Our own birthday is something we all acknowledge, whether with family, friends, or on our own. We celebrate “each year around the sun” and with that comes greetings and well wishes from those we know and care about.
Some establishments such as restaurants also welcome their customers who are celebrating their birthdays and offer perks and freebies. In Winnipeg, there are several businesses that reward their customers with special gifts. Many of those places that will honour someone on their birthday with a special treat or discount are listed here, in alphabetical order. Let me know if you have any others to add.
Applebee’s – Sign up for the loyalty program and you will get things like a free appetizer, birthday treat, deals, etc.
Booster Juice – Free drink on your birthday.
Boston Pizza – Has a loyalty program, if you sign up you get a free dessert on your birthday and a free two-topping pizza on your first anniversary.
Canadian Brewhouse – Free nachos on your birthday.
Chatime (Outlets) – Register your birthday to receive a free drink on your birthday.
Cobb’s Bread – Free cinnamon bun on your birthday.
Dairy Queen – Sign up for the Blizzard Club and you get a birthday treat and more.
Denny’s – Has a free grand slam on your birthday, you just have to show your ID and it has to be on your actual birthday.
Giant Tiger – A bag of chocolates on your birthday.
IHOP – The Rewards program has lots of extras including free birthday pancakes.
Jugo Juice – When signed up for the rewards program, you will get a free smoothie
The Keg – When dining, they will give the birthday guy or girl a complimentary Billy Miner Pie.
Kiehl’s – When signed up for their rewards program, you will get a gift during birthday month
Marble Slab – Sign up at least 48 hours before your birthday, and you’ll get an email with sweet surprises.
Mongos Grill – Offers a free birthday stir fry called “Birthday Bowl.” Customers must dine in on their birthday and show a valid ID. The offer is only available at Winnipeg locations and is for dine-in only. Drinks, desserts, and upgrades are not included.
Montanas – Club gets you 10% off a minimum $30 purchase and a free sweet treat.
Olive Garden – Sign up for the Olive Garden Club and include your birthdate and address. On your birthday, dine at Olive Garden and you will receive a free dessert worth up to $10.
Perogy Planet – Free dozen perogies with ID showing your birthdate.
Rae & Jerry’s Steakhouse – Offers a birthday gift of three desserts to customers who subscribe to their email list. To sign up, fill out the pop-up on the Rae & Jerry’s website.
Red Robin – Sign up for the Red Robin Loyalty Program. Opt-in to email or text messages. Verify your phone number and add your birthday. They will send you a reminder to get your free burger when your birthday month arrives. You can redeem the coupon for dine-in only with a minimum purchase of $4.99.
Sephora – Get a free birthday gift with a $25 purchase. You can redeem it any time during your birthday month.
Smitty’s – Download the MySmitty’s app and sign up for the rewards program. Simply doing this will put you in the default Bronze Tier and qualifies you for FREE MINI DONUTS during your birthday month. The Bronze – Silver – Gold Tiered rewards program offers loyal customers bonus points during the year and Gold Tier members earn a free birthday meal (up to $24) during their birthday month. (You have to spend $1,500.00+ over the course of the year to get Gold Tier member status.)
Starbucks – If you use the app, you can get a free birthday reward. To qualify, you have to had downloaded the app at least two weeks before your birthday and made an eligible purchase in the last year.
Subway – Free cookie on your birthday.
Sweet Impressions – Has a birthday club that gets you get a free cupcake on your birthday.
Depending on where you shop you may or may not be eligible for a discount or other freebies as you enter your “golden years.” I have found some establishments start their senior discounts at age 55, some at 60, others at 65.
The main tip for benefiting from a senior discount is…YOU MUST ASK FOR IT!
Here are the Winnipeg senior discounts that I know of (in alphabetical order). Let me know if you have any to add!
Bulk Barn, 65+, 15% every Wednesday
Canadian Goodwill, “Seniors”, 20% every Tuesday
Giant Tiger, 60+, 10% on the first Monday of every month
M & M Food Market, 60+, 10% off all regular priced items in-store or online (code SENIORSDAY)
Michael’s, 55+, 10% every day
Rexall, 55+, 20% every Tuesday with a Be Well Rewards Card
Shopper’s Drug Mart, 65+, 20% every Thursday with a PC Optimum card
I have been discovering some unique finds at auctions in and around Winnipeg. I don’t buy larger items at auction such as automobiles, farm equipment, and land, so those will not be listed here. There are a few auction companies I have used, or those that I follow, that I will mention here (in no particular order). Please let me know if you know of any more in or around the Winnipeg area! Happy bidding!
Neighbourhood Auctions Ltd.
