Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Try the Last Minute Market in Panama City
PANAMA CITY— With Christmas just over a week away, a returning holiday market will give the community a chance to get those last minute gifts.
The Hive in Panama City will host its second annual Last Minute Market event, where local vendors gather to sell their unique items for anyone still needing to shop before Christmas. This year’s market will be held Monday at The Sapp House, 224 E. Third Court, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Molly Caskey, owner of The Hive, brought the holiday market to life last year.
“The Hive is very pro-small business, so we wanted to make sure we gave one more opportunity for vendors to make a little more money before the holiday and people a chance to find a unique gift for Christmas,” Caskey said. “Everything is hand-selected to be a great gift, and this market is specifically meant for that reason.”
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During the market, holiday shoppers can explore a wide variety of handmade, homemade or custom items, including candles, clothing, desserts, jewelry, essential oils and more. In addition, Caskey said people can also shop for last minute needs, such as holiday greeting cards and gift wraps.
Participating vendors are Little British Bakery, Tide & Till, Tangerine Textiles, Harper & Clay Boutique, Amethyst Garden, The Party Shop, Drip Coffee Co., Esther & Jo Boutique, Gracie’s Cheesecake, Brigadeiros Brazilian Desserts and Melted Honey.
On top of holiday shopping, a complimentary glass of champagne will be provided for a "sip n’ shop" experience, and the Sapp House will sell bottles of Honey Bubbles Moscato. Also, Caskey said visitors can participate in a raffle for a gift basket filled with merchandise from downtown businesses, and all proceeds will be given as a surprise donation to a local charity.
“This raffle is a great opportunity to get some of these products into the hands of someone whose never tried it to help promote local shopping, and of course to do something good because it is the holiday season and we want to make sure we’re giving back as well,” she said.
Caskey said all businesses at the market are women-owned and mostly owned by mothers. While it was not intentional, she said supporting small, women-owned businesses is important to her since she knows how it affects families.
“It’s just worked out that way, and I think it proves that the small businesses in Panama City are just such a needed place for moms to have their own aspect of their life to grow and something that's just for them,” she said. "Making sure we empower women to create new things makes it known that this is such a useful event for them.”
As Caskey prepares for the second annual market, she hopes the outcome reaches the same, if not bigger, success as her first market.
“I was blown away at how many people showed up last year,” Caskey said. “All the vendors did a great job of cross-promoting, so we reached many audiences. It was such an incredible response and excited me for this year."
Caskey said she hopes to grow the Last Minute Market each year and hopes the market is something that both vendors and shoppers look forward to.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: The Last Minute Market returns for second year in Panama City
