The first Coles County Fall Bazaar from 11 to 3 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 14 at Charleston Veterans of Foreign War Park located at 1821 20th Street. The shopping event will feature vendors such as: Thirty-One, Mary Kay, Younique, Scentsy and more.

Victoria Otloe, an event planner said the event is an opportunity to showcase items from consultants, small business owners and crafters. It gives them a chance to educate people on their product and also have the buyers purchase unique items.

“We realize Charleston is limited in its places to shop, so we are bringing the shopping opportunities to you!” Otloe said.

This will allow shoppers to buy different kinds of gifts for friends and family for the holidays, that isn’t always available in the Charleston area.

Megan Taylor, sophomore and communication major, said she is interested in shopping at this event and finding out what small businesses have to offer.

“I am excited to shop around and enjoy products that I couldn’t normally get in the Charleston/Mattoon area,” Taylor said.

Attending this event will educate the shoppers on starting a small business or becoming a consultant, Taylor said. It is a shopping event, but at the same time, an educational experience about small businesses that could teach a potential and future business owner.

She said the Eastern Entrepreneurs Student Organization of Eastern Illinois University is the sponsor of the event. The members of that organization gave assistance when needed and were updated with the entire process.

“Our main goal for the event was to attract at least 20 vendors where then we would be able to donate the money collected from vendors booth fees to a local or national charitable cause that both our group members and members of the Entrepreneurship Club feel strongly about,” Otloe said.

This event came about when a requirement for completing a project, Otloe said. After brainstorming a creative idea, one that hasn’t been previously done for the assignment, this event came about.

“We inquired the Eastern Entrepreneurs Student Organization of Eastern Illinois University as our sponsor for this event, which they graciously accepted our proposal,” Otloe said.

Then, the group began planning and reaching out to contacts to determine the logistics of the bazaar.

The VFW had the accommodations necessary and was an affordable venue, she said. It was large enough and supplied tables and chairs for the vendors.

The group also had to reach out on social media for vendors and ended up with a number of 20 vendors. There were deadlines for vendors to secure and pay for a booth, Otloe said.

The last task was to reach out to the community and EIU students and faculty. She said they created flyers to post all over campus and local businesses, and also posting on social media.

“As the event is this Saturday November 14th we have just a few finalizations to make for the day of the event like staying in contact with the vendors, make up a floor plan, and our agenda for the day of the event,” Otloe said.

Vendors include: Keep Collective, Scentsy, Plexus, ItWorks, Monat, Matilda Lane Boutique, Perfectly Posh, Mary Kay, Clever Container, Thirty-One and Parrot Lane, Otloe said. There will also be Crafters, such as: Burlap Wreaths, Christmas décor, photography, sketches, old windows and chalkboard creations and handmade candles, she said.

There are sales that will be offered by some vendors and to find out more, visit this webpage: https://www.facebook.com/events/1069221359763665.

Ashley Jordan can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]