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Jeni Martin, left, and Megan Bird are the owners of Makers Market & Company, a new store located in the Provo Towne Centre mall.

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Everyone loves an outdoor market or boutique where local vendors and creators offer unique and often hand-crafted items not found anywhere else. A new store opening in August inside the Provo Towne Centre mall will provide shoppers with an opportunity to enjoy that atmosphere and those items every day without having to brave the summer heat.

Makers Market & Company will open on Thursday, Aug. 1, on the lower level of the mall across from Famous Footwear (where Aeropostale was formerly located) and host a grand opening event on Saturday, Aug. 3, beginning at 11 a.m. The store’s owners are a mother and daughter who aim to create a community where local creators have a location to show and sell their wares and shoppers can find new and interesting products while supporting local business.

“Everyone just shops on Amazon now, so I hope to create a unique opportunity where you can find things that you just can’t find anywhere else,” said Megan Bird, co-owner of Makers Market with her mother Jeni Martin.

The business will operate through a rental system. Vendors will pay a monthly fee for space in the store where they can arrange their products for sale. In return, Bird and Martin will provide staff on site at all times to assist and check out customers.

Vendors who have signed up to participate so far are offering products including jewelry, home décor, candles, skin care products and women’s and children’s clothing.

Some of the vendors are in business to make a little money on the side, while others sell their items as a full-time job. Some are new to the business, while others have been doing it for years. Most, however, are thrilled to a have a place to sell that doesn’t require setting up a booth, sitting outside all day in the sun and then taking it all down again in the evening.

“A lot of them are very happy to have a space where they can just set up and forget about it,” Bird said.

Markers Market also offers vendors a computer system through which they can track their sales in real time from their home computer or phone.

Rental fees range from $100 to $200 per month and vendors are on a month-to-month contract, meaning they’re not tied into anything for an extended time period. Makers Market also collects a 15% commission fee on each sale.

Bird said she grew up in a home where both her father and mother were involved in business, and she often considered what type of business she might someday own herself. Makers Market is her first venture; her mother Jeni Martin operated Jenifer’s Furniture and Décor in Springville for several years.

“I love farmers markets and pop-up markets, but I’m not creative myself,” Bird said. “My mom is very creative … so it was a perfect balance where I’m good at the business side and she’s really good at the creative side.”

Martin said she loves interior design and décor and expressing herself through them. She designed the décor for the new store.

“One thing I’m excited about is the community part of (Makers Market),” Martin said. It’s really fun to meet the vendors, to hear their stories, to see them supporting each other and elevating each other.”

Makers Market & Company’s grand opening celebration will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3. Customers will be able to enjoy Crumbl cookies and prize drawings, and a total of $1,000 in store credit will be divided among the first 50 customers for use that day.

For more information or to sign up to be a vendor, visit makersmarketcompany.com. Follow us and stay up to date. Instagram, Facebook.