Vancouver is a city filled with talented artists, creators and craftspeople, so it’s no wonder this is where Shop Makers found its home. Born in Vancouver in 2020, this retail concept brings the works of local artists direct to consumers in one space. It’s a retail collective that carries far more than crafts and trinkets. It weaves together stories of artistry, entrepreneurship, and community. Its influence now spans provinces with its promise residing in the hands of makers.

A Pandemic Idea Expanded to 20+ Stores

The seed for Shop Makers sprouted during the pandemic, when pop‑ups replaced open‑studios and virtual storefronts attempted to substitute for in‑person markets. Founders Veronica Kos and Adam Sharanewych launched a two‑month holiday pop‑up in Gastown to offer local artisans physical space. The response unveiled something bigger; makers were working, creating, hoping to be seen. The pop‑up became permanent. Stores multiplied. Communities embraced them.

Now Shop Makers has expanded to 22 locations across British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Vancouver locations include Gastown, Kitsilano and Robson Street, plus several locations in Greater Vancouver.

A Model That Returns Power to Artisans

At the heart of Shop Makers lies an unusual business model where artisans keep 100 percent of the revenue from every sale. There is no commission, no hidden cut. Instead, every shopper pays a 13 percent service fee at checkout. That fee covers operational costs – credit card fees, point‑of‑sale systems, rent, staffing – and it’s transparent, listed on their website and baked into the checkout process so there are no surprises. And the customers don’t seem to mind at all, in fact they are happy to support it and appreciate the transparency. 

Artisans also have options in how they present themselves. They choose among different display sizes including smaller “entry” displays and two‑foot or three‑foot displays, giving them control of investment, visibility and aesthetic.

An artisan also gets access to proprietary technology, like dashboards to track sales, manage inventory and restock. Payments go directly to them. They don’t simply drop off their items and hope, they also utilize their entrepreneurial skill. 

Scope, Scale and Significance

To date Shop Makers has generated over CAD $46 million in sales for artisans. Over 1000 makers currently sell through their stores.

These figures matter not as badges of success but as evidence that artisan economies can thrive under a different paradigm, one rooted in respect, visibility, and fair value. Vancouver was the incubator. The expansion shows that the model resonates beyond local markets.

A Retail Space that Reflects Local Culture

Walking into a Shop Makers store feels intimate but rich. Objects vary with ceramics, candles, jewelry, art and prints, home décor, apparel, soaps and stationery. Products reflect local materials and local stories. The shops are curated. Store managers review applications not just for craftsmanship but for uniqueness, narrative, how a piece fits in with other makers in that location.

Space is rented monthly. New vendor commitments begin at a minimum of three months, then become month‑to‑month. There exists variation among locations in how quickly waitlists move; some categories fill faster than others.

A Direct Connection to Artists and Makers

Shop Makers does more than sell goods. It builds connections. Its blog and social media features stories like “Meet our Makers,” “Behind the Craft,” and “Maker Academy” tips. These entries spotlight both the skill and journey of artisans. This narrative layer turns acrylic paints and clay and thread into markers of identity. Via these channels artisans gain visibility not only in one store but across the Shop Makers network which includes over 60,000 Instagram followers. 

Why Shop Makers Matters for Vancouver

In Vancouver, where there are many talented independent craftspeople, designers, and small batch producers, finding retail space is expensive. Market stalls are seasonal. Online is saturated. Shop Makers offers a middle ground: affordable shelf‑space, exposure, infrastructure, and crucially, ownership of earnings.

When a maker in Vancouver puts a piece in a Robson Street or Kitsilano store, the object crosses from studio to street‑level visibility. That connects artisan with passerby; it turns craft into commerce without surrender.

Shop Makers also amplifies impact. Local shopping circulates dollars within the city. Materials, tools, packaging, local services – those ecosystems benefit. The broader effect ripples outward, artisans can invest more in quality, in time, in refining craft.

Crafting a New Kind of Storefront

Shop Makers is both institution and experiment. As it grows, its path will be shaped by what it learns: how to scale without losing intimacy, how to support makers beyond financial return, and how to maintain a sense of place within each storefront.

The business model already reveals what is possible. Retail can distribute value rather than extract it. The act of buying can carry meaning, serving as a gesture of support rather than mere transaction. In Vancouver, Shop Makers operates as more than a network of stores. It presents a working model for community-centered commerce.