Digital Marketplaces Expand Opportunities for Kootenai County Artists, Vendors, Shoppers

Rhonda Newton of Rathdrum is using a mix of digital marketplaces and local retail to expand sales of her children’s rhyming storybooks and character swag, offering a model for Kootenai County artists and vendors adapting to changing markets. Newton began selling on Etsy in 2014 with NFL-themed wedding bouquets, garters, corsages and boutonnieres and has since pivoted to illustrated children’s books featuring characters such as Paisely, Masher and Sprout.

Locally, Newton’s books and character merchandise are carried at Marketplace@Miles, a new vendor mall at 10374 N. Government Way in Hayden, and she participated in seven local craft fairs during the 2025 holiday shopping season. Although she does not operate a standalone storefront, Newton said she plans to maintain a physical presence so local followers have a place to shop for her items. Her creative work includes live appearances involving characters; Paisely the Potato was played by B’Shaun Taylor at a recent event.

Modern artisans and shoppers have the world at their fingerprints through online marketplaces such as Etsy and Shopify, which lower the cost of reaching buyers beyond northern Idaho. For individual creators like Newton, that access provides a revenue backstop during slow in-person seasons and a channel to test new products. Newton described her customer base this way: "My items appeal to parents or grandparents of littles since I have children’s rhyming storybooks and character swag," she said.

The hybrid approach matters for the local economy. Vendor malls such as Marketplace@Miles create affordable retail footprints for multiple sellers, keeping more consumer spending in Hayden and supporting microenterprises that might otherwise struggle to cover fixed retail costs. Craft fairs remain an important discovery channel but, as Newton noted, "Craft fairs are hit or miss depending on what is being sold and who is shopping." That volatility reinforces why sellers diversify across digital storefronts, vendor malls and periodic events.

For policymakers and local economic development officials, the rise of digital marketplaces highlights two priorities: reduce barriers for small sellers to list and ship products, and bolster local venues that provide community-facing retail. Long-term, a mix of online reach and stable physical touchpoints can help creators scale sales while preserving the social benefits of in-person markets and events.

For shoppers, Newton’s work underscores the variety available from Kootenai County makers. Newton continues to dream up ideas for new books she writes and illustrates and maintains a website listing her published works and inventory. As more artists pair online reach with local storefronts and vendor malls, residents can expect a broader selection of locally produced goods and more opportunities to support homegrown entrepreneurs.