CANMORE – Local retailer Cornucopia Gifts aims to bridge the sales gap crafters and artisans face when attempting to sell their products outside of farmers markets and holiday craft fairs.
The 10th Street location held its grand opening on March 24, offering a selection of Southern Alberta artisan made products previously only available on market days.
“What we’ve tried to do is give artisan crafters in the local area, that being from Banff to Southern Alberta, a place to bring their products and showcase them,” said Rhonda Sauerberg, owner of Cornucopia Gifts.
Paintings, honey, bath bombs and clothing of all types are some of the products currently available in store.
Visitors to Canmore’s Mountain Market and Banff’s Farmers Market would find familiar territory when it comes to locally made goods.
One recognizable name includes Banff crochet artist Sarah Autumn, who has a variety of toothpick method textiles for sale.
“We have a lot of talent in this area and its really hard for people to find a place to showcase that except at trade shows or weekend farmers markets,” she said.
“This gives them some place they can have all year round and still be at home and do the things they love to do.”
Sauerberg had previously operated a similar niche market business in Lethbridge before moving to the Bow Valley.
She said operating her retail space ensures that artists and crafters don’t have to go the social media route, or start a larger business if they don’t want to.
“That’s just a lot of extra work when they would rather be doing their craft.”
The goal is to allow for continuous turnover in an artisan’s stocks, allowing them to showcase new products frequently instead of four or five times a year.
“We have people who are in here already that come in and they change around their product or bring some new stuff in if they only had a few things,” she said.
Cornucopia Gifts is open daily from 12 to 5 p.m.
