HANDMADE HEAVEN SETS MAY DATE FOR LANSDOWNE PLACE OPENING

BUSINESS CONCEPT HAS WORKED WELL IN OTHER MALL LOCATIONS ACROSS THE NATION, OWNER SAYS

Sam Milne says the immediate reception he's received regarding his store opening in Lansdowne Place has almost been overwhelming. He can't imagine what it will be like closer to Christmas.

Milne announced this week he'll be opening Handmade Heaven on the upper level of the mall on May 1.

The concept — one where local artists have a section to showcase and sell their wares — is not new to him. He has a family connection with Nooks, a successful chain of 18 similar ventures in malls across Canada, including Vaughan Mills Mall in the GTA.

Milne says it's a great way for local artists to showcase their talents and sell their creations. And with so many artists represented in one location, they all benefit each other through self-promotion on their Instagram sites or websites.

"It's been very successful," says Milne, who admits to spending a lot of his youth shopping the stores of Lansdowne Place. Each of the vendors will have space to display their work and an opportunity to drive their customers to other pieces they have on their websites or social media accounts. The vendors can keep 100 per cent of their sales, he says.

There is room for 120 vendors in the new space. The vendors can add their own products and design their space the way they would like with a business logo, business cards and more.

"They won't just get the sales of the shoppers in the mall, but also many people calling for custom orders as well. It's great advertising also. The back-end technology created is very important also, as each vendor will get their own vendor code and will get instant email alerts as soon as they sell something; that way, they know what is selling and what to make more of and stock up on."

The in-store staff will also replenish items sold from the overstock bins that the vendors will leave at the store.

"It's all handmade, small-business artisans ... There is nothing like it in any of the malls around Peterborough."

He put the word out Tuesday (March 14) that he was looking for vendors, and in just a single day, he had 25 artists and businesses express interest. But he's still taking applications in time for the May 1 opening.

There will also be an opportunity to have pop-ups on the weekend. "We will always have a pop-up booth set up for the vendors to use freely," he says.

"I just know it will work here. There are just so many artisans around Peterborough."

Visit the Handmade Heaven Instagram or Facebook sites to learn more, or to apply to be a vendor.