Pop-up shopping destination Chick’s Picks celebrates its 20-year anniversary with a holiday shopping event through December 17.
The event at 504 Fort Evans Rd. in Leesburg showcases art, décor, gifts, and food items from 75 small businesses, most of which are women-owned, all selected and curated by owner and founder Hillary Tattersall.
“It’s a girls’ day out. It’s a business incubator. It’s a shop-small event. It’s a girlfriends’ secret. I mean, it’s a destination,” Tattersall says.
Shoppers can expect to find a wide variety of giftable items, like ornaments, jewelry, pastas and sauces, and even customizable shot skis. Tattersall carefully selects the vendors to give the market a curated vibe, choosing items that are in fashion and will appeal to her audience.
“It’s a little trendy. It’s not your grandmother’s church craft show,” she says. Current trends like pickleball, gold jewelry, and Barbie-inspired pink are represented, and the whole show has an element of vintage-retro style.
While there are plenty of holiday shopping markets and craft fairs around NoVA, Chick’s Picks stands out with its boutique model. Rather than vendors each having separate booths or tents, Tattersall sets the products up throughout the space as if it were a permanent store. Vendors aren’t present while you shop, and there’s only one checkout at the end.
As a result of that system, combined with Tattersall’s festive décor, the shop has a more cohesive, curated appearance that she compares to the displays at stores like Macy’s and Anthropologie.
“It’s really meant to have a boutique vibe,” she says. “It is merchandised beautifully, like Macy’s windows–pretty.”
The space is broken into four themed zones:
- Glam Gifts with the glittery and glamorous items,
- The Barn with a more rustic style,
- The Food Market with gourmet food items,
- College Spirit with gear for local colleges and universities.
In addition to the permanent items, there will be special pop-ins throughout the span of the market, including customized charcuterie boards through December 3 and photos with Santa on December 16.
Tattersall says she began the venture in 2004 by just selling a few hand-knitted items out of her home, and it grew from there. Having grown up as a “Navy brat,” she says that the ever-changing nature of a pop-up format appeals to her.
“I honestly think that is part of my makeup now, and I love something new and different all the time,” she says. “I personally love the challenge of when I have a new space.”
The temporary spaces provide her with a creative outlet, allow her to keep the offerings fresh and on-trend, and create a sense of urgency for her customers to come out and shop before the items are gone.
And shop they will. “There will be a line on opening day,” she says.
Throughout the course of the event, the offerings will change as one-of-a-kind items sell and new vendors join later on. However, many items are stocked to last the duration of the event.
Chick’s Picks also incorporates a charitable cause into each market. At this market, visitors can donate menstrual products, black leggings, and underwear for the Tin Cup Fund to be donated to middle school students.
504 Fort Evans Rd., Leesburg
Feature image courtesy Hillary Tattersall
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