Estates, high-end collectibles, and liquidation goods (Consignment)
Centre Flavie is a donation and volunteer-based Non-Profit Charitable Organization that serves vulnerable and impoverished members of the community. Centre Flavie provides clothing, furniture, beds, appliances, etc. free of charge to people in need. A division of Centre Flavie, Boutique Unique has a secondhand and vintage shop (free for those in need, see next paragraph below) and an auction entity created to help raise long-term sustainable funding for Centre Flavie. Their online auction site through Boutique Unique has lots of amazing items. I have successfully bid and won auction items (ex. Sherman jewelry, Lalique glass statue) and I highly recommend!
FYI – For those in need, folks can go to Centre Flavie (301 Archibald Street) to find the items they require at Boutique Unique. Help is available Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. All who are present at the Centre at 8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday will be entered in a random draw held each morning to decide the order of entry. There is no need or purpose in coming any earlier to wait in line. Anyone arriving after the draw will go to the end of the line.
Winnipeg Family Owned and Operated business since late 1980s. Bringing unique and tucked-away treasures to the surface. They do larger scale sales like estates and cannot accommodate smaller individual consignment lots now or in the near future (as they are backed up!).
263 Stanley Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Downtown area). (204) 668-0183
Updating new items weekly! Unique finds and collectibles. Contact them for consignment opportunities. I have successfully bid on some smaller lots of jewelry and it was fun. Reasonable prices (depending on who is bidding and what people are going for!).
666 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (West End area). (204) 330-8008
The offer consignment. They have a strong market for a variety of goods including sterling silver, gold jewelry, fine Canadian and International art, Chinese antiques, Fine furniture from the middle ages or mid-century, carpets, hand-knotted wood and silk, collectibles, and more. Many of their items are in the thousand-dollar and up price range.
Goodwill has thrift store auctions called “Auction Windows” where collectible, vintage, or otherwise highly desired items are displayed for a number of weeks with a “Last Chance to Bid” date posted. The bidding is done by a “Silent Auction” process. The bidder does not get to closely inspect the items; they only get to see the item from the window. A starting price is suggested. Then the person goes into the store and writes their bid on a piece of paper and inserts it into a box which has a slot on the top. Other people’s bids are not visible or revealed. On the day after final bidding, the person with the highest bid will be called. They can choose to accept and go into the store to give the item a closer look and inspection. If the item is suitable and desired for the bidded amount, the buyer can pay for the item. If not, the item will then be offered to the next highest bidder.
Auction Windows in Winnipeg can be found at the following four Goodwill locations:
17-2136 McPhillips St., (204) 475-6438 (Garden City area)
317 St. Anne’s Road, (204) 257-3644 (Southdale area)
Photos of the items as seen through the window are also posted at https://canadiangoodwill.ca/auction-items. If you follow on Facebook or Instagram, you may get to see the items up for auction sooner.
Winnipeg Police Unclaimed Goods Auction (City of Winnipeg)
Usually held in March. No upcoming dates available.
Willy’s Auctions (Oakbank)
Family-owned and operated. They truly LOVE all collectibles. No upfront fees for listing your items. They encourage consignment. Competitive commission rates on sold items. I have won a few auction lots and I combined picking up my goods with a trip to Pine Ridge Hollow for a lunch and visit to the shops!
Bidding Wars for St. Amant (a Facebook Community, Located in Winnipeg Beach)
A fundraiser to raise money to help with any training or upkeep to the service of St. Amant. Money raised is 100% for all autistic and special needs children and adults that benefit from services through St. Amant. Many of the items are in the $5-20 price range. Donations accepted.
Box 585, Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba. Contact: leopardlady@mymts.net
Look for local auctions on the eBay website. Use the Advanced search feature and enter Keywords (Whatever you want), Buying Format: Auction, Shipping Options: Local Pickup, Item Location: Items within…of your postal code. If there is anything in your area or in Winnipeg that matches your search it will pop up.
If you are tired and bored with cheap “fast fashion” and big box stores, if your favourite clothing store (eg. Ricki’s or Cleo) or direct marketing business (e.g. Tupperware)has closed, perhaps you are looking for a different way to shop for clothing, art, jewelry, collectibles, and other household goods. You could be a collector (like me, I love Sherman jewelry) and you love the thrill of the “hunt.” Good deals, nostalgia, and much more can be found in thrift stores as well as stores and sellers that are dedicated to vintage (20 years or older) items. I already wrote about Thrift Stores in Winnipeg, and now I would like to shine the light on vintage stores! There is definitely some overlap, as you will soon come to learn.
Some vintage stores also offer consignment. That’s where you, the “customer,” can supply the store with your own unique, vintage, previously loved, or new “old” stock and if and when it sells, you will get a percentage of the sale. Some shops offer 40/60% (you get 40% and the shop gets 60%). Others offer 60/40. You can do your own research to see where the best place is to sell your good, used, older vintage items.
Shopping at thrift stores and vintage shops also helps keep items out of the landfills. Whether it’s soft goods (clothing/linens etc.) or hard goods (jewelry/glassware, etc.) consider checking out these shops to see if there are any treasures you can take home for yourself or gift to a special somebody. Here they are, in no particular order:
Vintage Glory: 20th Century Clothing, Accessories, and Costume Jewelry.
