That’s right, you read that correctly. There is a market located in The Junction where everything “for sale” is absolutely free! Whether you’re looking for your next big bargain (because let’s face it, it doesn’t get much cheaper than free), to browse a selection of unique finds, or you’re just looking for a fun new weekend activity, the Really Really Free Market is for you.
The market is fully sustainable, as all items “for sale” are recycled from previous owners. In a world of fast fashion, this is a novel approach to the waste problem our society is facing, and a great way to connect with community members.
Read on to learn about the Really Really Free Market, and about you can start your own in your community!
- You guessed it; everything is free. No trading or cash accepted (or necessary).
- It’s located in The Junction, at 225 Campbell Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
- It takes place on the first Saturday of every month, which means the next market is taking place on March 2nd.
- The hours of operation of the market are 10am-4pm.
- All ages are welcome.
- From 10am-3pm, there is a limit to the number of items you can take, which is one large shopping bag per person (two bags for families of three or more people). This limit makes sure that there is enough product for everybody to have a chance to browse the market.
- Visitors can browse the market for a maximum of one hour between 10am-3pm.
- From 3pm-4pm, there is no limit on the amount of items that you can take. If you’ve shopped for one hour already, you are allowed to return at 3pm and take any additional items.
- If you bring items to share (or “sell”), you must bring them before 3pm. They must be clean and in working condition, and no large or heavy items (a person must be able to carry it home comfortably).
- Donations can only be brought directly to the market, during a market day, from 10am to 3pm (they do not have any other drop-off days or locations).
- The items left over at the end of the market are sorted by volunteers and transported to different organizations and thrift stores in the area.
- The market is run 100% by volunteers! If you’d like to get involved, you can fill out a form here.
If you’re interested in running a free market in your own community, there are some easy ways to get started. It’s hard work organizing your own community event, but you can get the ball rolling by:
? Inviting friends, neighbours, and community members together to help organize because if it’s going to be a community event, involve your community!
? Find an appropriate space for the market to take place. You’ll need quite a bit of room for items to be displayed and to organize items into appropriate categories, so look at community centres.
? Pick a recurring date and time that is easy to remember and advertise the market. Setting a date and sticking to it is important, so your customers/visitors will know when to expect you
? Recruit volunteers to help on the day of the market because it truly takes a village!
? Make sure you have a plan for what to do with the leftovers. Having volunteers to transport/organize the leftover goods will be very important.
? Enjoy creating a sharing community! Giving back to your community is extremely fulfilling, so make sure to soak up all of the good vibes you’re going to be receiving.
Happy shopping!
Featured Image: Pixabay
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