Meet Raj Chaudhari of Firsthand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raj Chaudhari.

Hi Raj, 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.
My immersion in the market world began as the husband of a vendor. My wife Denise designed and made women’s and children’s upcycled clothing, and was an active vendor in markets throughout Boulder and Denver before co-founding Firefly Handmade with two other entrepreneurs more than 10 years ago.

Sitting at the back of the booth all day long and watching how markets were organized and run, I had lots of ideas about how it could or should be done better or just differently. Eventually, after the founders sold Firefly to new owners, Denise and I opened an art and craft store in Lafayette selling supplies and offering craft classes, and we made a proposal to the City of Lafayette to transform their summer event series into a competitive art market. The Art Market Lafayette was born in 2016, and we have curated and co-produced that event with the City of Lafayette’s Arts and Cultural team ever since. It’s grown into one of the best events Boulder County has to offer, with over 5,000 people attending over 4 hours every month.

In early 2020, as Covid was threatening the future of retail, I foresaw an eventual strong return to in-person sales. I believed the public had a deep need to shop the old-fashioned way – in person – and to “experience” the things they were shopping for. Firsthand was born out of a desire to lead the charge for independent makers and artists to create experiential events where the public can meet the best makers in the best possible locations, and to create a community of artists that feel supported and loved. At Firsthand, we believe that our main responsibility is to our number-one customer: our vendors.

Our partnerships with retail centers began during the pandemic when big brands were looking for solutions to fill stores again after a weary public moved their shopping largely online. Because the work of our independent makers and brands can’t easily be sourced online, and because the joy of shopping and the “thrill of the find” still exists in markets like ours, these partnerships have been natural fits for all partners and incredibly successful. We love providing shoppers the opportunity to meet the makers and make their own unique finds firsthand.

Within a few years, we have partnered with multiple municipalities and retail centers and have created dozens of events each year to create shopping opportunities for the public and selling opportunities for our vendors.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For any producer of outdoor events in Colorado (or anywhere), the main struggle is weather! While Firsthand has been luckier than most over the recent years, 2023 has been an incredible challenge, with multiple events being rained out or canceled before the start.

I’m excited about Firsthand’s upcoming holiday season where we will all gratefully be INDOORS!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Firsthand is a vendor-centric producer of fine art and handmade craft makers markets in Colorado. “Vendor-centric” to me means that our makers are our customers, and I mean it.

While it’s also our responsibility to put shoppers in front of them at every market we hold, we believe that our commitment to our vendors goes even deeper, and we know that it’s what sets us apart from other market operators. In developing relationships with each maker, we can assist in the development of their display, branding, marketing, and social media. We have the deepest experience of any local market operator, and our vendors rely on us for our consistently solid communications, our reliable logistics, proper market flow and booth layout, and our commitment to extensive advertising and promotion.

For shoppers attending our markets, they’ll find well-curated, balanced markets, with something for everyone and every price point. Our jury of fine artists is tasked with curating each market so that no product category is over-saturated while planning each space so that the flow and layout are comfortable, accessible, and constantly enjoyable. We believe we do it very well, and we’re getting better with each market we produce.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Number one, I’m curious – curious about everything!

I’ve always been a voracious reader, and need to soak up as much information as I can for any subject in which I have an interest. But this may be a better question for my wife, who has known me since I was 12.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.firsthand.us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firsthandmarkets
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firsthandmarkets
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj313/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@firsthandmarkets
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@firsthandmarkets