A chic boutique blending vintage clothing with accessories like jewelry, purses, hats, and shoes. The shop features restored original tin ceilings and maple floors, enhancing its nostalgic ambiance. The shop owner, Doug, who runs it with his wife, told me that he used to rent out items to movie sets, but sometimes they would come back damaged. The solution to that was to sell the items. I was also looking at the selection of Sherman jewelry he had. He said he remembers one time some family members came from out of town to buy up a bunch of Sherman jewelry. They were interested in what he had and they were very pleased. The shop owner also told me he resources for his shop from all over the world. He has been to South Korea even! He has an Instagram account (@vintageglorywpg) and you can see all kinds of ideas of the types of things they sell at Vintage Glory. He said he buys outright, he doesn’t have consignment.
Located in Elmwood Place, Keenleyside and Thomas, Winnipeg, Manitoba (204-942-7186).
Vantage Vintage Boutique: This Exchange District shop specializes in authentic vintage garments from the late 1800s to the 1980s, meticulously cleaned and restored. The boutique offers unique pieces that seamlessly integrate into modern wardrobes. Queer owned/operated & LGBTQ2S+ safe space. They have an Instagram account (@vantagevintagebtq) and they can be found on Etsy (vantagevintagebtq.etsy.com).
Located at 70 Albert Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (204-801-5681).
The Clothing Bakery Ltd: Offers sustainable clothing and accessories from the 1970s to today, including vintage t-shirts, sweatshirts, denim, and a variety of jackets. They also provide a buy, sell, and trade system in-store. Can be found on Instagram (@clothingbakery). Two guys founded it and it appears the fashions are catering to men. Website: clothingbakery.com
Located at unit 105-70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, MB (204-949-9250).
The Collab Shop: This Exchange District Filippino male-owned shop is a streetwear, sneaker, and vintage store featuring ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia, including sports, band, and movie-themed items, as well as pre-loved streetwear from sought-after brands. Basketball is their passion. They are on Instagram (@collabshopwpg) and YouTube (@TheCollabShopWinnipeg). Website: collabshopwpg. com.
Located at 246 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB (204-306-4664).
The Jar: “Second-Hand Vintage Store.” Focuses on vintage clothing from the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, emphasizing items made in the USA and Canada. Known for rare finds and deadstock items like limited-edition band tees and vintage designer pieces. Vintage fashion and accesssories owned and curated by Blue. Female owned. Found on Instagram (@thejarwpg).
Located at 555-70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (204-795-3580).
Thrift Nihilist: “Curated Vintage Clothing – Streetwear & Antiques” This Exchange District shop balances wearable, timeless staples with unique, eccentric items, including wildlife-themed apparel and a selection of antiques and furniture. Found on Instagram (@thriftnihilist).
Located at 75 Albert St., 2nd Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba. DM on Instagram for inquiries (@thriftnihilist).
Shop Take Care: New, pre-worn consignment clothing. Vintage and contemporary items. Home goods and accessories. Two locations in Winnipeg.
“Shop Take Care offers gender-inclusive consignment clothing + home goods in Winnipeg, MB.
Opened in February 2017, Shop Take Care aims to create a safe shopping experience for everyone. Clothing is not distinguished by gender, instead, the entire shop is organized by colour.
“I wanted it to be a very safe inclusive space for all gender expressions and identities,” said Jill Zdunich, the owner of Shop Take Care.
In addition to a curated collection of consignment clothing, ranging from sizes XS to 4X, Shop Take Care offers a selection of small batch made, handmade goods from brands across North America, that focus on ethical and sustainable practices.”
Weekend Vintage Winnipeg: Two Locations to serve you. Located in the Johnston Terminal at The Forks, this shop offers a variety of vintage clothing and accessories, promoting sustainable fashion choices. The second location is at Mulvey Market. They offer curated, high-quality pieces sourced from Europe, Japan, the USA, and beyond, emphasizing sustainability and timeless styles for eco-conscious shoppers. Lots of clothing such as t-shirts and jeans, and purses. Instagram (@weekendvtg). Website: weekendvtg.com. They are also found on Facebook (Weekend Vintage).
Old House Revival Company: A four-storey antique mall featuring a vast array of vintage items, from furniture and decor to collectibles, making it a treasure trove for vintage enthusiasts. Host to 40 different vendors! Found on Instagram (@oldhouserevival). Website: theoldhouserevival.com
Located at 324 Young Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba (204-477-4286).
