The Creemore Shop and Co-op is a mix of art gallery and carefully curated flea market.
Its treasures are too many to name but each of the vendors bring their creativity to their assigned nook.
There are currently 10 partners peddling their wares out of the shop that is structured as a cooperative. The business was established in the fall by Alicia Lawson and Ashley Doucette. Instead of setting up as a consignment shop, they decided to bring in vendors who would share in the monthly rent.
Lawson, a photographer, was selling her work out of the back room at My Pullover when it closed. She wanted to stay in the same location, at 145 Mill Street, but needed financial partners. She partnered with Doucette, who sells hand-painted furniture and crocheted items, and went about recruiting other vendors.
Lawson said there was a high turnover at first but this spring, things stabilized with 10 core vendors selling vintage home décor and clothing, paintings, jewellery, wood carvings, sewing and furnishings made from reclaimed wood. The vendors make their own products within a fairly local area.
When Lawson moved back home to Creemore after graduating from college a few years ago she joined a co-op in Collingwood. She said the members bounced ideas off of each other and others acted as mentors.
“It was a great support system and this is a throw back to that,” said Lawson. “It allows people to have a storefront without consignment fees… When you are selling on your own it can be a bit discouraging.”
New vendors are now being added and on weekends in the summer months, the co-op will open up an outdoor market space beside the shop.
For more information about vendor space inside the shop or in the new outdoor market, e-mail mill.street.mashup@gmail.com or call 705-532-4716.