Since January, two new businesses have opened up at Artisan Square, and one business, Bowen’s Little Pet shop, has changed hands. As a result of these and other changes in the past year, Artisan Square has become the domain of, for the most part, female business owners. While all the Artisan Square entrepreneurs work hard for the success of their individual ventures, they have also embraced a spirit of co-operation and successfully created a warm, neighbourhood atmosphere.
Last summer Vikki Fuller and her daughter Brit moved into the space they call the Juniper Gallery.
“It was meant to be a mother-daughter studio, but then she moved,” says Fuller, who has taken over the running of the gallery on her own.
“It has been a big personal challenge for me to get here everyday and paint,” she says. “But the space is perfect, and so many interesting people walk through here, both locals and visitors.”
Fuller equates the community at Artisan Square to a family. She says her relationship with Amrita Sondhi at Movement Global Clothing, is an indication of that.
“I open up Amrita’s store when she’s not there,” says Fuller, pointing to the sign on Movement’s door telling people to just knock on the door of the Juniper Gallery to be let in.
Margaret Miller is not new to the Square, having worked at The Office since 2006. Having purchased her former place of employment, though, makes her a new business owner. Miller says that in her eight years at Artisan Square she’s seen a lot of businesses come and go, but the character and the community of the place has remained a constant.
“We all talk, and we all know what the different businesses are up to. I always try to recommend other Bowen businesses to customers if I don’t have what they’re looking for, but up here, it is particularly convenient.”
Miller says that if someone is printing photos, for example, she’ll suggest they go to Bell’Occhio for a frame; and she sees a lot of collaboration between The Gym and Sandy Logan’s physiotherapy clinic.
This kind of collaboration is precisely what motivated Margit Griffiths to open up her new shop, Coast Modern Furnishings.
“When Murray [Skeels] would sell flooring at his shop, people would often ask him for carpet, as well. I’ve been working for a long time as a broker selling interiors for condominiums and hotels – I’d sell them things like blinds and area rugs. So the idea with my store is that people could come to me for these things, good quality at reduced prices. The shop is more something to attract people so that they know I’m here, a way to put myself out there on Bowen.”
Griffiths says now that Skeels’ shop has closed, there is no one to direct traffic her way, but when people do come into her shop she makes sure they know about her new downstairs neighbours.
“I literally push people into the cashmere shop,” says Griffiths, referring to Artigiani Milanesi, which has moved into the former home of Bowen Island Taekwondo.
This family business produces bespoke pieces made from Italian cashmere, and moved to Bowen from Milan in March.
“Europe is overcrowded and cut-throat,” says Rebecca Bizzari. “We started looking for a change five years ago, and I’ve been obsessed with B.C.”
Bizzarri explains that originally, they had planned to set up shop in Whistler, but couldn’t find people interested in making the commitment to work for them. They then looked into setting up in Vancouver, but made a random visit to Bowen.
“It was the rainiest, most horrible day,” says Bizzarri. “But I fell in love with Bowen all the same, and we came up to Artisan Square and I knew for sure this was the place for us.”