Época Haus: Mid-Century Modern Vintage Home Decor. Find that perfect preloved piece for your home! Website: epocahaus.com
Located at 1318 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba. (204-338-7044)
Redeemed The Consignment Place: “Winnipeg’s premier consignment store.” A well-regarded consignment store offering an ever-changing selection of women’s apparel, accessories, and home goods. The store focuses on mid- to high-end consignment clothing, emphasizing trendy, contemporary styles and designer labels. Customers can find a variety of pre-owned clothing, accessories, and home goods at affordable prices. I found a beautiful vintage Elizabeth Taylor brooch, a gorgeous faux pearl necklace, and two sterling silver rings. There are great vintage finds as well and they help people earn money while promoting sustainability. They can be found on Instagram (@redeemedtheconsignment).
Location: 410 Academy Road (204-474-1182) Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Kildonan MCC Thrift (Mennonite Central Committee): Non-profit. Support your community. A large warehouse full of clothing, jewelry, gifts, collectibles and furniture. They also have a Vintage Lane Department way in the bakc that has older and more collectible/nostaglic items. I found a beautiful vintage faux fur jacket at Vintage Lane. Senior’s discount day (20% off) is on the first Thursday of the month. For those over 55. Website: Shop.lovetothrift.ca. Find your local shop at mccthrift.com
Located at 445 Chalmers Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba (204-668-0967).
Selim’s Antiques: Western Canada’s Finest and Longest Standing Estate Jeweller and Antique Dealer. An outstanding selection of fine quality antiques & collectibles, art & jewellery.
Located at 801 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba (204-284-9886)
Gerry’s Antiques & Collectibles: Gerry Beelen offers a wide variety of vintage items, antiques, and collectibles. I bought some Sherman jewelry from him! He sources his inventory from estate sales as well as other local sources. Gerry sells mainly hard goods such as jewelry, crystal, porcelain figurines, glassware, and china. He sells within Canada and the US.
Located at 1000 Isbister Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Call for an appointment: 204-330-8642.
Atomic Age Vintage: Lover of all things vintage. You can find Atomic Age Vintage set up at Old House Revival (324 Young Street), Johnston Terminal Antique Mall at the Forks, and Pollock’s Hardware (1407 Main Street) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Instagram (@atomic_age_vintage) (204-795-6647)
A & A Jewellers: Jewelry Repair, Engraving, & Vintage Jeweller. They sell jewelry on consignment. 60/40. I bought some Sherman jewelry there! And I have sold some of my mom’s jewelry on consignment at their store.
Johnston Terminal Antique Mall: With items curated by over 30 consignors, the Johnston Terminal Antique Mall show you the history of Winnipeg and beyond in their vintage finds. Follow the signs to the basement of the Johnston Terminal at the Forks to peruse their seemingly endless rooms of antiques. I bought some Sherman jewelry from there! Tony Costa is the owner.
The Faded Barn: Antique Design – Preserving the Prairie Past. This shop is in The Village at Pineridge Hollow. It isn’t in Winnipeg, but it’s just a half-hour drive northeast from the city centre in Oakbank. This shop has lots of vintage gifts and treasures including jewelry, trinkets, and decor. They buy antiques! The store also boasts some antiques and new contemporary items. Instagram @thefadedbarn
Located at Pineridge Hollow, 67086 Heatherdale Road, Oakbank, Manitoba. (204-777-3881)
Brian’s Corner Antiques and Thrift: Buy – Sell – Trade – Consign. “I like old stuff!” Brian buys very old items dating all the way up to the ’60s and ’70s. Instagram @brianscornerantiques
Located at 867 Wall Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (204-781-9603)
Mulvey Market: Winnipeg’s largest year-round indoor flea market. Features 40+ vendors selling a vast variety of new and gently used products, vintage items, and antiques. Canteen available.
Thirsty’s Flea Market: A number of vendors that sell a variety of items such as antiques, nostalgia, memorabilia, vintage jewelry, and collectibles. Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and most holiday Mondays.
Things Supporting the Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Operated by the Volunteer Committee for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet since 1967, Things is a specialty boutique that sells consigned and donated items. They offer gently used antique, vintage, and contemporary collectibles, including furniture, jewelry, china, crystal, silver, artwork, and linens. Website: thingsforrwb.com
Located at 913 and 911 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. (204-284-7331).
