Mai Creation talks hairy beards

Share with us a little bit of the story behind Mai Creation

Being from the 7th state of Australia (New Zealand!), Mai in Maori means "close" and for those that are unsure of how it is pronounced: Mai is "My".

All of the Mai products come into close contact with and your skin and the combination of Mai and creation is a play on the fact that all the products are made and created by myself but in effect become yours.

What was it in particular about men's skincare that attracted you initially and then go on to specialise in providing good old fashioned care and accessories (eg: shaving brush, shaving mugs etc)

I wanted to make natural products that are good for men, that men would enjoy using and are gentle and enriching for their skin.  To encourage guys to take up, or dust off their double-edged razors and master the old art of the wet shave (hopefully without too much injury in the process!)

The wet shave is the best for your skin, cheapest and definitely the most environmentally friendly shaving option.  If you wear a beard of moustache you still need to look after not only the hairy facial fluff, but it is also important to look after the skin underneath.

Male grooming should be a ritual that is enjoyed and is a beautiful art and skill to be passed on from father to son.  

And so from this came the concept for developing the Mister Brand by Mai Creation.

I am currently working on broadening the range to incorporate razors, combs, natural oil based pomade and aftershave.....so look out men folk!

What would be your best selling product or does it depend upon season and demographic

Due to current popularity and trend of beards, I would have to say our beard oil 

and the moustache wax would follow closely behind

but interestingly in the last couple of weeks there has been a definite spike in the shaving soap sales are we heading to the end of the hairy beard!!??

How important are markets like Marrickville to both your business, your product development and yourselves personally

Markets such as Marrickville are hugely important to Mai Creation and our Mister Brand!  This is where we have direct contact with our customers

We love knowing who uses our products, having immediate feedback regarding our products is great as this helps us to further develop or modify the formula's.

It is our mission to provide the kindest most nourishing products to our skin as well as our environment.

What 5 words would you use to sum up the world of Mai Creation

Natural
Handmade
Beneficial
Gentle
Edgy .... pun intended!

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What we particularly love about these guys is that not only do they show us that "everything old is new again", but they have an ever increasing following, they have diversity of scents and they are in the hall at Marrickville Markets and we LOVE them, as will you when you find them!

Keep an eye out for the groovy set up and you will have found the hairy beard haven!

Birgitta the Queen of Baking!

When did you have your debut at Marrickville Markets, and how did that come about?

I think I have been here for about 6 years.  I actually started market life at Frenchs Forest Markets but wanted a market which closer for me I decided to give it a go.

I love Marrickville Markets because of its uniqueness and the customers are absolutely wonderful.  

Why the markets? I had returned from the USA after life as a professional chef and decided to try something totally different & it's just grown from there....and the journey continues!

You have an extraordinarily large (and ever increasing we must add!) fan base.  What is it about market life that keeps you baking?

Market life is an interesting business and not easy by any means.  It goes without saying, it's my customers who drive me.  They feel like an extended family and they also provide me with major input to my product range with suggestions and requests, which then provides me with the opportunity to go away, explore and create.

For me the big picture is this: there is nothing better than sharing food with others.

From a tiny little kitchen comes some of the world's amazing creations.  You have your core stock of goodies and have now ventured in to the world of gluten free (which we can personally attest to their deliciousness).  

From start to finish, how long does it take you to make these babies until they are ready for market?

I am continually searching for new ideas or variations of current ones.  Trends tend to dictate a little in what I make and that is as a result of requests from my customers.

Gluten free is a major example of this.  As allergies increase so then does the need to a) gain knowledge and b) find alternatives so as to accommodate and have it translated in my food. This cycle is never ending.

I can make variations of an idea and then make adjustments to what tastes good to me personally, which is a bit a "trial and error" process.

My customers are the final deciders because I will always let them know if it's a new product and then ask for their feedback, including any suggestions they feel might improve the product.

This process can take weeks sometimes or if I have struck the jackpot it will be an instant hit!

The best satisfaction for any stallie is when that golden 'sold out' sign goes up.  What has been your biggest sale of any product in one day?

Hmmmm. Well I guess the answer is a bit seasonal because at Christmas if I ever see another mince tart by Christmas Eve, there are times I would have to scream from the rooftops!

(insert screaming!)

But in winter it is always the Dulce de Leche Brownie

What does the future hold for the Queen of Baking?

At the moment I am starting my little big cake range, which is basically taking a cake like Raspberry Coconut (which is my best seller) and miniaturising it which you could take to afternoon tea's or as a gift.

They look sooooooo cute!

Beyond that?  Well it's about time I hit the web and joined the rest of the universe and expand access to those who can get themselves to the markets to find me!

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Fortunately for us, we CAN get to her at the Markets and so can you!  Every Sunday peeps, so if you haven't you must, cause once tried you will be forever enslaved!!

And cause we can, we would like to thank Ciao Mag for allowing us to include this great little article they did on our Queen of Baking recently.

Ciao Mag

Katie, Beau and the Farmgate by Nashdale Fruit Co.

How long as Nashdale been part of the OFM family

About 4.5 years now.  We started out at Marrickville Market first and then joined Orange Grove Market about a year later. 

Your A-frame would have to be up there with one of the singularly most photographed items around the organic universe!  How did the initial design/use come in to play: was it something that was put together as a "make do for now and we'll deal with it later" or was it deliberately planned.

We are always looking for exciting ways to display our produce.  We take great pride in not just how our product tastes, but how it looks as well.  Setting up your stall at each market is an important part for us.

We are always on the look out for different things and came across the A-frame at Marrickville Markets about 4 years ago.  After a month's use it was a bit worse for wear so we decided to build some ourselves.  These are the A-frames we now use.

