Updates, Part 1: A New Storefront in Riverside

by Jehan Teja September 14, 2016

I've been meaning to post for ages but I just haven't had the chance - it's been a whirlwind of a summer! So much so, that I'm breaking down my updates into three different posts this week :)

For starters, this past May I was invited to be a vendor with Arts Market, an incredible Toronto-based organization that is perfectly suited for an independent artisan like me. With three locations around the downtown core, Arts Market provides a larger retail shop and friendly staff, and allows individual creative businesses to outfit a smaller space within the shop however they'd like. So you can create your own, branded mini-storefront, similar to a craft market display but without having to physically be on location to sell your wares. It's also very cost-effective, and the owner, Daniel, takes great pains to make sure that any feedback from the vendors is carefully considered. It's a great set up and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to branch out from online sales without a huge upfront investment.

Everything sold at Arts Market is either locally handmade or vintage, and I'm so honoured to have my work alongside that of so many other talented Torontonian artists. Not to mention, I've had the opportunity to meet lots of lovely people, which I appreciate given that I mostly work by myself - as introverted as I am, sometimes it's nice to meet people who are in the same boat as you are!

Here are some photos from the week we spent setting up. I had lots of help from my lovely fiancé, Sina, and his delightful cousin, Shadi. It was a lot of work, but it was all worth it when, at the end, we took a step back and realized it looks pretty much exactly like a real-life version of my Etsy store, which is exactly what I'd hoped for!

If you're in the Riverside neighbourhood, be sure to stop by 790 Queen Street East to check out my display! :)