Vintage in the Village: Vintage in the Village carries a wide variety of vintage items and collectibles. We are a small store, so we strive to carry the best, currently desired items at reasonable prices. We strive to remain at the forefront of current design and decorating trends. We are constantly getting new (old) items in our shop that are unique, like our customers. Website: VintageintheVillage.com
Located at 194 Osborne Street (entrance on Gertrude), Winnipeg, Manitoba. (204-287-2278)
Pollock’s Hardware Co-Op: In addition to their usual items, Pollock’s also sells vintage cookware and kitchen items. “Pollock’s is a gem of a store and if you’ve never been it’s well worth the visit and you’ll always be able to find an employee to help you.” A sampling of these items can be viewed on their Instagram page or by visiting the store. Instagram: @pollockshardwarecoop. Website: http://www.pollockshardwarecoop.com
Located at 1407 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba. (204-582-5007)
Gold Time Horology: Ilya Goldman of Ukrainian descent is known by others as the “finest watchmaker to ever work in Winnipeg – and one of the very best in all of Canada.” He is certified in all the luxury brands. He will fix expensive and inexpensive watches. He carries an inventory of quality watches as well as jewelry on consignment including vintage pieces (I have seen Sherman there!). Visit his Facebook page: Ilya Goldman-Watchmaker. Instagram @goldtimehorology. Website: http://www.goldtimehorology.com
Located at 723 Borebank at Grant, Winnipeg, Manitoba. (204-890-6210)
Green and Gold Vintage, Winnipeg: Vintage and recylcled jewelry. Old made new. (Instagram – @greenandgold.vintage)
Wright On Vintage Wares: Tracy Wright. We can be found at the Old House Revival Co. – at Portage Avenue and Young Street in Winnipeg. Also on Etsy and sometimes at in-person shows. (Instagram – @wrightonvintagewares).
Not a Taco Shop: A bit of everything except tacos. Rescuer of things and rehomer of stuff. Instagram: @notatacoshoppe. Located in Winnipeg.
Atomic Age Vintage: Find them at Old House Revival Co., Johnston Terminal Antique Mall and Pollock’s Hardware – Winnipeg MB. Facebook: @atomicagevintage
Grand Trunk Vintage and Nostalgia Sale (Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg)
Manitoba Antique Association Sale (Viscount Gort Hotel, Winnipeg. Held in the spring and fall/holiday seasons)
Junk Wagon: Antiques, Vintage & Collectible Sale – Over 60 vendors, booths, & tables. (Winakwa C.C.)
Estate Sales
Garage/Yard Sales
Flea Markets or Bazaars
Fundraisers to support organizations (“Church Basement Sales”)
Look for local or Canadian sellers on these platforms:
Online buy and sell site Kijiji
Online buy and sell site on Facebook called Marketplace (ex. Del Del Stevens for furniture, June Warkentin for jewelry)
Whatnot
Etsy
Poshmark
eBay
Outside of Winnipeg:
Interlake Thriftiques: Located in Winnipeg Beach Plaza. Buyers and sellers for the Interlake Cottage & Country decor, Antiques & Uniques. “Nothing is too unusual.” Open May – October. Call ahead to ensure they are open. 204-299-5429. Facebook: Search “Interlake Thriftiques”
Grandmont Antiques: #78091 Rd 2W. From the junction of Hwy 67 & 236 at Stonewall, travel 12 kms W on Hwy 67 to Rd 2W, then turn right (north) on Rd 2W, go 4 kms to #78091. “Over the last 20 years we have been a premiere source for unique pieces from antiquity to the early 20th century. Our experience is with period furnishings, decorative arts, architectural elements and fine art.” Follow on Instagram @grandmont_antiques. http://www.grandmontantiques.com. 204-383-5382.
Eras Antiques & Art: Located at 636 Rosser Avenue, Brandon, MB. Unique shop with 5,000+ items from all areas of collecting. Set up in a creative way for the customer to browse easily. Instagram: @erasantiques. 204-726-9408 (Daryl Hicks)
Delaquis Antiques: Located at 2108 Hwy 59 (20 min S of Winnipeg) Quality antique furniture & collectibles available. Beautiful selection ranging from small to large pieces. Something for everyone! Furniture repairs & refinishing. 204-388-4850 (Patrick). http://www.delaquis-antiques.com. Instagram @delaquis.antiques
The Gypsy Traders: 238 Manitoba Avenue in Selkirk, Manitoba. Antiques, vintage, gifts, furniture up-styling, local crafters, DIY workshops, Country Chic Paints. Instagram: @the_gypsy_traders. 204-482-7677
Let me know if you know of any other places to find vintage or antique items for sale! Happy shopping!
I belong to many “market” groups on Facebook and I regularly see people who want to put on a market asking for advice from vendors (like myself) on how to organize and facilitate a great event. Vendors and makers are quick to offer advice on what they think is important. I have taken some of the information below from the groups I belong to.
Before vendors or crafters even consider signing up or applying for a market, I think it’s important for them to do their research on the person or company organizing the event. Unfortunately, some scammers will quite easily take the money for the table fees, and then run. Ensuring the legitimacy of the organizers and the event is the most important first step as a vendor. So the important takeaway for the organizer is to make sure they are putting their best self forward and to include their social media contacts, company affiliations, phone number, and email address.
Following is a list in no particular order of what is important to vendors (and shoppers) like myself and what is appreciated.
Make sure the venue has ample lighting, parking, washrooms, and a kitchen/canteen.
Decide on a date and time to hold the event. Secure the spot. Ensure a good relationship with the venue organizers as vendors and makers may call the venue to confirm the legitimacy of the market event. (I have found Saturdays work best and 10 am – 3 pm is a good time frame.) Determine the table fees based on your costs to hold the event.
