Town & Country

4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 R O B L I N B usiness is booming in the Town of Roblin, where two trendy new shops are catch- ing the attention of consum- ers from near and far. Offering a combination of coffee and curiosities, Market Made opened its doors in May, right along Main Street's main drag. The café and handcrafted marketplace offers something for every- one, from coffeeholics to shopaholics. Owner Ashlyn McMillen has been con- sistently busy since she opened the shop. "The response from the community has been very good. They've been very supportive, and I've even hired two em- ployees," she says. "Roblin has a good amount of tourism in the summer, so it's been neat to see where other people have come from when they stopped in. It's been going very well." Her entrepreneurial efforts began a couple years ago when she started selling her handmade baby products on Etsy through her business SnugglebudS- waddles. Through that experience, she gained inside insight into the tight-knit community of crafters. "There really is a niche for a little com- munity of makers. It was a privilege and an inspiration to be a part of that," says McMillen, who has a two-year-old son and three-year-old daughter. "I just thought that there needs to be a place where we can all come together and somebody can believe in us. They can support us and buy our things in- stead of buying sweatshop clothes." So she took the plunge and opened Market Made, where she now sells handmade items from 30 different North American brands. Her wide-ranging wares include hand-sewn baby items, glass and tableware, bath bombs, jewelry, screen-printed T-shirts, and Coal and Canary candles. "I look for makers that are active on social media, Instagram, Facebook," she says. "Having an Etsy shop really helps, but I just like my makers to be proactive and really keen on marketing and branding." In addition to her eclectic collection of crafty creations, McMillen also sells a bevy of beverages made with coffee beans from Regina-based Caliber Cof- fee Roasters. "From a business side, I wanted some- thing that could supplement the income coming in from the handmade market. People could come in, order a coffee and cruise around —and then maybe a $5 sale turns into a $30 sale because they saw something that would be a good gift for somebody," she says. "I'm quite proud of the drinks we make. My baristas are very good and very well trained." Showing support for other local busi- nesses, Market Made also stocks a selection of doughnuts and other sweet treats from Parkland Bakery in Roblin. "We don't have a commercial kitchen so we're not set up to bake right in- store," she says. 'Eventually I would like to expand and do more of a soup and sandwich bistro." For now, she's bringing in fall items and planning ahead for affordable Christmas stocking stuffers. When she contacts her suppliers, she thinks back to the first time another business wanted to stock her own handmade baby items. "As an independent business owner, it really affirms that what you're doing is good and there's somebody else who believes that and wants to share it," she says. "I just wanted to be able to do that for other people too." Located just down the street, the newly opened Crave Style shows similar support for other local businesses, while offering exceptional goods for its own clients. In early July, owner Ellen Arnott launched the bustling boutique, which features a mix of unique fashions, jewelry and accessories. "I try to look for different kinds of gift ideas that you may not find in other places," Arnott says. And she knows exactly where to find these out-of-the-ordinary items, since she spent the past two decades working for a family-based import company on Vancouver Island before moving back home to Roblin. "I worked for 20 years in the wholesale gift end of the industry, so I know a lot of different importers and wholesalers," she says. "I've done the gift shows so I know a lot of the product that's out there. I go for the smaller importers and not necessarily the mainstream gift wholesaling companies." At the same time, Arnott keeps an eye on local trendsetters, such as Winnipeg- based EMK clothing, which will be featured at Crave Style this fall. "It's made in Manitoba and designed in Manitoba, so I'm excited about that," she says. "I think it's great that more people are trying to focus on buying local. They have to have choices or they won't be able to buy local all the time, so I think it's great that there are so many new things happening in Roblin." Maintaining her focus close to home, Arnott aims to help other local business- es whenever she can. "If someone comes into my shop, I also tell them about other shops in town and try to send them there," she says. "The more people who know what Roblin has to offer —especially those from out of town — the better it is for Roblin. There's a lot here, so it's worth coming back." BY JENNIFER MCFEE Photos at left courtesy of Crave Style owner Ellen Arnott (pictured above Market Made owner Ashlyn McMillen below) Any Child. Any Need. Every Day. With your donation you give a child... a childhood. Call (204) 982-1050 O R V I S I T varietymanitoba.com DONATE T O D A Y Every day, Variety improves the lives of children with special needs. Whether it's new batteries for a hearing device or covering the insurance for advanced medical equipment, your donation has an impact today, and for the rest of their lives. mobile ~ convenient Boat Rentals PLEASE DONATE TODAY PLEASE DONATE TODAY

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