Dozens of small business owners in Des Moines are rallying together to hold a pop-up event together after Painted Tree Boutiques’ bankruptcy in April left vendors scrambling to keep their businesses afloat.
Karley Davis, owner of Karley’s Collection, wanted to find a way for fellow vendors to recoup their income from the unexpected loss. Coordinating with dozens of sponsors, vendors and event planners, she’s been able to make the event free for small business owners to participate in.
The New Roots small business pop-up event will be held at the Iowa Events Center on Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What happened to vendors after Painted Tree Boutiques declared bankruptcy?
In Clive, there were around 300 vendors in the Painted Tree store, Rachel Kiene, owner of Buttersweet Custom Bakery, previously told the Register. Now that the national company has abruptly closed all stores across the nation, all the businesses in the Clive location have been left without a permanent physical location to sell their wares.
Davis said they still don’t know if the company will distribute the money vendors made from their March and April sales. They might not be able to get their store deposit back, or even the remainder of their rent.
“I never saw any of my income from March. The entirety of my being there was just giving them money,” Davis said. “I never saw a dime.”
What will be at the New Roots pop-up event?
Around 40 vendors will be setting up booths at the event. Booths range from baked goods to jewelry options, candles to clothing. The event is free to attend.
Watching all the small business owners pitching in to help, Davis said it’s made her feel more connected to the community. Despite the scramble to regain stability, Davis feels like the community’s gotten closer as a result.
“I couldn’t have done it [the pop-up event] without other people’s help,” Davis said.
How to attend the New Roots Small Business Pop Up
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Painted Tree vendors to host free pop-up after abrupt closure
Reporting by Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
