A newly opened store at Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener, Ont., is providing a physical space for local vendors to showcase and sell their products in a time dominated by online shopping. The Local, which launched last Saturday, unites approximately 80 Canadian vendors under one roof.
Co-owned by Lorenz and Rizzy Manaig, The Local was established to support local vendors in growing their businesses on a community level. The idea for the store stemmed from the Manaigs’ personal encounters with the highly competitive online market. Rizzy, who initiated her online business in 2018, observed that platforms like Etsy often compel vendors to reduce prices due to fierce competition from international sellers.
Lorenz shared that with tariffs leading some vendors to shut down their online operations, there is a pressing need for alternative avenues for local vendors. The couple initially opened their inaugural store, The Local, last year at London’s White Oaks Mall. Subsequently, they expanded to Port Stanley with the Port Stanley Gift Shop.
A significant portion of the vendors at The Local hail from the Waterloo region, with 40 vendors from the London location also branching out to Kitchener. Beyond supporting local vendors, Rizzy emphasized the importance of enabling customers to discover and purchase locally made products within a mall setting.
Catherine Young, the proprietor of Backyard Honey Company in Wellesley and a vendor at The Local, anticipates reaching a new customer base by having a mall presence. For Dami Rodrigo, owner of Ceylon Selects specializing in premium Sri Lankan tea, showcasing products at the mall signifies a major advancement from previous market booths.
Niclin McNeice, creator of Nic Da Stick Creations, expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness about having a permanent display for her artwork featuring designs inspired by Pikachu and cats. The store operates on a rent-based system, allowing vendors to retain 100% of their earnings.
The Manaigs uphold a rigorous vendor application process to ensure all products are genuinely handmade, emphasizing authenticity as a key value for The Local’s success. Lorenz highlighted the significance of providing customers with a tangible and authentic shopping experience in an era where trust in online visuals is waning. Each vendor’s story is showcased on the store shelves, fostering a sense of community and passion among visitors.
