
In other words, the market is evolving, we raise more money than ever for the Phoenix Farmer’s Market and we are proud as punch.
In the last couple years, we’ve built a strategic partnership with the International Rescue Committee to help refugee-vendors to build their local businesses.
We have not lost our connection to our roots. The goal was always to support small and new businesses. Even as we moved to a flat fee for vendors (still lower than most markets), we created a grant program for first time vendors so that new business owners can have a crack at the market.
And, of course, we can’t thank Sara Matlin enough, the industrious and determined Market Director for the Phoenix Farmer’s Market. Every year she adds more to her plate, while still juggling my crazy “what if we do this?!” idea machine.
So, what do we see for the next ten years?
We are considering moving to two days back to back, rather than on successive Thursdays. This will save us a great deal of money in set-up and break-down.
We want to improve our sustainability score by doing a better job collecting recyclable materials, compostables and using more renewable energy.
As we grow, we may have to close down even more streets. But, from my standpoint, that’s fine. It is becoming more and more like the German Christmas markets which inspired me in the very beginning.
We are certain that when you buy a gift from the local craftsman who made it, you will have a richer story to tell and a more meaningful holiday experience.
So, I humbly submit to you, good people of the Board, that Phoestivus represents all the best creative and artistic bassasery that Phoenix has to offer.
Shall we take a vote now?