Determine if liability insurance is needed by each vendor or if it is covered by the venue.
Decide if you want direct sellers (of commercial products), handmade only, or both.
Ensure there is good reception or Wi-Fi available for vendors to be able to use their Square machines to facilitate easy sales transactions.
Determine how many tables you can comfortably fit into the venue event. (30 different vendors is a great number to aim for).
Clearly outline how much floor space each vendor has.
If it’s an outdoor market or there are outdoor spots, let the vendor know if they have to supply their own canopy, tables, or chairs, and any other safety measures that are required (such as weights on the legs).
Put out a request for vendors. Give at least three months’ notice for the event and to vet, curate and secure vendors.
Ensure good email communication (and/or phone calls) and clear expectations of deadlines and updates from the organizers to the vendors.
Clear expectations to the vendors or makers about keeping their display out until the market is over or what they are to do if they sell out of their product (e.g. Hand out business cards, tell the customers where they can get their product, etc.)
The table fee refund policy should be clearly explained.
Request table fees ahead of the sale (e-transfer or credit card is most convenient). Table fees collected day-of sale could mean vendors don’t feel a need to show up or go to a different market they feel will give them more traffic and exposure.
Communicate with clear emails in a timely fashion with lots of notice (at least one month) indicating if the vendor has been accepted or not.
A well-curated event will have only one well-known commercial direct sales vendor at each event (e.g. Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Norwex, Mary Kay).
Vendor Spotlights on social media are a bonus. Have vendors send in their photos of their products and share them on social media.
Professional-looking event notices that can be easily shared on social media and online/in-person (jpegs are better than pdfs for sharing online).
Lots of advertising and promotion leading up to the event so the event has lots of customer traffic. Paid advertising in newspapers and on radio, as well as partnering with other local complementary organizations can help get the word out.
Encourage (or direct) the vendors to also post the event on their social media and to tell their friends on Facebook or Instagram. They can help build up the hype.
Combine the event with other events going on in the area so it attracts more foot traffic.
Plenty of road signage days before and the day of event indicating the venue, visible coming from all directions.
Allow for temporary unloading/loading close to the doors if available. Provide clear instructions and expectations of where the vendors should park to make room for easy access for the customers.
Lots of free parking, close to the event.
“No fee” or “Free entry” for shoppers to attend the event can be a draw but a crapshoot. If needed, presale tickets to the event should have an early-bird discount, while tickets purchased on the day of the event can be regular price.
Low vendor table fees are a good idea if it’s the first event put on by the organizer.
Volunteers to help unload and load back up is always appreciated.
Allow at least one hour for setting up before the doors open to the public. (More time is also appreciated.)
6′ or 8′ banquet tables (clearly stated in the vendor application) with comfortable chairs (2 per vendor).
Access to electricity if available (for an extra fee is okay).
Clearly identified tables are assigned in a well-arranged fashion.
Make sure there are not more than 2 or 3 vendors of the same item and ensure they are not set up near each other.
Ensuring lots of room between tables so vendors don’t have to disturb each other when they have to get out to use the restroom or get a snack.
Access to snacks and drinks. (Some events provide a free hot beverage, bottled water, snacks, or lunch for the vendors which is a nice touch!)
Regular check-ins by the organizers to see if the vendors need anything and how things are going. Providing supervision of the table if the vendor needs a restroom or shopping break, etc.
Music playing to attract customers and encourage them to stick around.
Organizing a “Learn to Make…” where people can learn a new skill. Activities for children can keep people coming. I have seen Free Face Painting, Free Glitter Tattoos, Kids Coloring Draw for Giant Balloon Bunny and Easter Basket at Easter Time, Free Henna Tattoos (with a donation appreciated), Photos with Santa.
Include a charity fundraiser table to emphasize community spirit. I have even seen pets up for adoption!
If there are any door prizes, the item can be collected before the sale begins to make it convenient for the vendors.
Provide an opportunity for the vendors or makers to provide feedback after the sale. Send them an email asking for information on what went well and what didn’t. Then build upon that for the next sale.
As an organizer, you should keep a record of vendors or makers who were NOT contributing to your market or sale positively. For example, those who were NO SHOW and failed to communicate why they couldn’t attend. Another example is those who “pack up early”.
I am very interested in helping older people, especially those who are caregivers to those who have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Two of my books are written specifically on this topic. January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month here is Canada, and I was pleased to see this statement from the Minister of Health which I felt was important enough to share here (I bolded a section for emphasis!). I found there is a lot of valuable information, plus the good news that we are doing something right! It also includes steps we can take to help reduce our risks.
January 3, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Almost half a million people in Canada live with dementia, impacting not only themselves, but their loved ones and caregivers as well.
While the risk of dementia increases with age, it is not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, the rate of newly diagnosed cases in Canadians aged 65 and over has been dropping for the last several years.
