Canadian retailer Shop Makers is marking a milestone in its rapid expansion across the country. The company recently opened its 19th location at Orchard Park Shopping Centre in Kelowna, British Columbia, strengthening its mission to support Canadian artisans and connect communities with locally crafted goods.
Co-founders Adam Sharanewych and Veronica Kos said the Kelowna launch was a success despite the usual last-minute preparations.
“Like all of our store openings, a little bit of a mad dash and scramble, but we were able to get open, said Sharanewych. The response was really strong. The Kelowna community was really excited to see a Makers store open up, and the feedback was amazing.”
The Kelowna opening underscores a growing appetite among Canadians for shopping locally and supporting small businesses — a movement that Shop Makers has been at the heart of since its founding in 2020.
Born from the Pandemic: Shop Makers’ Origin Story
Shop Makers was created at the height of the pandemic when retail shutdowns devastated the artisan community. Sharanewych, who had been building a Canadian alternative to Etsy, saw an urgent need for artisans to find physical retail spaces when craft fairs and markets were canceled.
At the same time, Kos, who was working in the travel industry, found herself with more availability as global travel ground to a halt.
“We said, ‘Let’s just try a brick-and-mortar pop-up,” said Sharanewych. “Covid made it difficult to shop in person, but it also amplified the importance of shopping local.”
Their first store opened in November 2020 in Vancouver’s Gastown as a two-month pop-up — and it quickly turned into a permanent business.
“Despite all the awkwardness of shopping during Covid, people were really happy to actually have something real-world they could go out and enjoy,” said Sharanewych.
Kos added, “There was actually an influx of people who started a side business or a craft of some kind during Covid. We had more vendors but fewer places to sell, so it was a really unique time.”
A Unique Retail Model That Empowers Artisans
What sets Shop Makers apart is its innovative business model. Artisans rent shelf or display space for a flat fee — and keep 100% of their sales.
“The artisans set their prices. It’s not like traditional retail where there’s a huge markup,” said Kos. “If someone thinks a price is high, it’s because that’s what the artisan needs to survive — to pay rent, buy materials, and make a living.”
Each Makers location is carefully curated by local store managers who recruit artisans based on community demand.
“Our model empowers store managers to really understand their neighborhood demographics,” said Sharanewych. “If customers keep asking for incense, and we don’t have it, the manager knows to find an artisan who can fill that gap.”
The stores themselves are small, typically between 1,000 and 1,800 square feet, but packed with an array of handmade goods: jewelry, home décor, stationery, prints, ceramics, candles, clothing, local foods, and more.
“Walking into a Makers store is like walking into a hyper-condensed craft fair,” said Sharanewych. “The scent when you walk in — a mix of candles and soaps — is unforgettable.”
Supporting Canadian-Made Products — and Canadian Communities
With growing conversations around tariffs and global supply chain disruptions, the appeal of supporting Canadian-made goods is stronger than ever.
“People are conscious now,” said Sharanewych. “They want their dollars to stay in Canada. Even if a Canadian product is a little more expensive than something from overseas, people are willing to make that choice.”
about 85% to 95% of the products sold at each Shop Makers store are from artisans within driving distance of that location. Some products come from across provinces to ensure diverse offerings, but the focus remains overwhelmingly local.
“Money that leaves Canada doesn’t always come back,” Sharanewych emphasized. “Supporting local is supporting the economy directly.”
Expansion Across Provinces: Alberta, Ontario, and Beyond
Initially focused on British Columbia, Shop Makers expanded into Alberta in late 2023, opening locations in Edmonton, Calgary, and elsewhere. In 2024, the retailer accelerated its growth, launching four new stores in Ontario alongside additional Alberta openings.
“We’ve been really happy with the response,” said Sharanewych. “Sales have been strong, and the quality of artisans we’ve been able to bring in is incredible.”
Looking ahead, Shop Makers is eyeing expansion into Quebec — though the founders acknowledge the additional complexity of entering that market due to language laws and regulatory requirements.
“Quebec would be huge for us,” said Sharanewych. “There’s so much talent and culture there. We’d love to be part of that.”
Other future targets include Winnipeg’s CF Polo Park, Halifax, and other vibrant urban centres across Canada.
“Once we open in Halifax, we’ll really feel like we’ve covered coast-to-coast,” Kos added.
Streetfront vs. Shopping Centre Locations
Shop Makers’ store locations reflect a strategic mix of streetfront and shopping centre sites.
“Shopping centres offer high foot traffic, but street locations give us a community feel,” said Sharanewych.
“Being on streets like Robson in Vancouver or Queen Street in the Beaches in Toronto helps build our brand coolness.”
Choosing the right space is critical. Shop Makers looks for units where the floor space is maximized for product displays, minimizing the need for back rooms.
“We need all our square footage on the floor,” explained Sharanewych. “That way, artisans can get the best visibility for the lowest possible rent.”
Building a Sustainable, Slow Retail Future
The Shop Makers model fits into broader sustainability trends, promoting slower, more thoughtful consumerism.
“A lot of our vendors care deeply about sustainability — in the materials they use and their production methods,” said Kos.
The founders often educate shoppers about the real cost of handmade goods.
“If you can get a mug for $3 somewhere, somebody’s being cut out of that process,” Kos said. “When you buy from an artisan, you’re paying for the craft, the materials, and the time that someone put into creating it by hand.”
Sharanewych added, “This isn’t about bulk discount markups. It’s about helping artisans survive and thrive.”
E-Commerce Takes a Back Seat to In-Person Shopping
Interestingly, despite its roots in e-commerce, Shop Makers has intentionally stayed focused on physical retail.
“We’ve almost reached the peak of e-commerce for convenience items,” said Sharanewych. “But for handmade products, people want to touch, feel, and smell them.”
He added, “Managing an e-commerce platform with 1,000 different artisans would be a logistical nightmare. In-person retail just makes more sense for what we offer.”
Future Plans: Growing Thoughtfully
While Shop Makers is ambitious, its founders are committed to thoughtful, sustainable growth.
“Our goal is about 30 stores across Canada,” said Sharanewych. “After that, who knows? Maybe North America.”
For now, the focus remains firmly on Canada — supporting artisans, connecting communities, and fostering a more conscious way of shopping.
“We want to be that bridge between makers and the community,” said Kos. “Every sale helps someone’s small business survive — and that’s something really powerful.”
