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In Conversation with Michelle & Metka // Public Mercantile
Name: Michelle Ardiel & Metka Lazar Shop: Public Mercantile Address: 1804 Government St, Victoria BC Instagram: @publicmercantile Can you describe Public Mercantile? Our shop is lovingly curated by Michelle and Metka — every piece that is in the shop went through a lot of thought. Our shop is full of delights, from fashion to books to skincare to homewares to gifts. Lots of people tell us we are the best gift shop in Victoria, the best place to find special things to give to others (and yourself!). We wanted to offer a different kind of retail experience in Victoria, one in which the brand and the items within our…
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In Conversation with Melissa // Quantum Yoga Club
"I truly believe that Victoria has a big enough pie that all studios can have a piece. If you want to open a yoga studio, I would suggest that you find your niche. What separates you from the other well-established studios? What is your studio’s vibe and culture going to be? Who are you going to realize this vision with? Although it can seem like a luxurious career — and trust me it’s super sweet — it’s also a lot of work, a ton of admin, and time management."
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In Conversation with Keith & Jenn // Oh Sugar Candy Shop
"Our inspiration comes from all our candy favorites from childhood. We are delighted when our customers get excited about something cool that we carry in the shop or when they say they haven't seen something since they were a kid!"
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In Conversation with Hayley // Nourish Kitchen & Café
"Nourish is, at its very core, a creative expression and celebration of the cycles of the seasons and the edible bounty produced. I never set out to create a restaurant — it was simply the manifestation of what I knew and the way I could contribute my beliefs. There are so many more dreams I have for the company and more ways in which I wish to support our community in being well-fed with foods that in turn nourish our worlds."
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In Conversation with Jill // Side Street Studio
"Side Street Studio has represented almost 600 artists in 37 years. All the artists are from British Columbia, primarily Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver. It is hard to summarize so many amazing personalities and their work, but you can feel it in the store. As every piece is handmade, it reflects the heart of the artist that made it."
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In Conversation with Mark & Mary // Alcheringa Gallery
"What guides our choices is putting our artists and their communities first. We believe our business is built on respect and care for indigenous culture and all of our choices are made with this in mind. As non-indigenous directors of an indigenous gallery, our goal is to uphold indigenous rights always, and to promote and support the artists in every way possible. This means listening and responding and working closely at all times. This also means operating our business the right way, including inviting elders for openings and special events, as well as always recognizing traditional territories and being constantly grateful to represent indigenous culture."
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In Conversation with Katrina // Market Collective
"Be vigilant about what really matters. Remember to ask yourself: what is the heart of what you are doing in your business? Is it just about money … or does it have a deeper meaning and intention behind it, whether that be supporting local artists or simply providing something of beauty, however that may be defined? A business with heart is what our community needs. The village is what matters in the end."
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In Conversation with Katharine // barreMADE
"Be prepared to work harder than you can imagine and accept that the unexpected can and will happen. At times, it will be a roller coaster ride. Through it all, don’t lose focus on why you are pursuing this. There will be days you want to give up, but focus on the positive, turn to your support people and be willing to adapt. Things may not work out at first, but instead of giving up, try again. Keep going. There is nothing more rewarding than pursuing your passion."
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In Conversation with Stephen // Chorizo & Co.
"Being relatively new to this as owners, we have been absolutely blown away by the way the community of small businesses has come together to support each other during this pandemic. We are truly grateful for the culture of supporting local that has been prevalent in our city since far before the pandemic."
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In Conversation with Deanna & Courtney // MONA Consignment
"I am so grateful to every single person who walks in our door, whether they are here to shop or consign! I find the hardest thing is to say no. We are a small store so we can’t accept everything that comes in, but we never want to offend anyone. We wish we could take it all!"
