Small Business 'Foothold': Peppermint Farm craft market debuts in Boones Creek

A crowded regional market scene — where resell goods and steep vendor fees often dominate — has left many local artisans searching for space to simply break even. A new craft fair in Boones Creek is trying to change that. Peppermint Farm will debut its Craft Fair and Farmer's Market on Saturday, April 18, with a focus on affordability and locally made products. Organizer Lindsey Willis said the idea grew out of firsthand experience as she and her husband began participating in craft fairs themselves. She said they saw how difficult it could be for small businesses to make a profit. "It was kind of hard to find good craft fairs to go to that weren't exorbitantly expensive," Willis said. "You pay so much for a space, and you don't make that money back in sales at the event." Those challenges became more personal in 2022, Willis said, when her husband left his job to help care for her father during an illness. After her father's death later that year, she said the couple chose to pursue a small crafting business together, centered on her husband's growing passion for woodworking. Willis said she wanted to support that dream, a decision that eventually led them deeper into the vendor circuit under Clarktown Creations. Over time, Willis said they saw a pattern that pushed many small makers out of the market altogether. "You're paying so much for a one-day space, chances are you're not going to get that back," she said. "That's just eating into that small business's income and their ability to stay afloat." The new market at Peppermint Farm is designed as a response to that gap. Vendor spaces will cost $25 for the first four Saturdays, increasing to $50 afterward, a price Willis said is intentionally set to be manageable. "Small businesses just need a foothold," she said. "They need somewhere to get in and get their name out there, for people to know who they are and what they make." The property itself carries a long family history. Established in 1989 by Sammy and Cathy Jackson as a horse-boarding stable, the farm operated for more than 30 years before closing in 2020. Willis said her mother, who grew up riding horses in Gray, had always dreamed of owning a stable. "My dad worked really hard to make that dream come true for her," Willis said. She said the name for the farm came from her mother feeding peppermints to the horses instead of sugar cubes. Today, the land remains in the family's ownership, where Willis and her husband manage the new market operation. Willis said the transition has allowed the family to keep the property active in a different way. "Having an ability to keep the business going in some fashion has been a dream of mine," she said. "This is very exciting, and we're really hoping it works out." Set across multiple open fields, the market is positioned in a quiet but accessible area near Boones Creek. Willis said the location fills a niche between larger, more commercial venues and smaller, shrinking markets in the region. "With the Jonesborough market having downsized so much and the Bristol Flea Market being kind of too big, we felt like there's an opportunity here," she said. "We want to be different — we're not having resellers or anything like that, it's specifically crafters." About 20 vendors are expected for opening day, offering a mix of handmade and locally sourced goods, including woodworking, baked items, drinks, floral arrangements and foraged products. Beyond sales, Willis said the goal is to create a sense of connection among vendors and visitors alike. "We just wanted a place where people could feel safe, where they could have a community of other crafters and vendors," she said. "We really want it to be a community and just establish relationships." Willis said the early response has been encouraging, with vendors spreading the word and local businesses helping promote the event. "Word of mouth has been really good," Willis said. "The community just really seems to be welcoming the idea of it." The Peppermint Farm Craft Fair and Farmer's Market will continue on Saturdays through September, with organizers hoping it becomes a reliable starting point for small businesses trying to gain traction. "I just hope people have fun," Willis added. "I hope they find things they didn't know existed in the area and make connections."