CREATIVE MARKETS HAVE been steadily gaining popularity in Penang, becoming crucial platforms for creative startups and businesses to showcase their products and build a customer base. Throughout the years, some of them—such as Hin Market at Hin Bus Depot—have evolved beyond simply being marketplaces; they have managed to foster an environment where people can connect and learn from one another.

The idea of having a Hin Market was conceived in 2015, a year after Hin Bus Depot opened its doors, as an art space within the once-abandoned Hin Company Bus Depot. While there were already markets at the time selling lifestyle products, the concept of a dedicated creative market had yet to firmly take root in Penang. Tan Shih Thoe, the visionary founder and owner of Hin Bus Depot, reached out to several vendors he knew and offered them space to peddle their products at Hin Bus Depot. The Hin Market proved to be a success, and quickly materialised into a weekly, signature activity at Hin Bus Depot.

This year marks its 10th anniversary.

An Incubator For Creative Startups—A Labour of Love

On a Tuesday night in March, approximately 30 individuals convened on the deck at Hin Bus Depot for the monthly “Sembang Selasa@Hin” gathering. As one of Hin Market’s 10th-anniversary celebration activities, this monthly event organised by Queen Lee, the manager of Hin Market, serves to highlight the vision and stories behind the brands and products of Hin Market vendors, both past and present.

During this session, Jasmine Toh, the owner of the much-loved Lunabar Coffee, recounted her journey as one of the initial vendors at Hin Bus’ Sunday pop-up market before opening her own café several years later. It was there that she learned to navigate the unpredictable needs of customers, among other challenges. While acknowledging that opening a brick-and-mortar café was far more demanding with its own set of unique challenges, she deeply appreciates the wonderful experiences she had had as a vendor, cherishing her interactions with fellow vendors and customers alike, as well as the opportunity to share her passion for coffee with others.

Lunabar Coffee’s journey is not unique. Over the past decade, Hin Market has incubated and nurtured numerous small businesses, giving them the confidence boost and the resources to venture out and establish their own businesses after gaining experience. This trajectory perfectly reflects Tan Shih Thoe’s vision for establishing the market.

Since its inception, week after week, Tan personally oversees the curation and planning of the market. It is not uncommon to see him in person there, attending to small details such as collecting trash and adjusting the fan placements. Tan’s hands-on approach, supported by a dedicated team, has been instrumental in the growth of Hin Market. Today, it features some 130 stalls across categories, encompassing arts and crafts, design, homemade goods and handmade creations. Visitors can shop for accessories, clothes, plants, artwork, food and drinks, or sit down fora tarot reading. The vendors—ranging in age from 20 to 70—come from diverse backgrounds, and include full-time artisans, part-timers looking to develop their skills, and retirees.

Hin Market’s concept has changed over the years, responding to the needs of the community. Queen Lee, a Penang artist with experience in curating creative markets, joined the team in 2022; the Sunday market was expanded into a weekend market to support the influx of vendors, many of whom had suffered from job insecurity after the pandemic. The weekly Saturday market is themed; and collaborations are often with different communities: the Grow Market focuses on agricultural products, the Kung Bros Collectors Market on antiques and second-hand items, and the Makers Market on handmade products.

Under Queen’s lead, Hin Market also managed to expand its network beyond Penang, and even Malaysia—in 2023, she brought several Hin Market vendors to showcase their work in a creative market in Chiang Mai.

Looking For Community Builders

As a popular market, many vendors aspire to have a presence at Hin Market. But for Tan, it is more than just an affordable marketplace; he has his own criteria for selecting vendors. The application process is conducted weekly—even for regulars and long-term vendors. Several factors are taken into consideration, such as product uniqueness, product quality, product presentation, branding, having an active social media presence and eco-friendliness. Hin Market sees each vendor slot as an opportunity for small businesses to build their brand, hence this process is necessary to ensure the quality of the products sold at the market and alignment with the market's direction.

Unlike other commercial spaces where profitability is the sole focus, Tanhas remained true to his original vision for Hin Market—the spirit of community is paramount.

“We value the presence of community builders at Hin Market. We hope people come here not only to sell their products, but also to support, interact with and learn from one another.”

Ultimately, he envisions Hin Market as a place where creative businesses and individuals can grow and, when they feel confident enough, move on to pursue their ventures independently. Here, the value of community is central.

Drawing from a decade of experience, Tan observes the strengths and potential of each vendor, and how they interact with customers. He and the team will sometimes offer feedback to vendors for improvement, aiming not only to help the brand grow, but also to support the communal vibe of Hin Market.

These 10 years, Hin Market has proven itself to be one of the most important platforms for creatives, not only in Penang, but in the whole of Malaysia. In spite of their success, Tan remains humble as ever, “We still have much to learn to make it better.”