New On-Line Made In Maui County Marketplace Launched

This week, local businesses got a boost thanks to the official launch of a new online shopping resource called the “Made in Maui County Marketplace” or “The Marketplace” – www.MadeInMauiCounty.com.

The Marketplace is a project of the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources in cooperation with the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. It was created to provide local businesses with an opportunity to showcase their Made-in-Maui-County products year-round and to connect with prospective customers.

Items promoted as “Made-in-Maui-County” must have at least 51% of their wholesale value added by manufacture, assembly, fabrication, or production in Maui County; although products may include source materials made and/or found in the State of Hawaiʻi.  Businesses must also be headquartered on the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi.

Businesses who have participated and/or who have been approved as a Made in Maui County Festival product vendor are eligible to be included on The Marketplace.

“The Marketplace serves as a one-stop, online shoppers resource for wholesale buyers and consumers seeking locally made products,” said Teena Rasmussen, Director of the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. “Not only will visitors on this site discover a wide array of merchandise, but it also provides a directory for the public to connect with our local entrepreneurs throughout the year.”

Established in 2014, the annual Made in Maui County Festival was created to showcase locally made products; to help grow the islands’ independent businesses; and to help strengthen the community by encouraging job creation and diversification of Maui County’s economy. Today, the Festival is Maui County’s largest products show.

This year’s Made in Maui County Festival will be held on November 4 & 5, 2016 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

Presented by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, over 140 product vendors will offer a wide variety of foods, produce, art, crafts, jewelry, fashions, gifts, collectibles and more. Additionally, on Saturday, 12 of Maui’s popular food trucks will be featured in the Festival’s Food Court, offering a myriad of island-inspired menu items.

The 2016 Festival will kickoff on Friday, Nov. 4 with a special “Shoppers Preview” from 1:30 pm to 6 p.m. All attendees will receive a free Festival tote bag. Tickets ($35 per person) are available at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Box Office, (808) 242-SHOW (7469) or MauiArts.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, the “Big Festival Day” will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Public admission is $5 at the gate, children 12 and under are free. Saturday’s festivities will include product demonstrations, fashion shows, food trucks, and prize drawings. The first 2,000 attendees will also receive a free Festival tote bag.

To connect with Festival vendors, visit the Made in Maui County Marketplace website at www.MadeInMauiCounty.com.

For more information on the Made in Maui County Festival, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, email [email protected] or call (808) 270-7710.

Kealopiko Inc.’s Pareu (scarf) made of soft thin organic cotton is among the Fashion & Apparel items found on the Made in Maui County Marketplace website – www.MadeInMauiCounty.com.

`Alohi Images’ photo cards feature translations of Hawaiian phrases on the back of each card. Pictured: A six-card Special Occasion Set by ‘Alohi Images.

Exfolicare’s exfolibody® loofah soap, as featured on the www.MadeInMauiCounty.com website, is made from scratch with coconut, macadamia nut and olive oils.

Maui Fruit Jewel’s Lahaina Collection is a gift-quality presentation box filled with a comprehensive assortment of fruit, spice, wine, and herb-flavored candies, including 18 flavors.