Charlotte Brewery Hosted All-Women Market for International Women’s Day

On a sunny March morning, Resident Culture Brewing turned its South End location into a lively marketplace. The March 8th event brought together women who make, design, and run businesses across Charlotte.

Shoppers browsed through displays of beautiful artwork and handmade goods. Between sales, business experts shared their knowledge in packed workshop sessions that spread into the brewery's outdoor area.

"It's really empowering being around women," said Vianey Soetanto, owner of Culture Palette to wcnc.com. "Being able to be a part of this event and seeing other women do the things that I'm also doing, which is push your small business forward — it's a vision that I have."

At her booth, Soetanto showed off the fascinating water-based art of Ebru. People gathered to watch as she mixed colors across the water's surface, creating beautiful patterns. Her demonstrations drew crowds all day long.

"The inspiration can be like, it's never too late to start something. You can do new things whenever you want to, and it can be fun and exciting. It also could be scary, but I think, I hope, that that inspires other people to do something fun," said Kaylee Dillworth to wcnc.com. Her custom jewelry line, Perpetual Vibes, caught lots of attention at the market.

The Small Business Administration teamed up with local groups, offering important tips about money management and marketing. Their talks attracted both new and experienced business owners.

In one corner, non-profits shared their missions. These groups work all year to help women start and grow their companies in Charlotte and beyond.

Members from the Charlotte Women's Business Network talked about upcoming events and gave out packets full of local resources. Their booth was busy with women exchanging contact information.

The market's success builds on previous years, with both vendor numbers and visitor turnout growing steadily. Spots are now hard to get for sellers wanting to participate.

Plans are in the works to expand these markets across Charlotte. The aim is to reach new neighborhoods where women-owned businesses can thrive.

Throughout the year, this brewery welcomes local sellers. These markets give business owners a chance to connect with customers in person while building strong relationships.