For hobbyists, turning their creative passion into a self-sustaining business can be a daunting journey. Make or MakeFounder Tanairi Gonzalez wants to help artisans and small businesses remove those barriers and make their vision a reality.
The store, located at 2100 W. Cary St., is divided into two sections, with a retail area in the front and creative studios in the back. Gonzalez said the goal of the store is to provide a space where artists and professionals can use the materials they need and access equipment to finish their products.
“At the end of the day, both are just making things easier and more accessible for people,” Gonzalez said.
The store stocks a wide range of materials for making jewelry, macramé, drinkware and more, as well as recycled packaging and shipping materials, and also stocks ready-made products from local makers.
In the back are the tools and machines that turn those raw materials into sell-ready custom stickers, embellishments, and anything else that designers can infuse with their artistry.
Gonzalez’s idea for Make or Made was born out of the frustrations she experienced as a self-employed business owner designing ceramic and hand-hammered products for the past eight years. “I felt like Richmond residents needed a space where they could have access to amenities to diversify their income streams without having to spend thousands of dollars,” she says. “I hate seeing artists struggling to make money by creating their work, and I did that myself.”
The Make or Made ethos also applies to amateurs: The store hosts monthly classes to introduce craft-loving locals to the range of consumer goods the store can produce. Group and individual workshops start at $20 per person, and employees guide students in designing and creating custom tote bags, wall clocks, rubber stamps and more.
Gonzalez also offers memberships starting at $9 per hour or $79 per month, with the goal of cultivating a community of local artists who can inspire each other. “I wanted to have more fun with what I was doing and have direct interaction with creators and customers, rather than just fulfilling Etsy orders,” she says. “That’s what we’re here for in Richmond.”
Source: Shopping & Style – richmondmagazine.com
