Unique LA has it's pros and cons. I went to the show held on December 6 - 7 2014 Saturday and Sunday.
First off, they tout free food and drinks, but the samples the vendors offer are no more than morsels you have to sometimes stand in line for and most often ask for which kinda feels like begging for crumbs, as opposed to the way let's say it's done at Costco where you walk up and can just casually grab a sample or stations are there with sampling and it's proactive. Most vendors here are friendly, but I think due to health codes, they can't leave stuff out, and need to serve you upon request. It's not enough sampling to even consider as a factor to satisfy any appetite, it's sort of like a whole bunch of commercials for movies, but not being able to see even a decent length trailer let alone the whole movie.
The admission price is $10, which isn't bad in one way, but in another, to pay for the rights to shop is kinda odd, since there's no entertainment provided (other than a lackluster crafts table). However, they did have a photo booth with a holiday theme that they then gave out printed photos and emailed images of the photo, so to me, that covers the $10 and I'm not disgruntled, but it was the saving grace to the event, and without it I'd be a bit more disappointed.
I know other shows at least give you a canvas shopping bag with a cool design or something at the door, here, this time there wasn't anything.
So, the photo booth freebie was what kept this review from being a * * Two Star experience and staying a * * * Three Star event for me.
The problem with the format of this show is that, what I thought would be a whole bunch of struggling artists and up and coming artisan vendors of foods, crafts, and fashion trying to build their brands or share their creativity at affordable prices, was absent. There were no good deals here.
Most of the vendors were hipsters who were trying to sell at haute designer prices, which to me is a big mistake. I didn't see much commerce occurring at this show, a lot of people looking, but not many buying.
I think if there were a vendor who offered affordable items, it could be way more successful. The event was uniform in that everyone was charging a lot for their wares and there was an abundance of paper products like greeting cards, as well as apparel (T-Shirts, bags. etc.)... and some seemed to potentially violate copyright/trademarks with potentially infringing images/slogans, so weren't even all that creative, just quirky remixes, and I think the owners of those original rights' ire would be raised knowing these folks are profiteering at high margins off of their properties, more so than if these vendors were selling at dirt cheap prices as a creative expression borrowing images/slogans in the name of art, not business.
There were not a lot of unique food items, a few sauces, salsas, candies, etc., but nothing remarkable.
It was nice to walk around and window shop / people watch, but as a hub for buying and shopping it was a tad lackluster. If I wanted boutique items at higher prices, I can circumvent paying $10 and go online or if in LA walk Brentwood, Venice, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills or any area with these types of stores that sell crafty goods.
If I were a prospective vendor, I'd "clean up" here by having down to earth pricing and the laws of supply and demand would kick in and those who were looking at $5 greeting cards and $20 candles, would get them at 50% or greater less prices from vendors who aren't out to charge couture pricing, and it becomes more of an art mart (not necessarily turning this into a cheap bargain thrift shop, flea market, swap meet, but something more reasonable, still with only hand crafted goods for the most part and not mass produced pre-packaged items)
Parking wasn't too bad in terms of, the parking lots were between $4 and $6, and if you look hard enough there's meters (usually a 2 hr limit, at least on Saturdays), but you're better off in a lot than with a meter where if you run overtime, you can return to a $60+ parking ticket. read more