CEO, a platform promoting student businesses, has been hosting monthly flea markets at Lowry Mall for vendors from around the campus and state to promote their sales.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, University of Missouri’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization invited a variety of student and local vendors to promote their businesses at the monthly flea market hosted on campus at Lowry Mall. CEO’s second market of the year offered clothes, MU merch, accessories, plants, home decor and more from the over 20 retailers that attended the almost nine-hour-long event.
MU sophomore Sophia Artz sorts through clothes hanging on a rack at CEO’s monthly flea market on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at Lowry Mall in Columbia. Artz looked for gameday outfits from multiple vendors.
A hat, a pair of shoes and a plant lie on a table at a stall at CEO’s flea market. “I used to come to these [markets] all the time and noticed there was a need for a cheaper vendor,” MU senior and vendor Margaret McNevin said. “I couldn’t afford anything here as a student. I’m a thrifting addict, I live by myself with six closets, so it enabled my purchasing, so I decided to start doing these and am trying to position myself as the cheapest vendor since it’s just out of my closet.”A variety of garments hang on a clothing rack at Drop Dead Vintage’s stall. The St. Louis-based store was started approximately two years ago and now travels to several markets across the state.MU graduate Emily Ortiz sells items to a student at the flea market. Ortiz runs the market sales, website, Depop site and social media for her company, Drop Dead Vintage. “I’ve loved thrifting my entire life,” Ortiz said. “I thrift a lot so I do as many markets as I can so I can continue to thrift a lot. This is my first time [at Mizzou’s flea market], but it’s in a good location, it’s perfect weather, so it’s just a good, awesome vibe.”A pile of sweatshirts lie on top of a blanket on the ground for students to sort through. Prices range from approximately $5 to $20 depending on the item.Students and vendors talk at the flea market at Lowry Mall. The market ran from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with over 20 different businesses present.
A sign stands outside a vendor’s stall at CEO’s monthly flea market. The next flea market took place on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