This is why the Government of Canada has been investing in the implementation of Canada’s national dementia strategy – A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire. It focuses on the areas of research, surveillance, awareness initiatives (including a national public education campaign), community-based projects and guidance.
Implementing the national strategy is a joint effort by a wide range of organizations across Canada, including provincial and territorial governments, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and health and social care providers. Over the past five years, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has funded more than 70 dementia projects through organizations such as these across the country. A number of these projects were featured in the 2023 Report to Parliament on the national dementia strategy.
It has been estimated that 12 risk factors that can often be managed and reduced could explain 40% of cases of dementia globally. This highlights the importance of raising awareness about these factors which include physical inactivity, smoking, obesity and chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
This January, for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, I encourage you and your family to visit Dementia: Risk factors and prevention – Canada.ca to learn more about dementia risk reduction. Choose one habit that you can change or improve such as being more physically active, socializing regularly, or having a healthier, more balanced diet. Engaging in these healthy behaviours can help reduce the risk of dementia and delay the onset of symptoms, thereby improving your quality of life as you age.
We can all help improve the quality of life of those living with dementia. For more about how to reduce dementia-related stigma and communicate in a supportive way with people living with dementia, visit Dementia: Tips on how you can help – Canada.ca.
As more of us take these actions, we’ll reduce the impact of dementia on Canadians.
The Honourable Mark Holland
Contacts
Christopher Aoun Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Mark Holland Minister of Health 613-291-4176
Media Relations Public Health Agency of Canada 613-957-2983 media@hc-sc.gc.ca
The American Heart Association put out two research study findings related to marijuana or cannabis usage. Smoking weed is NOT good for your health – especially your brain and heart health.
The Research Highlights included: “In one study, daily use of marijuana raised the risk of developing heart failure by about one-third, even after considering other factors, compared to people who reported never using marijuana.”
I wonder how Snoop Dog and Willie Nelson will fare in light of this news? Will it change their usage habits? Will it influence how often others are using it?
There is a particular focus on older adults in one of the studies. The research pointed out that there was an “increased risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in elderly non-smokers who used cannabis.” This reminds me that when I am asking clients about their alcohol use I also need to ask about their use of marijuana. The lead study author Avila’s Mondal, M. D., a resident physician, stated that, “Since 2015, cannabis use in the U.S. has almost doubled, and it is increasing in older adults, therefore, understanding the potential increased cardiovascular risk from cannabis use is important.”
Unfortunately, the research didn’t differentiate between eating and inhaling marijuana. I hope they can build upon these findings as we all know how bad smoking is for our health. But we don’t know if the edibles or ingesting it is also as bad.
As I was preparing for a presentation, I typed my book’s title into the Amazon search bar. I was checking on the status of my reviews.
To my surprise, a book with a similar title (a sponsored title!) popped up right above mine. i clicked on the link and looked more closely at the “Book Overview.” As I started reading through I saw my words, not in the same order, but in a slightly different arrangement. My terms used in my book made up the bulk of the overview. I had a strong suspicion that this was MY book.
I wasn’t able to see any of the inside of the book via the “Read sample” option. It had only the cover, back cover (with no text on the back), title page, author’s name, and copyright information.
I checked the Amazon Prime return policy, and I was able to return the book at no extra cost. So there was no risk in my opinion. I ordered the book and waited.
When the book arrived three days later, I opened it up and saw MY photos. MY writing. This was direct plagiarism. But, the “author” had scrubbed the book clean of any personal information such as my title page, copyright information, dedication, acknowledgements, and the back-matter such as resources, recommended reading, and my about the author page.
When I opened up the book, it was a jaw-dropping moment. I was shocked. My heart sank. I felt like I had been robbed. The violation of stealing my hard work felt like a punch to my stomach. Sadness, anger, victimization all balled up into one.
After the initial shock wore off, I took a closer look and discovered that the “Introduction” was AI generated. I had plugged in the first few paragraphs into an AI Checker and it came up as being written by AI. I had never seen a book combining AI-generated text and direct or cloned plagiarism before. The bulk of the book was my work. Word-for-word. And it was taken from my 2015 ebook (which has since been revised in 2021).
I started searching Amazon to see if there were any other books plagiarizing mine and I found another one! So far, I have found two.
I have since reported both books to Amazon for copyright infringement and they have been removed. I have to be diligent though because it can happen again. There is an online Amazon Report Infringement form and process that has to be followed and you don’t get to speak to a human unfortunately. I ran into a snag because the books I was reporting on had fake ISBN numbers, so I had to use the ASIN numbers instead.
Many other suspicious books written by others have been discovered. I suspect there are hundreds if not thousands of these AI Hybrid Books on Amazon. It’s not right.
AI Hybrid Plagiarism is running rampant on Amazon. Many unsuspecting authors are being robbed and readers are being deceived. I want others to be aware of this issue in hopes of preventing the sales of these illegitimate books that disrespect the intellectual property rights of others.
