We Are Local Holiday Pop-up Shop Promotes Vancouver Businesses

Credit: Ingrid Lodewyk

We Are Local offers curated gift boxes and loads of stocking stuffers

It started as a blog and guide to local businesses, and now We Are Local has set up shop on Main Street to feature holiday gift boxes from 60 Vancouver businesses

A Main Street pop-up shop featuring gifts sets from Vancouver businesses has sprung up just in time for the holidays.

The temporary store known as the We Are Local Holiday Pop-Up Shop is an offshoot of the store guide and blog by the same name. 

We Are Local founders Daniela Lee and Dean Philp came up with the concept for the store as a way to extend their brand.

“We have taken the guide and made it into a bricks-and-mortar concept,” said Philp.

Locally Curated Gift Boxes

Sixty local businesses were given brown, recycled cardboard boxes of different shapes and sizes to fill with gifts. There were no parameters around the contents other than that all clothing contained must be one size fits all. The participating stores then drop the boxes off at We Are Local and the contents are sold on consignment.

“We gave local businesses boxes to curate themselves,” said Lee. “It has been fun seeing them all coming in. Each one is a surprise.”

Prices for the gift boxes range between $25 and $150. In addition to the prepackaged gifts, there are loads of stocking stuffers from matchboxes to buttons.

Michelle Rizzardo, owner of Gastown clothing and accessories store One of a Few, said the temporary storefront is a great way for people to stumble on new businesses.

“You might discover a store you aren’t familiar with,” said Rizzardo. “It is also really nice to have all these stores collaborating instead of competing for business over the holidays.”

Rizzardo contributed two boxes both containing a set of hand-printed stockings, deep-red nail polish, a whimsical, engraved vintage silver spoon and pair of square, sterling silver rings. The gift sets sell for $120 each.

Performance Art

Lee and Philp are also using the store to promote local artists. Each week from now until the end of December, a local artist will paint the front window of the shop. Artwork by the same artist will also be for sale inside the store.

This week artist Russell Alton, maker of silkscreened and hand-coloured prints and cards, is creating performance art in the front window with creation of a Cubist-inspired shepherd scene.

Sarah Savoy owner of Much & Little, who happens to be located next door to We Are Local, said she is enjoying the temporary digs.

“It has created a buzz in the neighbourhood,” said Savoy.

Details:

We Are Local Holiday Pop-Up Shop
2935 Main Street
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, now until December 31

(The store is located in the Whoa! Nellie bike shop, which has temporarily moved upstairs for the duration of the holiday season.)