Advertisement
Hosted by Small Biz Collective Colorado Springs & Open Circle Events🧹 Spring Clean Your Business
Spring is the perfect time to clear out what no longer serves your business and make space for what comes next. The Maker Exchange | Spring Cleaning Edition invites small business owners, makers, and creatives to declutter their vendor setups, refresh their operations, and pass along tools they’ve outgrown — while also picking up resources, skills, and connections that can support their next phase of growth.
This is not a traditional market, resale event, or one-for-one swap. It’s a community-centered resource exchange and networking gathering rooted in mutual aid, accessibility, and collaboration — a space where tools, knowledge, and connections circulate back into the local small business ecosystem instead of sitting unused.
🌱 About Small Biz Collective Colorado Springs
Small Biz Collective Colorado Springs is a nonprofit, community-led support organization dedicated to uplifting local makers, artists, and small business owners, especially those just starting out or navigating growth without large financial backing.
The Collective works to reduce barriers to entry for small businesses, share knowledge and mentorship, create accessible and non-gatekept opportunities, and serve as a safety net when businesses are struggling. Its work is guided by the belief that small businesses thrive through shared growth, not competition.
💛 Where Vendor Fees & Donations Go
Vendor table fees for this event are collected through Open Circle Events and fully donated to Small Biz Collective Colorado Springs. As a nonprofit, the Collective reinvests these funds directly into free and low-cost community events, educational meetups, networking spaces, and resource-sharing initiatives like The Maker Exchange.
🛠️ What to Bring
Participants are invited to bring business-related items or services they no longer need or are ready to upgrade from. All items must be business-related, clean, in working condition, and gently used or unused, and everything must fit within a 6-foot table space.
This can include things like display and setup items (tablecloths, backdrops, shelving, racks, risers), packaging or storage supplies, branding and operational tools such as labels or printers, business tools or equipment, and even services or skills like design, photography, web support, admin, bookkeeping, or marketing.
This is not a personal yard sale or general vendor market, and non-business items are not permitted.
🤝 Networking & Service Trades
Not everything exchanged here is physical. This gathering is also an intentional space to meet other small business owners, explore service or skill trades, and build future collaborations. Bring business cards and be ready to talk about both what you offer and what you’re looking for.
🆓 Free Community Table
In addition to vendor tables, there will be a Free Resource Area for business supplies you’d simply like to give away. This space is for no-cost donations only — no selling or trading — and items may be taken by other businesses within reason, in the spirit of community care.
📝 Vendor Application (Required)
Because this is a curated resource exchange, vendors must apply to participate. The application is short and helps us ensure items align with the event’s purpose, plan layout and spacing, and create a balanced, useful experience for everyone.
Applicants will be asked to provide photos of the items they plan to bring, a short bio about themselves and their business, and a brief description of what they’re offering and what they hope to find.
👉 Apply here:
https://tinyurl.com/themakerexchange
📍 Event Details
📅 February 28
⏰ 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Panther’s Gate Lil Witch
432 W Fillmore St
Vendor tables are $15 for a 6-foot space.
General entry is free, with a suggested $2 donation to support Small Biz Collective Colorado Springs. (No one is turned away for lack of funds.)
🌿 Why This Matters
Access matters.
Community works.
Shared resources change outcomes.
Community over competition — always.
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
432 W Fillmore , Colorado Springs, CO, United States, Colorado
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
