Thank you for volunteering to help Evanston Made at the 2025 Holiday Market!

To make the market run smoothly, here are a few easy “rules” based on prior year’s markets to help you during your volunteer shift.

VOLUNTEER CHECKLIST:

• • Arrive at schedule time to 1710 Maple
  • Review clipboard to “To Dos’ for the day- located in the break room at the very back of the space. There’s room there for coats and personal items, snacks, drinks. 
  • “To Dos” include: greeting shoppers, refolding, ticketing, setting up for an event, wrapping purchased items.
  • “To Don’ts” include: moving displays, aggressive selling, suggesting better places to shop, answering “we don’t know” without asking Liz or Lisa first. 

• After a lifetime in retail, I’ve got stories…

• There will always be a “lead/manager” on duty while you’re working. Lisa, Liz or a designated manager will handle transactions/POS/any complex questions from shoppers.
• Volunteers are Evanston Made ambassadors, greeting shoppers, helping them find specific artists, items etc. Answering questions about Evanston Made and the artists. Sharing details about our 14+ events happening during the Pop-up.
• Volunteers who are artists are not to focus on their own work during their shifts, volunteers are for making the shopping experience easy and fun for all!
• See last item on the Checklist for your   “Welcome! Are you familiar with Evanston Made?” talking points. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is all the work here really from Evanston artists?
   1. Yes, all the work is created by Evanston Made members. Members live and/or work in Evanston or adjacent to Evanston.
2. Is everything for sale?
   1. Yes, and THERE’S MORE!  We have an online store, shopevanstonmade.org where our artists sell this work 365 days a year.  And delivery in Evanston is always free.
3. How long will you be here, hours, events etc?
   1. All the store hours will be posted everywhere, windows, handouts, online etc.
   2. Special events are frequent and will be updated and also posted on the windows and at the entrance and cashwrap.
4. Will this item be here if I come back tomorrow?
   1. While we replenish stock as we sell items, most art is original and many are one of a kind. We cannot guarantee items will be available later. *for serious shoppers of larger ticket items, ask Liz or Lisa if the customer asks you to “Hold” an item for a short time- for instance to ask a partner/measure a space etc.
5. Will prices change- No. Fortunately our artists price their work very well and we have an enormous price range of original art and handmade gifts- $2 to $2000. 
6. Will there be new things later- 
   1. Yes, but again, many are one of a kind, so we’re not sure exactly what we will get. Ask Liz or Lisa if it’s a specific artist question.
7. Can I meet the artist? Or- Is this artist here today?
8. Do you gift wrap? Do you ship? Do you have gift cards? Yes, Yes, Yes
   1. We DEFINITELY want to connect the artists to fans. Liz or Lisa can do that, or you can recommend they go to evanstonmade.org Member Portfolios pages for more info about the artist.
   2. There will be a “Artist in Today” sign by the work of any artist who is volunteering that day, so everyone will know.  (new this year)
9. I’m an artist, can I bring things in to sell?  “Unfortunately that’s not possible now, but let me introduce you to one of the Co-Directors- Lisa or Liz and here’s a handout about membership.”

This is Evanston Made:  Talking points for those not familiar!

Welcome to our 5th Annual Holiday Market pop up!  We’re here Thursdays- Sundays through December 21st.  

All these awesome works of art And more are available online at Shopevanstonmade.org 

You can learn more about our artists at evanstonmade.org member portfolio pages

Are you familiar with Evanston Made?

We’re a member-based nonprofit arts organization supporting the careers of our 400+ local member artists and makers. Interested in membership:  we’ll have brochures available or check evanstonmade.org!

2026 will be the organization’s 12th year, 6th year As a non profit.

In addition to this Holiday Market, we host art events and programming throughout the year including the Evanston Plein Air Festival, annual Group Show, Open Studio tours, monthly First Saturday art events plus providing great connections to other artists!