WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) -  Sunday Alzavino Wine Tavern opened its doors to local small businesses. Its purpose was to help them gain visibility during hard economic times.  

Owner Danielle Harmon hosts a sip & shop regularly as a way of helping other vendors.  "It has been difficult. I don't think anything's really returned to normal since COVID and then you're just constantly in this cycle of trying to figure out new things to do to get to a new audience base and a new customer base," said Harmon.  

The sip & shop is open to a variety of about twelve vendors.  Customers come in, enjoy a glass of wine and shop.  

Depending on the type of business you have, the struggles may differ.  

Dirt Road Dreams owner Andi Stineman relies on accurate arrival times for her product.  She said, “For example today our shower steamers and goat milk soap was supposed to arrive." Stineman was still waiting for her product.  

Other vendors like Jill Turner owner of Jill’s Bags Totes & More, find visibility being her challenge. 

"When I retired I wasn't out as much you know," Turner said. "I like the sip and shop here and I've done a couple of vendors around Wichita to get my name out there." 

Harmon said some of the other struggles are constantly having to think of creative ways to reach the next new customer.  She added going to the same pop-up events results in the same audience.  

There is also the bigger challenge of competition.  

"It's easier to go out to Amazon and buy something, it's easier to go out to Etsy and buy something, it's easier to pop into some of the local supermarkets and superstores,” said Harmon.  

Harmon said many of the vendors do not have brick-and-mortar so events like these help them become more visible.