Merkado: The Melting Pot of Market Culture
June 2024 started with a burst of freshness, marked by the debut of Merkado in Makati on June 1-2
Words Andrea Brigino
Photos courtesy of Merkado via Instagram
June 7, 2024
Last weekend saw the grand opening of the freshest weekend market yet: Merkado, at Frabelle Corporate Plaza in Salcedo, Makati. Sponsored by Barebone, BPI, Hella Good, and Enstack PH, Merkado was highlighted to be more than a regular market or bazaar. It was an experience combining local talents and handmade artisan goods. Its opening not only offered a wide variety of Filipino-made products but also introduced trendy activities for all age groups to enjoy.
A Fresh Take on Filipino Markets
From its promotional material alone, Merkado’s vibrant and youthful approach to the market concept is evident. They showcased the vendors’ products and different promotions through sleek, vintage-like posters with vibrant colors.
The day itself followed up on the cute style through vintage stamp-like vouchers kept in decorated envelopes for buyers to find around the venue. This not only provided an aesthetic flair but also a more interactive experience for those exploring the market.
Community through Interactivity
The voucher scavenger hunt was not the only interactive experience that brought excitement and anticipation to the event. There were many giveaways over the course of the weekend market. Through the spread of posts and Instagram stories, attendees had a chance to win prizes from the market's vast array of products. Some of the prizes included a free photo booth session, shoes, sunscreen, ice cream, and many more.
Merkado further expanded their giveaways with an exclusive giveaway for Sonny Angels, the blind boxes that have taken the internet by storm, attracting many collectors to participate for a chance to get a blind box of their desired series.
This weekend market experience offered more than just giveaways. The two-day event included various activities such as the Run & Shop event, a cute decorating activity for trending Vintage Cake Jewelry Boxes, makeup workshops, painting workshops, and much more.
Merkado created a space that not only cultivated a youthful presence in its marketplace but also welcomed athletic, artistic, trendy, and collector customers. Thus, Merkado was not only a destination to find fresh, new, and handmade local products and designs but also provided fun interactions between vendors and customers and among customers with similar interests, blending a diverse sense of community within the two-day event.
