Locally-made goods all in one place

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: KANDICE TRICKETT
The Been Garden - located at 1018 Dundas St. - sells crafts, all locally made.

About four months ago, Kandice Trickett was looking for a new way to create exposure for local craft artists. The problem was that they weren’t getting much exposure online – people want to see and feel crafts before they purchase them, she said. Artists could showcase their work in galleries, but then they’d have to pay gallery fees, which meant they’d make little profit from selling them.

Brainstorming led to Trickett setting up shop in August and selling crafts made by local artists from her home without charging artists fees.

It went so well that she ran out of space. So, she moved her shop to 1018 Dundas St., where she opened the Been Garden on January 24, selling locally made crafts, such as soaps, crochet animals, papier maché and pottery.

“We made a small boutique where you can bring your stuff, and everybody works together to advertise,” she said. “It’s basically just like a community store.”

Sometimes people who want to start shopping local have problems finding places where they sell local stuff, Trickett said. There’s the Western Fair Market, but it’s only opened Saturday mornings. She says wants the Been Garden to be a one-stop shop for shopping local.

“It’s super awesome what she’s doing,” said Bright Dunn, a local artist who makes eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth diapers and sanitary napkins. “The fact that everybody is in it together, that’s what makes it really unique and special. It’s like we’re a big family here.”

Trickett encourages students interested in selling their crafts at the Been Garden to get in touch with her through her Facebook page at on.fb.me/15zVfVa or to drop by the store and chat with her.

“The whole point of the store is when you shop local your helping you’re neighbour, you’re helping a mom, you’re helping a student.”