Photo Credit By Kari Linne Photography
-Christina Terry | Kingwood Artisan Market | The Crunchy Cactus
-Kingwood Artisan Market is a market specifically for local folks who handmake and handcraft what they sell, true artists. No MLM or resale. I hold my markets at Megaton Brewery right here in our backyards in Kingwood. My market boasts 75+ artisan vendors, live music, globally-inspired foods, and craft beer!
Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in the area?
-Originally from Sonoma County in Northern California. I’ve lived in Texas for 10 years.
How many kids and how old are they?
-3 Kids (Ashton age 3.5) (Adaline age 1.5) (Axel 2 months)
What brought you to do your business?
-When I moved here from Austin, TX in 2014 I had many years of working weekend markets for different vendors. I noticed that Kingwood didn’t have the type of markets that I was used to up there or in Northern California. It was lacking markets that spoke to the true talents and craftsmanship of the locals, a REAL Artisan Market. So I knew that the only way to have one was to make one! I also own The Crunchy Cactus | Elderberry + Tea and has quite the large base of customers that I knew had these talents so I started to recruit vendors on my business page and from there it grew.
When did the idea of creating your business start? How long have you been in business?
I was talking to a customer one day that came to pick up some elderberry syrup and she mentioned that she lost her job due to COVID so she started making things. She was very talented but I remember her saying that she will NEVER be as successful as me. After she left, my heart broke but was also inspired by her story and I wanted to make her successful! My very first market was October of 2020 and we had over 2,500 people attend selling almost half of my vendors out.
What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?
People always ask me “how do you have so much energy” and I always answer “because I love what I do” and I truly do! When I started running markets, I was 5 months pregnant with my third with two others under 3 years old and running another business and a household. The last market I did pregnant was at 37 weeks. IT WAS EXHILARATING. All of my markets are because I feed on the energy and success of my vendors. My market is a very positive and upbeat one. Everyone you encounter has a smile, we are all a big market family.
What is your favorite part about what you do?
Helping the local community talent showcase what they do. There are so many amazingly talented folks around here with no outlet to show the community what they can truly do. This in turn provided the community with something they were craving which is a market that they could go through and FEEL the love and SEE the hard work and heart and soul these craftsmen and artists pour into their work.
What does the future look like for you and your business?
The future is BRIGHT, yall! It only gets better and better, the vision I have for my market is truly taking shape and forming this amazing local bond. The Artisan vibe is stronger, my folks get more creative and talented as time passes and the community we are building around this is an aura of positivity.
What advice would you give to others that want to start something new?
Go forth with knowledge, kindness, and integrity.
Megaton Brewery
Facebook- Kingwood Artisan Market
