shop around town

As a big fan of the shop local movement, when I first moved back to Toronto it was really important for me to find shops that specialized in locally handmade products, for my own shopping habit and for my company. I thought it would be great to start a blog series and share some of the wonderful shops I discovered. First on the list is Beadle, in the emerging DuWest/Brockton Triangle neighbourhood, owned by TESTy's own Cherie Lunau-Jokisch who also makes one of a kind jewellery and a delicious line of bath and body products under the name Beadle.

Beadle 
1582 Dundas West Street
just west of Dufferin
easily to get to by subway and streetcar! 
Open Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 - 6:00
www.beadlestore.com
facebook.com/beadlestore

Tell us a bit about your shop 
Beadle is a tiny little gallery style boutique. I have the pleasure of selling items by artists and designers that are mainly home based or small scale businesses who create handmade items. I love having the personal connection with each 'maker' and my customers really enjoy hearing about the person behind the creations they are buying.


What is your background as a maker/artist
Well, where to start. Do you have a few hours? I come by it naturally. Both my parents were creative in one way or another. My parents encouraged me to be creative from a young age – mostly because it made me sit still and be quiet. I was a rather active and curious child.

What lead you to opening up your own shop and to focus mainly on locally made goods
Honestly I was tired of doing shows with little success but loads of work setting up, tearing down and blindly creating products I was never sure I would sell. Plus my husband was growing tired of stepping on beads and my use of our sofa as our office. We came up with a budget and started looking for a studio workshop with the intentions of me just having a place to create from. It was part luck and part accident that I found the perfect little space to work from but also to create a store in. From there I quickly realized, even though the space was small, I needed more than just my own designs to help fill it up. Couldn't have done it without my husbands support.

What are your biggest challenges in running a shop that focuses on local makers?
The biggest challenge at the moment is finding cool handmade products for men. The other is wanting to order from small companies but their minimums (either $ amount or quantity) don't often work for my shop. The other big one is artists/designers who decide to move on to other things and not make their lovely products anymore. Like this amazing woman Mary who used to make beautiful baby bibs, blocks and blankets. They were so adorable and sold really well too. I haven't found anything can even compare to her beautiful creations. Do you know of anyone? Lol! The third thing is trying to find unique items that other stores similar to mine don't carry.



What shops/neighbourhood (other than yours) do you like to shop for locally made goods?
I really enjoy shopping in the Junction. So many cool shops. Wise Daughters Craft Market is a must see when you go to the Junction. The owner Mary is the Queen of workshops. The neighbourhood is a real fun mix of shops. Antique lighting stores to art supplies and everything in-between. Not at all like shopping in a mall where the stores in each one are the same chains no matter which mall you are in. Yawn... malls are so boring. Seriously though my favourite thing to do is go walking with my friend Barb, our dogs Billy and Chip, to discover different independent coffee shops and cafes in and around the West End. Luckily my favourite shop is close to home/Beadle - BIVY cafe - and it's right on my block.

Why is the handmade/shop local movement important to you?
Wow, that's a hard one to put into words. So many reasons... It's so close to my heart because I've been making and selling my own designs for years. I, like any creator, puts my heart and soul into each thing I create. Seeing the joy in someone discovering my shop for the first time never gets old. I really enjoy telling them about the store, the artist and how things are made. Watching them walk away grinning ear to ear, thrilled with their purchase is exhilarating. To be able to support other artists in their creative journey by giving them a space to sell their items is a huge honour. I've become a real part of the community in the 'hood and it feels like home, unlike any other place I've lived/worked.

How do you find items/artists?
I am lucky that most people either come to me via email or in person or through personal connection.

What do you look for in new products?
First, before anythingI really look for a quality product. I also take cues from my customers. If people are asking for something I do my best to take that as a sign I need to find someone who makes them.

Best piece of advice you would give new artists looking to get there goods into shops

Be organized and prepared. Bring your best pieces, not the leftovers from what didn't sell at the last show you did. Get a bio/artist statement together, take great photos or your work. If you are contacting a shop (via email or in person) take some time to do some research, at the very least learn the shop owners name, it's more often than not on their website or Facebook page. Whenever possible be respectful of their time, make an appointment with the owner or manager – sometimes as much as we would like to to we don't have time for pop ins. Be patient, but if you haven't heard back from a shop owner in a week don't be shy, send a polite reminder or follow up email. I've accidentally deleted emails (or had some go to my junkmail folder) and then not be able to find it later when I wanted to get in touch.

Thanks Cherie!



If you're a team member and want to suggest a shop that you sell in, shop in or own email me peep@thunderpeepdesigns.com

Shop handmade this Holiday Season.

This holiday season, I am trying to buy as many gifts as possible from local and independent handmade artists. So I was thinking, why would someone buy handmade?  Here are my Top five reasons why I will buy handmade this holiday season.

1. SUPPORT - Buying handmade shows your support for local handmade artists. Most of us (including artists) are struggling with the economy the way it is, and by purchasing handmade gifts you may help a struggling artists pay for life’s necessities. I would much rather buy a handmade gift from a local artists rather than a supporting the big-box stores.

2. UNIQUE - Handmade artists make one-of-a-kind gifts, something truly unique. Just the other day I was wearing a handmade necklace from a local artist.  I got so many compliments and people asking "Where did you find that?"

3. QUALITY - Handmade artists pride themselves in providing quality with every item that they sell. For example, if I make a card and it's not perfect, I often discard the piece and start again. Another example is a handmade knitted hat that I recently purchased, you can feel the quality. Many handmade artists will ensure that every stitch, clasp or whatever is perfect. When I buy handmade I know I am getting a quality piece of work.

4. CUSTOM - I have purchased so many customizes pieces over the years. How many time have you been shopping and seen the perfect item and though "if only it was in another colour". When you buy handmade it's as simple as 'can you make this in pink!".

5. ECONOMICAL - Buying handmade is affordable (which I know is surprising to many). I would much rather spend $20 on a piece of jewellery that will last many years, then $5 on a piece that will tarnish or break in months.

So before you buy something that is in mass production, stop and think. So with the holidays right around the corner, and all the rush and fuss, don't forget about the little "gal" or "guy", the shops that are owned by local small business owners. There are so many reasons to shop handmade, I hope I have opened your eyes to just a few.

So this holiday season, shop with our fellow T.E.S.T members or view the list of over 150 handmade artists on my website; Let's shop and support local handmade shops this holiday season.

~ Jacqueline