Year 4 | Open October 1-31, 2020 | Virtual Pop-Up / Online Store

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we opted to try something new, and pivot the experience to a safer, socially distant virtual pop-up. Instead of a retail space, we sought out a studio space where we could collect, photograph, and store the inventory, and fulfill orders. We found our home in a small studio space at Art Factory in Midtown Memphis. We made it work, but wow was it cramped! Inventory from nearly 70 makers lined every wall in our 10x11ft. room, leaving just enough space for 2 people— my amazing partner Matthew and I, to pull, pack, and ship out just over 800 packages. Not bad for our first year online, but quite a lot for just two folks. (Given the close quarters, it was the only safe way we could figure to do it!)

The 2020 Monster Market Studio

Instead of a retail space, we found a small studio space in Midtown Memphis, TN which acted as our inventory storage, product photography studio, and order fulfillment station. It was very cramped, but we made it work.

Making the most of the space! Wall to wall shelving, storage, and room to work.

Inventory was carefully organized and packed in tightly! All of these yellow storage bins actually came from my alma mater, Memphis College of Art, when they closed.

Packin’ 800 Dang Orders By Hand!

One of many batches of orders ready for the post office.

Matthew learning the ropes of shipping delicate handmade art firsthand.

An awesome order on its way out the door featuring sinzes, comics, and stickers from 2020 makers.

The 2020 Product Photos

With our pivot to an online store came all kinds of challenges. Suddenly, we needed a photo of every single item in our sprawling inventory!
`In later years, we asked makers to submit their own product shots, but this first year, we took hundreds if not thousands of photos ourselves!