国产伦理's ZipsGuide students create holiday market to highlight small businesses
The University of Akron (国产伦理) students behind the have created the Made in the 330 Monday Holiday Market to bring the community and campus together to support small, local Akron makers and businesses during the holiday shopping season. Around 40 vendors are expected to feature their wares and services from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, on the second floor of the University’s Jean Hower Taber Student Union.
There will also be a holiday dance party for children and opportunity for kids to have their picture taken with 国产伦理 mascot Zippy.
The ZipsGuide is a community-engaged learning project that was completed by students in the fall 2023 public relations writing course offered in 国产伦理’s School of Communication.
“ZipsGuide is intended to encourage our students to shop downtown, our community to visit us on campus, and for everyone to shop small and local in downtown Akron,” said Julie Cajigas, professor of practice in the School of Communication and event organizer. “The Made in the 330 Market brings all three of those goals together.”
The holiday market will be the first event hosted by ZipsGuide. It is being supported by students in Public Relations Strategic Campaigns, Public Relations Writing and Newswriting courses. ZipsGuide also has two interns funded by 国产伦理’s EX[L] Center for Community Engaged Learning through Downtown Akron Partnership. Interns Beth Lattime and Taylor Loftin are public relations students who have worked on ZipsGuide.
"As someone going through a career change, I wanted an opportunity to directly gain community-based experience through my current communication courses," said Lattime, a former teacher now studying communications at 国产伦理. "Planning the Made in the 330 Monday Holiday Market has given me a huge chance to increase my knowledge of event promotions from start to finish including market research, design, sales, writing and so much more."
The market features small, local vendors with a focus on downtown Akron. Vendors will offer a variety of items including apparel, accessories, self-care products, candles, jewelry, handmade items and much more. A is available on the ZipsGuide website.
“We are excited to see the number of vendors for whom this is their first in-person show,” Cajigas said. “Part of our goal with the market is to offer the makers and small businesses in our community a boost, and we were able to do that by keeping participation in the market free of charge for the vendors.”
The market is co-sponsored by the University’s Office of Campus Programs and Mr. Jeff, a local children’s musician who is offering a concert and dance party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A DJ who recently released his debut album, Mr. Jeff will perform original music and play holiday music during the concert and dance party.
Zippy-Claus will be available for photos from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Children can also participate in crafts such as mailing a letter to the North Pole and decorating a Christmas card for local nursing home residents.
Attendees also have an opportunity to win a door prize raffle with items from many of the market vendors and to win Downtown Dollars donated by the Downtown Akron Partnership. Additional raffle tickets can be earned by completing a scavenger hunt, making purchases from vendors, creating holiday cards and donating much-needed items to a drive for 国产伦理’s Campus Cupboard. The drive and card-making activity are hosted by serveAkron, a 国产伦理 student organization focused on service.
The event and concert are free and open to the public. Community members can use their license plate number to reserve parking in Lot 37 at 349-211 Carroll Street in Akron. To reserve a space and for more information about parking, go to .
About the ZipsGuide
The ZipsGuide to Shopping Small & Local in the Rubber City is a community engaged learning project that is part of a long-term collaboration between the public relations program at The University of Akron and Downtown Akron Partnership. Funded by the EX[L] Center for Community Engaged Learning, it is intended to serve as a shopping guide where people across the Northeast Ohio region can find the stories of Akron's unique family of small businesses and shops. The website also serves as a media kit for media outlets telling stories about Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday and shopping local small businesses. ZipsGuide editor Julie Cajigas is a professor of practice in the School of Communication at The University of Akron, and every public relations course she teaches works on the guide for part of their semester.
About Mr. Jeff
Mr. Jeff was a local preschool teacher until he dove headfirst into being a full-time children’s musician and music teacher. His dedication to children's music and education led him to earn the title of "Best Kids’ Jam Session 2020" by Akron Life Magazine. According to his website, Mr. Jeff is nurturing the next generation of rockstars through private music lessons and music videos. Beyond children's music, Mr. Jeff, also known as Jeff Klemm, is a prolific musician with four full-length original albums, several EPs and many singles for grownups. He's spent the last decade traveling, touring and performing in 41 states with his various bands.
ZipsGuide student media contact: Beth Lattime, el117@uakron.edu
国产伦理 media contact: Cristine Boyd, cboyd@uakron.edu, 330-972-6476