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Date: 10/4/2022
HADLEY – Valley Artisans, a new business selling custom-made craft goods from various independent local vendors, will be opening its first brick and mortar location in the Hampshire Mall on Oct. 16.
Founder Karin Gardner decided to switch directions after a 20-year career in education. Initially, she would create craft goods with her students to sell as a fundraising tactic for field trips. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, she was stuck at home and started creating her own crafts to pass the time. She began making customized tumblers in early 2021 and developed a passion for it.
“I saw tumblers and I was like ‘I want to do that,’ and ever since then that’s all I do now,” she said.
Before long she was bringing her products to craft fairs and establishing relationships with vendors. However, she grew tired of dragging her product around and the constant driving required to attend fairs, so in November of 2021 she opened a kiosk in the Holyoke Mall to sell her merchandise directly. Sales were phenomenal, and thanks to a revitalization effort she was able to open a second kiosk in the Hampshire Mall.
As business continued to expand, so did Gardner’s business model.
“I thought, ‘Well, if I don’t want to do craft fairs anymore, maybe everyone else doesn’t either,’” she said.
After posting on Facebook about her idea to create a space where local craft makers could showcase and sell their wares, she was “flooded in responses” just two days after the post, with hundreds of vendors expressing interest. With a little help from her husband and some inspiration from her friend Brooke, Gardner acquired a storefront in the Hampshire Mall, and Valley Artisans was born.
The shop will feature a wide variety of goods in different price ranges. Some of these include bath and skin care products, garden gnomes, recycled license plates, handbags, toys, jewelry, glassware, pottery, clothing and even clocks made from recycled textbooks. The space will also host classes from creators where attendees are taught how to make craft items. There will be a Valley Artisans website which will allow customers to connect with vendors directly.
Gardner has high hopes for the store. If business continues to boom, she hopes to open multiple locations. She is interested in expanding to West Springfield first. Each location could be an incubator-like space for local craft makers and creatives in general.
Valley Artisans will be officially open for business on Oct. 16 and will follow the same hours as the Hampshire Mall. It is located in between the food court and Planet Fitness, housed in the former Bath and Body Works storefront.