It is time again for the first bi-annual warehouse sale of the year at Beehive.
The sale, Atlanta’s largest sale of handmade items, begins Saturday, Jan. 27 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 4.
As usual, there will be more than 50 local designers represented in categories including handmade jewelry and accessories, stationery/wall art/housewares, clothing and toys for babies and children, bath & body goods and locally made artisan foods.
Sale items are priced at 40 to 90 percent off the regular price and some regularly priced items will also be marked down 20 to 40 percent.
The sale showcases locally made items and helps provide local makers with consistent support and revenue that extends beyond holiday season.
New Beehivers and first time participants include Crave Pie Studio, Stitch BLVD, Hannah James, Hollerbach & Thompkins (formerly Maplanta) and Margaret Vera.
In addition, crafters and DIY’ers will find supplies, fabric, jewelry items priced between $1 and $5.
Shoppers who arrive early will get bites from Revolution Donuts and iced tea from Just Add Honey.
Last year, the AJC chatted with Beehive owner Malene Davis about how the collective (and the sale) has evolved. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Q: How has the warehouse sale evolved over the years?
A: The Warehouse Sale originated in the Beehive’s first retail location on Peachtree Street over 10 years ago. It included 20 designers and like many other liquidation sales, was used solely as a way for designers to rid themselves of past season items. Discounts ranged from 20 to 25 percent off.
Over the years, I identified the sale as a way to create earning opportunities for designers during two of the slowest retail sales months of the year – January and August – turning what is typically a “down” earning month into a “high” earning month for those who participate.
Today, we have 50 to 60 designers who participate in a storewide sale that includes every category of design in the store. The sale has become competitive for our designers, and while most of them use the opportunity to clear out old stock, irregulars and supplies from their studios, many also make products particularly for the Sale.
Q: How has the makers movement in Atlanta changed?
A: I believe it has become more competitive. Fifteen years ago, festivals were all rendered “fine arts festivals” and were reserved exclusively for those who create large-form paintings, sculpture, hand-forged jewelry and ceramics.
Today, festivals that previously would not accept, for example, a designer that does felted hair accessories may now do so. The scope of what is considered "art" has changed for the establishment because that definition has also changed for the customer.
Q: How often do you get new makers at Beehive?
A: Because it is our intention to cultivate a community, we provide our contracted designers with first right of refusal on their spaces. Once they are a part of the community and signed to the Beehive as a designer, they are able to stay as long as they’d like. As a result, we typically do not have a lot of space to add new designers and have a very long wait list for new talent.On average, we will add three to five new designers per year, and hold formal showings for these designers every April and October.
Q: How do you decide which makers to feature at the shop?
A: The most important thing for us is to create and cultivate a true community for designers. We run our community through open source management, so we share store sales, designers sales, techniques, and strategies for growth with the entire community, and only want designers who are open to do the same.
Because of this business approach, it is important that we meet our designers, have a rapport with them, and understand their intention for their business and for growth, personally.
For more information on the warehouse sale, the Beehive's designers and available products visit thebeehiveatl.com.
EVENT DETAILS:
Beehive bi-annual Warehouse Sale
9 a.m., Sat.,Jan 27 through Sun., Feb. 4. (Doors open early on the first day)
1250 Caroline Street, C120, Atlanta, thebeehiveatl.com
