Texas Exes host inaugural Longhorn Market, fosters alumni connections

The scent of fresh leather, soaps and warm tamales floated through the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center on Sunday. The first Longhorn Market was underway, and more than 60 alumni sold their goods to the bustling crowd.

Texas Exes presented the inaugural Longhorn Market on Nov. 3, from noon to 4 p.m. More than 1,000 attendees shopped from the alumni-owned business tables, which ranged from artists to chefs. Sara Light, the Texas Exes business development manager, began working on connecting businesses through the Longhorn Business Network a couple of years ago. Over COVID-19, she started the business directory of more than 1600 businesses, along with the Longhorn 100, a list of the 100 fastest growing Longhorn-run businesses. The market is the first opportunity for alumni-run businesses to make in-person connections.

"We just want to, as an alumni association, continue to support Longhorn businesses," Light said. "And I think this is a great way for businesses of all sizes to come and show off a little."

One of the vendors, Margaret Walker, '97 journalism alumna and co-founder of Fraulein Boot Co., started vending in markets like the Round Top Antiques market, in Round Top, Texas with her sister. Now at Longhorn Market, Walker said she noticed the sense of community from the start.

"They had the Texas Cowboys on hand, available to help load in. All of our stuff is really heavy, so that was a nice perk. They treated the vendors really well," Walker said. "They definitely were considerate and it was very inexpensive to participate."

Amber Byfield, '05 journalism alumna and author of "Jojo's Heart Party," a mental health children's story, said this market felt different from previous markets she has participated in, largely due to the sense of Longhorn camaraderie.

"When I was at UT, I had my groups of people, and as an (alumna), this was a special way to experience that feeling again — of being on campus, being surrounded by folks who are there to cheer you on," Byfield said. "There's just something that's really special. It feels like sharing that common bond."

Light said she wants the market to become an annual event, since it provides opportunities to recognize alumni and allows all types of businesses to network and sell their goods.

"We genuinely want Longhorns to start helping Longhorns, and we want Longhorns to start shopping Longhorns," Light said. "A lot (of vendors) realized, 'Oh my gosh, I didn't know you were a Longhorn.' I wanted alumni and students in the Austin community to come in. There's tons of markets, but this one is cool, because we all started here."