Dekalb Market, located in the heart of Brooklyn, opened to the cheers and screams of locals in search of socially responsible vendors and green products. It also happens to be the first shipping container market in the country.
Each store in the trendy Dekalb Market is actually a repurposed freight container, selected for its designed strength, relatively inexpensive cost and worldwide availability. Everything from retro fashion to hand-crafted art pieces is available in the market, and the whole food suppliers offer just as much variety: soul food, baked goods and locally produced meats are all on sale.
The Dekalb Market is a case study in the struggle between displacement and development in a downtown borough constantly on the upswing. It gives local residents the opportunity to buy homegrown produce while simultaneously staving off the franchised stores eager to move into the area.
Industrial Box Bazaars
The Dekalb Market Becomes America's First Shipping Container Market
Trend Themes
1. Shipping Container Markets - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the potential of creating more sustainable and economically viable retail spaces using repurposed shipping containers.
2. Socially Responsible Vendors - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a platform or marketplace that connects consumers with socially responsible vendors, promoting sustainable and ethical products.
3. Locally Sourced Food Suppliers - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a technology-enabled supply chain that connects consumers with locally sourced food suppliers, fostering community support and reducing carbon footprint.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate sustainable and unconventional retail spaces, such as shipping container markets, to attract eco-conscious consumers and differentiate from traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
2. E-commerce - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create an online marketplace that exclusively features socially responsible vendors, providing consumers with a one-stop shop for sustainable and ethical products.
3. Food and Beverage - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a platform that connects consumers with local food suppliers, offering transparent sourcing information and supporting sustainable agriculture practices.