Our Story
READ OUR STORY
How it started
How it's going
From pop-ups to permanent storefront, Findings Market was founded with the mission to support local artisans and independent designers while bringing together community to connect, engage and support the movement of shopping small.
WHAT STARTED IT ALL
Whitney Riles started Findings Market in the Summer of 2017 in a parking lot in Santa Barbara, CA.
Findings Market began as an outdoor pop-up marketplace to feature a carefully curated collection of local artisans & independent designers along with live music and fun happenings.
In the winter of 2017, Whitney opened up the first Findings pop-up retail space in Santa Barbara featuring a curated selection of local creatives for the community to explore and shop from during the holiday season. This experience later prompted the birth of our next brick-and-mortar pop-up in Downtown Ventura!
After years of organizing and managing fashion tradeshows with both PROJECT WOMENS & POOLTRADESHOW in MAGIC Las Vegas, Whitney redirected her energy and passion towards her own community. Findings Market was born and became a hub for makers and independent brands in her community who created inspiring designs and thoughtfully produced pieces.
TAKING THE LEAP
In October of 2018, Whitney quit her corporate career and her five year commute from Ventura to LA to take Findings Market full time!
With a vision to share more local makers' stories and goods with the Ventura community, Whitney opened Findings Market on S. Oak St. in Downtown Ventura for the holiday season in 2018.
After a successful holiday season and supportive community outpouring, Findings Market has become a permanent shop on S. Oak St. that continues to feature a collection of locally sourced, handcrafted wares alongside national and global independent brands.
One year after opening the shop, Whitney launched the Findings Market Holiday Street Fair on S. Oak St. We now bring over 100 makers and creatives to Downtown Ventura every Spring and Small Business Saturday.
Six years later and our mission continues!
Whether you've been with us from the beginning or are just joining us now, we can't thank you enough for supporting this dream, our small business and all of the makers and creatives that make up Findings Market!
Thank you! ☺︎