“Support Small Artists”: Winter Sale Returns
Emily Cobb | Dec. 9, 2025
Students gather in Bryson Gym at Warren Wilson College (WWC) for the 2025 Winter Sale on December 6, 2025 in Swannanoa, N.C. (Echo/Emma Taylor McCallum)
The Winter Sale has been a popular end-of-the-semester event at Warren Wilson College (WWC) for well over a decade. This event was hosted in Bryson Gym and spearheaded by Herb Crew, a sub-crew of Garden Crew, on December 6. This year, the Winter Sale had hundreds of attendees and dozens of vendors, a stark difference from the two vendors from the first-ever Winter Sale.
Vendors inside of Bryson Gym at Warren Wilson College (WWC) in Swannanoa, N.C. for the Winter Sale on December 6, 2025. (Echo/Emma Taylor McCallum)
Vera Sole Pandolfo, a junior on Herb Crew, led the charge in planning the event, collaborating with Business Crew, Facilities and Public Safety to ensure success, safety and set-up.
“This was my first semester really having this role, and developing and organizing [the sale],” Pandolfo said. “Last year, with all the chaos of the hurricane…no one was really trained on how to run [it].’”
Pandolfo relied heavily on information left behind by Ian Ibarra and Rosemary Thurber and started the process of organizing the event in October. Completing a wide range of tasks like emailing vendors, getting approval to host in Bryson Gym, sourcing volunteers and confirming vendors and payments.
“It was so lovely to have put in so much work and time into [the Winter Sale], and then be met with so much enthusiasm,” Pandolfo said. “People were super excited to be there, and vending and super grateful for the opportunity. Just to be surrounded by so many lovely people that were willing to help and support me through that [has] been super great.”
MJ Hopper is a crew leader of the Student Activities Crew and has been selling for five years. Hopper spoke on how the event has gone during the times they have sold.
“For the most part, [the Winter Sale has] been pretty consistent in popularity,” Hopper said. “There was one year where [organizers] split it up between two days, and it didn't work out super well…But besides that, it's been pretty good. I've always made a good profit.”
Garden Crew member Natalie Helser sells products at the Winter Sale on December 6, 2025 in Swannanoa, N.C. (Echo/Emma Taylor McCallum)
One issue encountered this year was the unexpected inability to secure heaters for the outside vendors. Luckily, Pandolfo combatted this issue by providing hot hands to vendors, moving some vendors inside and providing blankets. Pandolfo also spoke on how certain elements cannot be controlled, like attendance.
“It really just comes down to trusting that vendors are gonna show up, that people are gonna be there, just relying on the community and hoping for the best,” Pandolfo said. “It turned out really well this year…People were selling out the first hour and a half in.”
Pandolfo also touched on the opportunities the Winter Sale provides students.
“[The Winter Sale is] really important for the students who are vending [with WWC] being a working college,” Pandolfo said. “You don't have time to have an off-campus job because you're working for the school, and we're broke college kids. It's just a wonderful time for vendors to be making some profit… I think we live in this bubble here on campus, and it's nice to have the outside community see what's happening.”
Senior Ava Hamernik, who has been selling for four years, touched on this as well.
“I love seeing members of the community come out,” Hamernik said. “I love seeing parents or their children, some of the older folks that we have locally. It's great to talk to everybody and have a really good time.”
Hamernik spoke on the importance of the event after Hurricane Helene.
“It's so great to see the amount of people that showed up,” Hamernik said. “It really does feel like a nice way to bring the community together, especially after something as devastating as the hurricane. It's a great way to see what people have been working on, how they're healing through their art and their craft.”
Pandolfo was pleased with how the event went and the overall support she received.
“Such a big thanks to all the volunteers, the people that were helping and the people that vended,” Pandolfo said. “We really can't do it without the whole community. I just can't show enough gratitude. I feel fairly accomplished, and I hope everyone feels accomplished and satisfied with what they sold.”
It was another successful Winter Sale, and as Hopper says, “Support small artists.”
Chalk art in front of Bryson Gym at the Warren Wilson College (WWC) Winter Sale on December 6, 2025 in Swannanoa, N.C. (Echo/Emma Taylor McCallum)