Shop Makers in the Beach provides store space for local artisans to sell and promote their works

Opened earlier this year on Queen Street East in the Beach, Shop Makers is a hub for local artisans and makers to sell their handmade products and promote their works.

Started in Vancouver in 2020, Makers allows artisans to sell their products while keeping 100 per cent of the revenue. People who want to have a display within the Makers shop will pay a flat monthly rate based on the size of the display and not the revenue gained without any pay cuts or commission costs.

The company was founded by Veronica Kos and Adam Sharanewych.

Koos was born and raised in Calgary and went to university in Kamloops, B.C., and then settled in Vancouver. Sharanewych is originally from Toronto but went to work in Vancouver as a software developer, and that was where he and Kos met.

“Adam comes from a very entrepreneurial family, and started gaining experience with businesses by being a maker himself and creating his own handmade men’s hair care line,” said Kos from Vancouver in response to emailed questions from Beach Metro Community News.

“He first approached me to open our Gastown store (in Vancouver) back in November of 2020. Back then, it was only meant to be a two-month pop-up for local artisans during the holiday season, but the response from the local community was incredible, so we stayed. Almost four years later, and we’re at 16 locations total now.”

Shop Makers presently has stores at eight locations in B.C. as well as in Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Burlington, Vaughan, Oshawa in Ontario. The store at 1984 Queen St. E. in the Beach is the only Toronto location.

Kos said the Beach was chosen because it is such a vibrant and community focused neighbourhood.

“There’s a great mix of locals and tourists, and it’s perfect for supporting local artisans…Plus, local market studies showed a strong demand for handmade, eco-friendly products which aligns perfectly with our brand. We couldn’t think of a better spot to open,” she said.

Kos said that since the Beach store opened in June, the response has been wonderful.

“The local artisanal community has welcomed us warmly. The Beaches has such a rich history of creation and artistry at its core, and it’s very much still alive in the community,” she said.

One of the core goals of Shop Makers is promoting the work of Canadian artisans. “Our mission is to empower local makers and entrepreneurs by striving to provide the best space and platform to showcase their unique creations and drive economic impact in communities across Canada,” said Kos.

One of the ways Shop Makers is drivinig that economic impact is by having actual bricks-and-mortar stores as opposed to just running an online business.

“Although local handmade goods can be found and bought online, we’ve found there is nothing that compares to the physical presence of a brick-and-mortar store,” said Kos.

“We place heavy importance on store locations that are in high visibility and high traffic areas so our makers can have the best possible chances for selling and succeeding. The pursuit of trying to be discovered online as one artisan or small business is one that requires a lot of time, money and effort. However, with our stores exposure by hundreds of potential customers who simply ‘stumble’ into the store.”

Shop Makers also gets involved in supporting local events as part of their commitment to the communities they are in and the local artisans and make they are providing space to.

Kos that that local involvement and local support are critical to keeping small businesses running in communities across the country.

“Shopping local and supporting small businesses has an immensely positive impact on your community. It boosts the local economy, it creates local jobs, it allows you to find unique one-of-a-kind pieces, it builds community and connection, and it is often more environmentally sustainable,” she said.

“Most importantly though, shopping locally is all about the impact you have on people. Each time that you shop from a local small handmade business and artisan, you are directly supporting their ability to do what they love. We have several artisans that have been able to pursue their dream and do what they love full time due to being in our stores.”

For more information on Shop Makers in the Beach, please go to https://www.shopmakers.ca/