My ask is I want Amazon to do a better job at checking for plagiarism. I suggest they go beyond the first 500 words. Perhaps the first 10,000.
I have a Facebook page called, “My Book was Stolen Plagiarised Pirated” with more information. Give a Follow and Like there to see what I find and what is new in the world of AI and books.
More information on my books and services can be found on my website at www.AngelaGGentile.com.
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital publishing, a disturbing new menace has emerged, one that poses a significant danger to both authors and consumers alike: AI Hybrid Plagiarism. This insidious practice combines AI generative text technology with direct plagiarism, creating a toxic blend of stolen intellectual property that threatens to undermine the very foundations of literature and copyright protection.
The term “AI Hybrid Plagiarism” refers to the surreptitious act of employing AI generative text models to produce books that are not only unoriginal but also directly rip off existing works, circumventing the arduous creative process. These AI-generated works are often sold on platforms like Amazon, where their prevalence has quietly proliferated into a burgeoning problem.
I know all about AI Hybrid Plagiarism because one of my books, “ Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide” was plagiarized at least twice that I know of. This shocking and disheartening violation has lead me to discovering many more books that appear to be what I call, “AI Hybrids.”
It is my belief that AI ingests the original digital content belonging to the creator and generates the following:
– Book Overview on the Amazon book page (where the book can be purchased),
– A copyright statement for the front matter of the paperback.
– An Introduction for the interior of the book.
– A compelling title and lengthy subtitle.
– Perhaps even a fictitious author’s name
One thing that is unknown to me is how the book cover image and title layout is created. It could also be AI generated I suppose.
Amazon (or Kindle Direct Publishing KDP), a titan in the ebook market, employs sophisticated algorithms and bots to detect copyright infringement and pirated ebooks. However, these digital crooks have been using the text from ebooks and scrubbing it of the REAL author information. The fraudsters put together a product which is submitted to KDP which evades the plagiarism screening process. Their AI Hybrid Plagiarized book flies just under Amazon’s radar. As a result, there are currently hundreds, perhaps thousands, of these plagiarized books available for purchase on Amazon, unbeknownst to the ripped-off authors and deceived readers.
This issue not only robs authors of their hard-earned intellectual property rights but also misleads unsuspecting readers who believe they are purchasing original content and supporting well-deserved authors.
AI Hybrid Plagiarism jeopardizes the livelihoods of genuine writers and compromises the integrity of literary creation, all while leaving a trail of copyright infringement in its wake.
To combat this burgeoning problem, it is imperative that both publishing platforms and authors remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and reporting instances of AI Hybrid Plagiarism. Perhaps Amazon KDP needs to revamp and beef up their plagiarism checkers – Do better, Amazon.
Furthermore, raising awareness among consumers is crucial to ensure they can make informed choices and support genuine authors while rejecting stolen content. The battle against this menace is ongoing, and the stakes for the world of literature and copyright protection have never been higher.
Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW
Ironically, this article was created with the help of Chat GPT.
My book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide,” has been plagiarized at least twice on Amazon. The top book in the photo is my book, the bottom two are Artificial Intelligence Hybrids or what I call AI Hybrids for short. Let me provide you with a definition that I made up.
AI/Cloning Hybrid Plagiarism is a combination of cloning or direct plagiarism plus artificial intelligence, AI-generated, text.
An AI Hybrid Book is a book that consists of artificial intelligence, AI-generated, text plus cloned or direct text from the original human author. The direct copied work has been used without authorization from or acknowledgement to the originator of the human-generated text (the author). AI is also not given credit and the book’s credit goes to a completely different author. Sometimes these are fictitious names.
The version of MY book that was plagiarized was the 2015 ebook version. “Caring for a Husband with Dementia” has since been revised (2021) and is available in both ebook and paperback.
There are MANY AI Hybrids on Amazon and Goodreads. Perhaps they are everywhere online. This is a problem that I want all consumers and authors to be aware of. The photo below shows a combination of my books that were plagiarized and others that I highly suspect are also AI Hybrids.
HOW TO SPOT AN AI HYBRID PLAGIARIZED BOOK and FRAUDULENT “AUTHOR” ON AMAZON
*The book overview summary description is most likely written by AI. (You can run it through an AI checker to get an idea if it was or not.)
*The book cover image may appear irrelevant to the topic.
*The title is on the cover but there is a lengthy subtitle in the book listing that is NOT on the book cover.
*There is no back cover copy.
*The author’s name includes a middle initial – and no credentials.
*No information on the author.
*No Amazon Author profile page.
*No search results on the author’s name.
*No sample to read other than the copyright info. (If there is a sample, it is probably poorly formatted.)
*Publisher = “Independently published” (usually 2023, after ChatGPT and Generative AI took off)
Angela G. Gentile 