Wagga's 'Pop Up Shop' is all about supporting locals this Christmas

With the countdown to Christmas underway, Wendy Smith is hoping Wagga will go local with their gifts this year.

She and partner Eric Laird are behind the pop-up shop that has just opened on Baylis Street to give local makers and stallholders a place to showcase and sell their wares.

“People really love the fact that it’s all Wagga based, that it’s local and that they’re all helping local people earn an income,” she says.

“We’ve only been open a couple of days and people are coming in for a look and say, ‘I’ve got ideas, I’m writing my Christmas list and we’ll be back in after payday’, so that’s fine.”

It’s the second time Wendy has run the ‘Riverina Local Pop Up Shop’ in the old Ed Harry’s shop next to the Hog’s Breath Cafe after it was a hit in 2021.

“Wagga locals were amazing and spent over $80,000 through our 15 local businesses that were there for the 12 weeks we operated.

“This year, we’re open for eight weeks, and the great thing about supporting locals is that everyone here spends local as well, so the more the stall holders are earning, the more they’re spending in Wagga.”

Wendy’s own business, ‘Lifted Up By Angels’, came about after a shoulder injury saw her lose her job at Bunnings.

“It really wasn’t a pleasant experience, and I also ended up with mental health issues,” she says.

“But with great encouragement from Eric, I taught myself how to make dreamcatchers, and that was where my business started.”

She soon took over a friend’s crystal shop when he moved overseas and she became a regular at local markets and on the Spiritual Expo circuit.

After a few bad experiences at spiritual events, Eric again encouraged Wendy to branch out, and she began ‘Elemental Events’ to host her own markets.

“The side of it I love is taking the small businesses that don’t have the money to rent something like this or get a space at the big events and just supporting them and getting them out there,” Wendy explains.

Of course, it’s been a tough few years for those who depended on markets to earn a living and Wendy hopes that the pop-up shop will be part of the revitalisation of the community.

“We have been extremely lucky because most landlords here in Wagga will not take on a short lease,” she explains.

“The owners here were the only ones open to letting us come in and they agreed to eight weeks, so I am very blessed in that way.”

Wendy is hoping Wagga will once again get behind the initiative and pick up unique local products for the seasonal celebrations.

“We have a really broad combination of products that will cross plenty of gifts off those pesky Christmas lists,” she says with a smile.

“We’re here until Christmas Eve, so people should get behind these amazing local businesses and keep it local!”

The Riverina Local Pop Up Shop is at 182a Baylis Street (the old Ed Harry shop) and is open every day from 10 am right through until Christmas Eve.