Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Ritter.
Hi Summer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started off as a vendor with a crystal shop, Fifth Element Crystal Co., doing 2-4 vendor markets a week. I found something I was passionate about & jumped right into it. I grew up near festivals, fairs & pop-up events so it was very easy for me to find my footing. I did this for about 4 years prior to becoming a market organizer. My biggest push towards making this change, was the fact that one of my favorite markets was dying. The organizer just walked away from it with no one else to take over, so I did everything I could to get it up & running again. From there, I put a major focus into hosting markets by a vendor for other vendors. This means transparent & frequent communication, free beverages & snacks for vendors the day of an event, & policies protecting vendors that not every market coordinator has. Once I got my foot in the door & became stabilized in this role, I wanted to run a market in a way that most vendors have yet to experience as most coordinators do not start out as vendors first.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think it’s been smoother than it would be for some. I had a lot of knowledge & past experiences to go off of right from the jump, however I still had a lot to learn. With my previous business, I didn’t have the responsibility for so many other people that I have now. Learning that I’m allowed to take a day or two off was a big step for me. Also, learning which policies work best for my business & how to uphold them. You want to make the decision to best accommodate everybody, & it can be really hard not to, but you also need to respect your own personal boundaries in the process & make sustainable decisions for your business. Although with the foundation that Moonlit Markets is built on, I have found myself surrounded by a lot of amazing support.
As you know, we’re big fans of Moonlit Markets. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I specialize in curating open air markets that showcase various artisanal goods from local small businesses. The most important part- it’s all created by a vendor for vendors. I host quite a few markets around the DFW area & am branching out to even more locations, though most often I am at The Sound at Cypress Waters in Coppell. I’d say the thing that sets Moonlit Markets the furthest apart from other market coordinators is the vendor accommodations. No two vendors with the exact same products are ever accepted at our market, to ensure that everyone has their best opportunity when selling at the market space. When vendors see this, they know you’re not just in it for the money & you truly wish to see them succeed. I also provide free water & snacks to all of our vendors for all of our markets. This comes from the simple fact that I’ve been there. I’ve been at events where I couldn’t easily find water or I was by myself so I couldn’t go get it since there was no one to watch my booth, which is dangerous especially with how Texas heat can be at times. I’ve also been at events where I forgot to get food on the way, or I just wasn’t doing well enough to justify spending even more money that day. So I do my best to offset that feeling for others by bringing a little bit of joy into the market in the form of a variety of chips, crackers, cookies, etc. I also recently hired event help! This is someone who aids in vendor load/unload, setting up a tent for someone who may be struggling, watching booths for vendors who need to step away & more. This decision has turned out to be very fruitful & is not something I experienced at a market as a vendor but I see a lot of appreciation for. For my business, I am most proud of the community it brings together. When you curate such a positive, vendor focused space, it definitely shows. A lot of the vendors I have are regulars at my markets, & have gotten to know each other well through them. I’ve gotten a lot of comments from new & existing vendors about the vendor community we bring out, & you truly do not see that at every market, so my heart is very full. Most vendors, even seasoned ones, are guaranteed to have a completely new experience with Moonlit Markets.
What are your plans for the future?
I am hoping to branch out into more locations within the DFW area. We take breaks for the more unpleasant months (January, February, July & August) simply due to markets not doing quite as well during this time, & also for vendor safety. A lot of market organizers do this as well. I am hoping to get regular markets at an indoor location started by the end of 2026, so that vendors have consistent high quality markets to turn to year round. I would also like to travel with Moonlit Markets! I had this goal as a vendor as well, to travel to events in different states. I think hosting vendor markets in different areas, connecting with vendors & small businesses on an even larger scale would be a lot of fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moonlit-markets.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonlit.markets?igsh=MWppMW1vaTF2eG0wZQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556187464663&mibextid=PtKPJ9
- Other: https://linktr.ee/moonlit.markets
