The Big Why

I believe that when vendors thrive, the whole market benefits.

You know your product.

You care about your craft.

But if your booth isn’t doing the selling for you—something’s off.

I created Market Vendor Academy to fix that.

I teach makers, artisans, food producers, and farmers how to:

• attract more customers

• build brand trust

• and actually enjoy showing up to sell

Not by copying other vendors. By learning how to stand out as yourself.

This ladders up to my BIG VISION:

One booth at a time, we can reshape how people shop.

My ultimate goal isn’t just to help individual vendors succeed.

It’s to help build thriving markets—the kind that shift how communities shop, eat, and connect.

When every booth feels intentional, clear, and inviting, markets stop feeling like a temporary setup and start feeling like a destination.

Customers show up on purpose. They come back. They spend more. They trust what’s in front of them.

That’s how we grow stronger local economies.

That’s how we support small businesses—not just with words, but with dollars.

And that’s how we turn markets into sustainable, magnetic community hubs.

We start with one vendor.

One booth.

Yours.

Meet Kelly

I’ve been the vendor with the janky cooler, but a kick-ass booth and $250K in sales.

Hi, I’m Kelly McManus. With 30+ years of experience in award-winning design, visual merchandising, small business marketing, and farmers market sales (yes, I was a vendor myself!) I've helped vendors transform their booths into thriving mini-theaters that draw customers in and drive sales.

As a brand strategist, educator, and market enthusiast, I believe that giving vendors the tools to elevate their entire market experience, creates a space where businesses flourish, customers return, and the ENTIRE market thrives as a cultural and economic hub.

When I first started, I scrapped together what I could.

Used coolers from Facebook. Props from thrift stores. A backdrop hung on a salvaged pipe.

But I also had the storytelling tools to make those scrappy pieces feel intentional.

And it worked.

In our first 8 weeks, we sold over 5,000 packs of fresh noodles.

Over three seasons? More than $250,000 at farmers markets alone.

That’s the kind of transformation I want for you.

I’m also the board chair of Mill City Farmers Market, one of Minneapolis’ many thriving markets. Founded by Chef Brenda Langdon and located on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, Mill City has been an award-winning, thriving market for the Twin Cities and its vendors since 2006.

I live in Minneapolis with my husband, Mike, and our very good dog, Harvey. Our son, Max, is grown now—he travels the world working and chasing the boat life. Thanks to him, I’ve had the chance to visit farmers markets and craft fairs all over the globe. Every one is different, but the best ones have one thing in common: they feel alive, welcoming, and full of possibility.

What MVA stands for:

• Design with purpose

• Profit with joy

• Curiosity over perfection

• Real-world, DIY strategies

• Community, not competition

For Markets & Partners

When vendors thrive, the whole market benefits.

I can bring MVA to:

• Market managers

• Economic development programs

• Local government programs

• Market or Vendor associations

Want to offer these courses as vendor education or create a custom training plan?

Get to know us better

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