why it is so important to buy from local artisans
This is the year to think outside the (big) box (stores)
Buy local, buy green, don’t join the rush to the big box stores, but give something unique this holiday season which expresses your personality, not some watered down version of the latest designer trend, made in China.
Creative designers and craftspeople contribute significantly not only to our culture but also to our economy, according to Ramona Froehle-Schacht, producer of the annual Out of Hand Craft Fair.
A study conducted by Bert Perreboom of Peartree Solutions Inc. on behalf of the Canadian Crafts Federation found that the crafts sector generated $727 million nationwide in 2001, a figure equal to the economic impact of the publishing and recording industries in Canada (www.canadiancraftsfederation.ca).
Crafts need to be recognized as a valuable industry in Canada,” she adds. “People embarking on careers as artisans need to be given the support and opportunities that are afforded artists in other sectors. Support can be broadly defined, including government grants and tax incentives, but the most effective support is for the consumer to buy locally-produced crafts. Not only will the consumer be purchasing a unique object but they will be supporting the local economy, small business ownership, creative enterprise, and, possibly, a neighbour. “
For more than 20 years Out of Hand has brought some of Canada's finest artisans to Victoria, giving shoppers the opportunity to buy thoughtful & unique gifts directly from the artists & designers. You will meet the artisans who will be glad to tell you what is special about the pieces you are buying. They can tell you what their inspirations are and how they create the goods you see before you. They may share why they have chosen a life as an artisan and what your patronage means to them and their families. Years from now you will remember and care about where the item you bought came from.