Spotlight Sundays - Cheerfully Made

Spotlight Sundays is back, and to kick things off we are highlighting a colourful and vibrant store in Almonte, ON, Cheerfully Made:

In 2013, owner Emily Arbour decided to open a retail shop inspired by the craft markets she’d been organizing since 2010. Her vision was that the shop would be a brick-and-mortar extension of the shows and feature Canadian makers and their products. Over the past several years, Cheerfully Made Goods and Market has grown to feature more than 60 brands (many local) and supports a great number of makers, artists and entrepreneurs from across the country.

Since she could pour lemon concentrate into a pitcher, Emily has been a passionate entrepreneur. A small-town girl at heart, Emily is a true cheerleader for her community and sees Cheerfully Made as not just a retail shop, but a space to empower entrepreneurs, build community and make the world a more cheerful place.

Here are some key principles that they stand by:

1: Promote Canadian-made Goods + Makers

They love Canadian made. Nothing makes them more excited than discovering new items made by Canadian comrades and introducing them to their shoppers. Though they do carry a handful items from beyond Canada's borders, they always look locally first.

2: Encourage Community over Competition

They work hard to nurture community among makers through markets and social networks and believe strongly (because they see it happen everyday!) that when we work together, we’re all better for it.

3: Lead with Heart

They believe that we have a responsibility to show up for our community with authenticity and passion. They use their shop, events and social influence to encourage others to go after their creative dreams and feel truly supported in doing so.

Favourite Soap So Co. product?

It must be the Judy bar soap. This was the first thing that caught our eye when we first saw you at the Toronto Show. We are a colourful shop that loves rainbows, but rainbows are also important in support to our LGBTQIA+ community and to know that this soap isn't just beautiful but also supports that community is a win-win.

Emily runs three craft markets a year: Spring Market in May, Fall Market in September, and Holiday Market in November. These markets are actually how their shop was born! Emily has been hosting markets for 15 years, even through the pandemic (going virtual). Each market features 50-100 makers from Ontario and Quebec, showcasing their incredible handmade or vintage goods.

Two of these markets are hosted right in their small town of Almonte, Ontario, where the shop is located. These events not only highlight amazing artisans but also bring life and economy to their town. The markets have a fantastic following, drawing anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 visitors a day.

Go check out this amazing store and follow on Instagram, and if you’re in Almonte, ON pop in and say hi.