Vend Marketplace owner Amy Hinschen is changing the way we shop

Entrepreneur Amy Hinshchen is reinventing retail with her super-sized marketplace for Brisbane makers. A year since launching Vend, she’s looking to grow the marketplace nationally.

A former schoolteacher, Amy Hinschen, 32, owns Vend Marketplace, a retail space changing the way we shop. Her mega-warehouse in Virginia, on Brisbane’s northside, is home to more than 80 shops run by local artisans selling everything from clothes, art and furniture to skincare, plants and pet products.

WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU?

We are coming up to the one-year anniversary of Vend and we’ve decided to celebrate with a bang. We’re throwing a huge ’70s party on September 7. We will have live music, showbags, a giant spin-the-wheel where you can win various prizes, yummy food, a pop-up bar and a ‘70s dress-up competition.

Vend Marketplace on Sandgate Rd, Virginia.

WHAT INSPIRED VEND?

I have always wanted to own my own business, so that’s where it all started. I also noticed that smaller businesses, especially creatives, were struggling to start up their own shops and get their products out there. I also knew it couldn’t just be a shared retail space where shop owners manned their shop, and we made it so that they never have to be there. We take care of all the sales for them from the Vend point-of-sale desk.

ARE YOU CHANGING THE WAY WE SHOP?

I believe this is the future of shared retail space for small businesses. Shoppers are becoming much more aware of who they are shopping from and are wanting to support small local businesses rather than large chains. Our customers love that they have so much variety and can buy one-off pieces, all while supporting a small business.

WHAT ELSE IS AT VEND?

An awesome lawn area with giant games, a baby-friendly area and playground, and our Vend cafe that not only offers fantastic food, coffee, drinks and cakes but is also licensed to sell alcohol. We also have our huge indoor greenhouse.

Amy Hinschen is the brains behind VEND, a warehouse market where local artisan can rent out spaces that run like small-scale shops. Need some bright, happy, fun portraits of Amy at the space for a Trailblazer Photography: Russell Shakespeare

WHAT PUTS A SPRING IN YOUR STEP?

Helping local small businesses set up their own shop and seeing them grow over time as a business.

WHEN OR WHERE ARE YOU HAPPIEST?

At home on the couch with my cats, watching a horror movie.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

My partner Kyle Steele. Until I met him, I’d never met anyone who is as hard working and who obsesses about achieving goals as much as me.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BRISBANE?

The weather, the chilled lifestyle and it’s great being an hour or so drive from the beach in either direction.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

We are currently looking at properties in Melbourne to launch the next Vend.

Vend Marketplace, 1768 Sandgate Rd,

Virginia, open daily, 8am-4pm.