Founded by Cherie Edilson, Member Marketplace’s journey began in the most unexpected way.
Cherie always knew she wanted four children, and after child number two, she transitioned to the world of stay-at-home motherhood. Six months into this new chapter, she found herself yearning for a personal outlet beyond the daily routine of chores and preparing dinners at 5 PM. It was during this time that she discovered the world of craft tutorials on Pinterest.
Among the myriad of crafts, Cherie stumbled upon the art of making girls’ hair bows. Despite not having any daughters of her own at the time, she eagerly adorned bows on her nieces, neighbors’ girls, and friends’ daughters. What started as a personal hobby quickly transformed into a business when people began requesting custom bows to complement their holiday dresses and celebrate newborns.
Realizing the potential, Cherie delved into the world of entrepreneurship. Armed with determination, she obtained an LLC, and with the support of her husband, a web developer, she launched an online website to showcase and sell her handmade products. The venture soon expanded to local farmers’ markets and craft fairs, gaining popularity and eventually selling in a few retail storefronts.
However, it was a snowy day at a neighborhood holiday craft fair that sparked a new chapter in Cherie’s entrepreneurial journey. There was so much snow the night before this craft fair, that three hours into the four hour event, just one customer had come through the doors. Observing the disappointment of fellow vendors, Cherie called her husband and had him bring the four children to the fair to do their Christmas shopping at the event. They wandered through the fair, discovering the stories behind each vendor and their unique products.
Motivated by the desire to support others, Cherie and her husband, Robert, embarked on a mission to create a local online marketplace where you could discover and purchase from local small businesses beyond the constraints of one-day events. This endeavor evolved into the first marketplace in their community, connecting artisans with a wider audience.
After a year of successful operations, they joined an accelerator program to expand their local online marketplace concept to other communities. By the end of 2018, they collaborated with their first four chambers of commerce aimed to empower small businesses to sell and network online.
Fast forward to today, and Member Marketplace has operated marketplace platforms in 26 different states. Partnering with various organizations, from chambers of commerce to downtown districts, and economic developments to small business development centers, our mission remains unchanged – to make shopping from local small businesses as easy as purchasing from global online platforms.
At Member Marketplace, we’re not just a marketplace; we’re a community-driven platform that connects you with the heart and soul of local entrepreneurship.
Who we’ve worked with: Marketplace Sites
Evolution of the Member Marketplace Platform
After several years as an e-commerce marketplace platform, we developed our new Member Marketplace platform to serve the evolving needs of the organizations we support. As we were able to help our customers navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic by offering e-commerce for their communities, it became clear after the pandemic ended that our customers needed more than just a transactional platform; they needed a comprehensive solution that fosters connection, collaboration, and community engagement for all of their businesses.
Recognizing this shift, we took the next step by transitioning to the next evolution of the Member Marketplace platform. This enhanced platform builds on the success of our previous e-commerce efforts, offering a robust resource specifically designed to strengthen community ties and promote collaboration among our members.
One of the most significant benefits of this evolution is our ability to offer the platform for free and at scale, allowing us to support a broader range of organizations and communities across the U.S. By making this resource accessible at no cost to organizations, we’re empowering more members to thrive in a supportive and interactive environment. This commitment to accessibility not only enriches our network but also strengthens the overall fabric of our community, ensuring that everyone can participate in and benefit from the resources available.
Get to Know Our Team:
Cherie Edilson
Founder & CEO
Before dedicating herself to helping small businesses and communities thrive online, Cherie was a small business owner herself. Her unique experience in selling products locally and online led her to discover a better way to connect small businesses and customers. A fun fact, Cherie is one of twelve children in her family.
Olivia Snyder
Business Support Manager
Olivia is instrumental in helping new businesses onboard our marketplaces, supporting them in managing their shops, and providing valuable assistance to customers. Olivia’s passion for community support shines through as she guides businesses to maximize their platform presence.
Carly Nelson
Outreach & Engagement Manager
With a diverse professional background, Carly excels in relationship building, program management, and community outreach. She works closely with small business owners, guiding them on how to best represent their businesses and products across our multiple platforms.
Madelyn Houser Webb
Marketing Content Manager
Madelyn brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing. She has a true passion for all things social media, marketing, and content creation. Madelyn leads our efforts in creating, executing, and analyzing digital marketing campaigns, while effectively managing our social media channels.
Robert Edilson
Chief Product Officer
Robert’s journey began with a simple epiphany following a conversation with Cherie. It was at a local craft show with low attendance due to weather that he realized there had to be a better way for people to support and buy from local vendors. He now manages Member Marketplace’s network of sites that support businesses across the U.S.