You are relatively new-comers as producers.  How difficult was the transition from city to country.

Farming has been in my background for generations.  I grew up spending most of my holidays on one of my grandparents farms. My Dad (John) started orcharding when I was about 5 and is still an orchadist today 25 years later.

I started working at the markets with him as soon as I could see over the tables, but they weren't farmers markets back then, just craft-type markets.

Beau and I worked with Dad and ran markets for him on our weekends for about 10 years before Beau decided to give up his "day job", move to the country and try some markets on his own.

Because of the background we already had with the markets and the guidance that Dad gave Beau when he first decided to make the official "tree change" to the farm, it was a much easier transition for us than it would be for many others.

As idyllic as many people think farming looks, it's a lot of hard work and we have definitely had our fair share of issues as well.

What has been one of the record sales of any item at one market

Hmmmm...I'm not sure, after 20+ years of being involved in markets there are many stories!  But we did have one customer come back 5 times to market before Christmas a year or so ago.  Each time she came back for more cherries!

The first time was for her household.  She then came back for her neighbours after sharing some over the fence with them.  

Then, after some visiting some relatives went home taking the ones out of her fridge, she came back to restock again....and it continued.  

It was great and such a nice way to end the year.

What has been the most fulfilling part of market life for the Nashdale mob

It would definitely have to be some of the amazing relationships we now have with our customers and other stallholders!  

It is a pleasure to be able to help educate them in what we do and how we do it!  The feedback we receive from our customers and their appreciation is incredible (especially when they show up rainy days to support us) and it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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No arguments here!  From punters to stallies, everyone loves the Nashdale crew and we thank Katie for giving us a little insight in to life on the land and from where we stand, the love that they put in to their crops is reflected not just by the quality of their produce but by returning customers they have week in, week out.

Best bit?  As their branding says "100% Australian Owned and Grown"...read it, live it, love it.

See Ya 2013!

Emily

The Jugernauts

Monica

Kirstie

Nathan

shazthebazza

herbgal

ya_smin

Sharing some Marrickville Market love with Maddii

When did you first discover what is now the Inner West's most favourite Sunday haunt, aka Marrickville Markets

I was just scrolling through my instagram feed one day and someone I followed posted this picture of a plate of delicious looking, organic, vegan food captioned "The Earth Plate from the Marrickville Markets" and checked the photo in at the "Marrickville Markets" (using the place location which can accompany the instagram feed); so I clicked and saw all these amazing looking stalls filled with fresh food and lots of happy people!

I showed my Mum and we both knew we had to check it out!

Is it a solo our group expedition and is it a fly-in fly-out or more of a getting staples then discovering hidden treasures type of adventure

My weekends my Mum and I "market hop".  We go from market to market and take our times wandering through them, looking for hidden "gems" - organic food, vegan food, things for my dog and gourmet sweet treats for my sister!

What's one item you simply can't NOT buy each visit and why

For me it's definitely anything with açai in it!  Or any healthy, yummy and vegan treats. For my Mum it would have to be a nut mix or clothing.  If it's "hippified" and flowy then she's got to have it.

What is it about these markets (in your opinion) that makes them so incredibly popular amongst not just locals but those who travel distances simply to get their weekly organic fix

I personally think it's the diversity in the stalls!  It isn't targeted at a specific type of person.  There is a stall to satisfy anyone.  From the vegan to the meat lover, to families looking for tomorrow night's dinner, to foodies and everyone in between.

How would you sum up the world of Marrickville Markets in 5 words

Oh wow! Umm.....Fun, Diverse, Organic, Social & Yummy

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And with that final flourish we thank Maddii for sharing some of her love and reckon it's time to get a gettin down to one of Marrickville's favourite spots to shop on a Sunday, if you already haven't that is!

Gettin those lungs ready for a HUUUUGE shoutout!

Venus Wholefoods

Louisa

Miss Prue

Sydney Wholefoods

madd_ii

Cherry Lush

Vani

Smiths Organics

The Very Hungry Katerpilla

Jeremy

Olive Tree Providores

What initially drew you in to the world that is now known as Olive Tree Providores

I decided my passion for food and healthy lifestyle could also be a business that supported local farmers.

Olive oil also has amazing health benefits and Australia produces some of the world's best, so Olive Oil Providores was born out of a love of local food and a boredom with the conventional corporate business principles.

Why markets?

Because they are the best place to meet our customers and build a relationship with them.  I also detest the major supermarket manipulation of local farmers and growers, so I was keen to support an alternate place for growers to sell and market their produce.

Obviously market shoppers attend for varying reasons including promoting the Buy Australian mantra.  What other ways do you think this message can be given either overtly or by other means

We should encourage our friends and family to shop from sustainable and environmentally sound sources.  Big corporate supermarkets are none of those.  We simply have to encourage everyone we (personally) know to shop locally for fresh healthy food and by doing that we automatically help farmers build and maintain a sustainable business.

The more we enthuse the principle, the more it will happen and the more we protect our environment.

Do you have any new additions on the horizon that we can look forward to

Yes, we are about to launch a whole new range which we are very excited about which should be ready by Christmas.  The new range takes the "shop local" to an  entirely new level......so stay tuned!!!!

What 5 words would you use to encourage conversion to not only organic but more importantly to buy Australian

Future proofing a sustainable future for all  (a little more than 5 words) plus it's a fantastic place to meet really friendly people!

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And on that note we thank Belinda, not only for having an amazing range of oils, soaps and dukka each week at market, but more importantly her determination to encourage everyone (and by that we mean everyone!) to shop and buy local 

Mid November shoutout!

Josh

Kath

Nikki

Kirstie

Rhani

Hayley

Lisa