"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."

"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."

"We hope to gain greater perspective. For some this has meant the end of an era, and for others, the beginning. We believe it’s so important to always give others whatever support you can, financial, emotional or otherwise. Everyone is doing their best, and you never know the whole story. In terms of growth, we want just that: to continue expanding our business while remaining who we are."

"We don't tend to look at trends – I have never worked that way. It feels as though you aren't growing, reaching or challenging yourself as a designer if you only talk about what's current or on trend. The more important focus to me is how can we create something which draws people in, or how do we re-interpret a specific design detail, and so on. Be aware of your industry at large but try to interpret what that looks like for your own brand or company. Never copy."