When you buy a handmade item from a new downtown shop, it's owners will likely do a happy dance.
“It’s not just about the money, it’s the fact that you love our creations enough to take them home,” said David Shaw, co-owner of an artist collaborative-themed store, Makers Market.
“With every purchase, you are investing in a piece of our hearts, a part of our souls, and a special moment in our lives.”
The Oro-Medonte resident and his wife, Beth Shaw, hope people will gather to celebrate creativity, local talent, and artisanship when the store opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 27.
The owners of the woodworking business, Northern Joinery, started toying with the idea of an artist collaborative space about two years ago. And as soon as they found the right space, the former Patilero Bakery, they knew they could finally fulfill their vision.
The vision brings together makers from a 100-kilometre radius around Orillia, and their products, in one space.
“The philosophy behind the makers market is community over competition,” said David. “It's a unity of makers. Together we're all stronger.”
They started the Northern Joinery 18 years ago out of their garage. And now they’ve grown it into a viable, sustainable business that employs five people.
But during the journey, they realized the obstructions and roadblocks other makers encounter when trying to make money off their product.
Because they have a business that allows them to keep the lights on in the store, the makers now have a space where they're not paying an arm and leg to showcase their product, said David.
“We think there are so many other artists out there that are makers, but don't have the ability to be seen,” he said. “They don't have the revenue to rent a space. They struggle to get their things into retail space. And what space there is ... has limited space.”
And once they announced the store and put out a call for makers, they were inundated with applications, said David.
They have hand-picked 36 makers, aside from themselves, to be part of the store. Some makers include Lindsay Russell from Backwoods Design Co., Ave Richardson from Ave Burnt Impressions, and Carrie Benson from Green Guac.
Beth and David said they have made a conscious effort not to step on the toes of other storeowners on the main street.
“We didn't want to cross makers and even turned down some products that are too similar to other people on the street,” said David. “We want downtown Orillia to thrive. I think it's the only way to do business. I don't like it when people do things to me that I view as threatening, so we try to do kindly to others.”
Coming together to showcase their work in one space helps develop a community for makers who produce similar products, said Beth.
“Makers are very intertwined and supportive of each other,” she said. “But they always differ in their craft from one another, because they have their own spin on it. They are always helping each other.”
Once things are up and running smoothly, Beth said, they want to introduce an interactive element to the store.
“We'd like to have makers come in on Saturdays to perform their craft in the store,” she said. “That way, anyone who is shopping can actually see how it is created, who creates it and why they do so.”
They also hope to showcase local music, said Beth.
“We would like to have live and local music to promote local musicians, because that is also a craft,” she noted. “There is so much local talent, and it isn't just products. We're trying to catch the variety of art in the area.”
