Canterbury New Zealand Business Association founder Taz Mukorombindo hosted the event at the Halswell Community Centre on Saturday.
Mukorombindo said he was testing the concept of an indoor market for local migrants who lost their businesses in the earthquakes.
Since 2013, Mukorombindo had hosted many outdoor markets around Christchurch, but wanted a more reliable solution.
"To create a source of ongoing income for the migrants... we've got to have somewhere permanent," he said.
Mukorombindo said he would offer an online market to build community and to help migrants struggling to find business.
"People will be able to deliver to their customers, profile their stories...we'll make it entertaining and educational but actually enable business to happen there.''
He said the online market, to be launched next month, would help people like the Chik family who made their living from markets.
Nora Chik and her family had been selling halal Asian cuisine for the last four years and participated in the Halswell event.
She said trading was usually easy during summer when there were plenty of markets, but could be unreliable in winter.
Meanwhile, Mukorombindo said he was working with the Christchurch City Council to open a permanent site for the indoor market.
He hoped the site on Lichfield Street would open next year.
