Meet Amy Yetman: Director & Co-Founder, Horseshoe Market

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Yetman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, how do you think about risk?
By nature, I think I may seem like a safe, non-risk taker type, but I’m known to upend things with gnawing dreams that I can’t ignore. When it comes to business and and being an entrepreneur, taking risks is just part of the deal. When we started our Horseshoe Markets in 2010, there was a recession and we literally had no income. With that came a sense of desperation but also a sense of–there’s nothing to lose so taking risks was the only way to go. We started our markets in a funeral home parking lot. I had no idea how to run a market and I didn’t have any ‘in’ with the maker community. But I had wished there was a flea market in our neighborhood so with my husband’s, Doug, encouragement and entrepreneurial push, I started walking the Berkeley neighborhood and introducing myself to the businesses saying we were going to be bringing a flea market to the neighborhood and would they like to collaborate/partner. Those early risks were huge emotional risks and as we’ve grown, there continues to be emotional risks, but also financial risks. We’ve taken financial risks some have not gone as we’d hoped, but some measured financial risks are essential to growing a business and not getting stale. Sometimes, you have to see what sticks.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Horseshoe Market is Denver’s home for unique shopping experiences and ‘lucky finds.’ In non-Covid times, we host large seasonal outdoor markets plus small pop-ups around the metro area, and our customer favorite–a huge holiday market featuring the best of Colorado’s makers and gifts. We’ve weathered the challenges of other markets coming and going, but we feel that our longevity is based on our core values that we’ve honed throughout the years–integrity, community focus and authenticity. Our hope is that we always to do what is right and for the right reasons—whether we’re planning by ourselves or entertaining thousands of shoppers. Integrity is the firm foundation Horseshoe Market was built on. When it comes to our community, we are a small part of an integrated whole. We’re equally proud to help launch new opportunities for vendors as we are to donate our time and money to non-profits. Another reason we feel like we’ve weathered the storms of other fleeting markets–we want to deliver an authentic experience for our customers–over 95% of our vendors selling at the markets are the people who actually make the products. We strive to create a community where vendors feel valued and their process of vending is as seamless as possible. During these Covid times, we’re proud to have launched an online platform and directory, ShopLocalColorado.CO that serves to connect makers directly to customers. We’ve been thrilled to have provided and continue to provide–an online community that builds and rebuilds our economy from the ground up.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Having lived in north Denver for 16 years, I would probably first take them for Slohi coffee and a LeRoy bagel to start the day–and then to the Highlands and Tennyson area for some food and drink to start, and explore Tennyson Street and show them where the Horseshoe Markets first started (Berkeley Chapel at 46th & Tennyson). Then I’d make sure we visited Union Station, the downtown arts district, the Denver Art Museum and then head to Rino to explore, eat, shop and drink. There are really so many interesting and growing areas of Denver, it’s really hard to choose. Also, one of my favorite things is to explore thrift stores and antique shops & malls, so we’d probably drive around the city to as many Arcs as we could, and hit up the Brass Armadillo as well–plus the antique shops on East Colfax.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Horseshoe Market would be nothing without our vendors and the creative community in Colorado. We’re grateful for their continued collaboration and always willing to follow us and take risks along with us! My husband and co-founder of the markets, Doug Yetman, for making our team great and pushing and challenging me, and making working together always fun. Andrea Scher of SuperHero Life, a mentor and creator, and always inspiring me with her creativity and joy.

Website: https://www.horseshoemarket.com and https://www.shoplocalcolorado.co
Instagram: @horseshoemarket
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horseshoemarket

Image Credits
Brit Tucker Photography