Make stuff, not war.
That's the slogan on a chalkboard sign Gastown pedestrians will see when walking by Makers on Water Street, written in response to the tariff threats on Canadian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Vancouver-based business that's since expanded to 17 locations nationwide, including a new one on Robson Street opening at the end of February, ensures that 100 per cent of sales go back to the local entrepreneur who puts the product on the shelves.
Spending local keeps money local
Makers began as "Canadian Etsy" as co-founders Adam Sharanewych and Veronica Kos explained to V.I.A., providing a platform for artisans to sell products and believing it's important, now more than ever, to buy local.
"Money spent within the local community stays within the local community," said Sharanewych, Makers' CEO.
"When people shop at independent retailers and small businesses, they're directly supporting the wages of their neighbours, people in their community [who] in turn, are going to take that money and spend it in other places in the community," explained Sharanewych. "But as soon as that money exits, goes overseas or out of the country, it's never coming back. It's a one-way transaction. So, if you're looking to make a lasting impact, that dollar that you spend in your local community....it propagates on and on, and it's just going to continue to contribute."
Makers started an e-commerce database that hosted 75 vendors. Since then, it's grown to host 1,000 in its store as of July 2024. Products on shelves are catered to the neighbourhood the location serves.
For example, Gastown's shop is predominantly tourist items as it's within walking distance of Waterfront Station, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and Canada Place.
Artisans have come and gone, but some have stayed since Makers' origin. This includes Maple Ridge's Go Naked Essentials at the Gastown location, selling homemade candles and bath salts.
Tariff threats prompt local makers to support each other
Kos, Makers' director of marketing, said since the U.S. tariffs were initially proposed, she's noticed Makers' small businesses come together to lift each other up.
"The promotion of small businesses has been kind of amplified recently," she explained. Kos said those business owners have been sharing a similar sentiment: "We're all Canadian businesses. Let's promote each other. Let's share our company names with each other, and then kind of spread the word more about the locations that they're in."
Makers claims the biggest challenge among retailers is the same as what its consumers face: real estate.
Sharanewych said grassroots retailers from decades past disappeared, but fluctuating economies have left behind high rent and operations costs that only larger corporations can afford.
Local small businesses part of diverse retail mix
"You just see the same 20 retail stores and in every neighbourhood is because those are the ones that can pay the rent," he explained, believing neighbourhoods are becoming less diverse and "more homogeneous" as a result.
Sharanewych added that recently people are being very careful about how they spend their money, focusing on prices and convenience. But in the long run, that doesn't help local small businesses, which may charge a bit more just to stay afloat.
"If you just choose convenience over the conscious supporting of local or Canadian businesses, you're going to end up with a very undiverse retail mix and lack of community feel in your neighbourhoods."
Sharanewych said Makers is grateful for the passion of its entrepreneurs as well as the community's support for choosing to buy local.
The company's ultimate goal, he noted, to to keep pushing "Canadian entrepreneurship and creativity" and add more shops catered to those neighbourhoods.
Makers' Vancouver locations include Gastown (38 Water St), Kitsilano (1929 W 4th Ave) and soon-to-be Robson (1092 Robson St). There are also nine Makers shops elsewhere in B.C., four in Alberta, and four in Ontario.
