Holiday markets offer economic boost to local businesses

New York City is in the holiday spirit with winter markets up, to usher in the shopping season in some of the city’s popular neighborhoods.
While small businesses remain wary of rising expenses due to inflation and less revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shoppers’ attendance at open-air winter markets will give these businesses exposure in addition to more sales.
Despite generally lower levels of tourism compared to 2019, NYC & Company expected the year to close with a 30% increase in tourists from last year. The marketing organization said 56.4 million people will visit New York by December’s end.
Urbanspace runs the holiday markets in Brooklyn Borough Hall, Bryant Park, Columbus Circle and Union Square. The city space development company provides rentable spaces for vendors.
“We’ve received more applications than ever before, and that tells us vendors are excited to be back in the pop-up game,” Urbanspace’s Pop-up Markets Director Evan Shelton told the Associated Press, adding that he is optimistic since more people are visiting the shops.
The Ticker rounded up three winter markets near Baruch College, so students can check out handmade gifts and artisan products made by local businesses in Manhattan.

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