Meet Joel and Mark, owners of Made in the Maritimes Artisan Boutique.

When you first enter a Made in the Maritimes storefront, you’re welcomed by the scent of handmade candles and soap, brightly painted works of fine art, and beautiful displays of pottery, wood workings, glassware, and textiles. Each unique product that decorates their shelves comes from a local artisan, all of which collectively boast the warmth and charm of the East Coast.

Stop by this time of year and you will be enamoured by the spirit of the season, as the staff at Made in the Maritimes fill every corner with holiday magic, bringing the store to life.

History in the making

Before establishing their deep roots in Nova Scotia, Joel of Sydney, Australia, and Mark from Ontario, Canada, met in 2002 in the land down under, drawn together by their mutual interest in building a business.

A move to Canada several years later, Joel and Mark began their Nova Scotian adventure not knowing exactly what was in store. Upon their arrival in Halifax, they were quickly able to identify a gap in the marketplace. While the Maritimes are home to many local artists and makers, there were few places for them to showcase their work. This realization resulted in the establishment of a brick-and-mortar store to support local artists and to promote their products on a larger scale. 

Founded in May 2015, Made in the Maritimes began their road to success by offering high quality products sourced from all four Atlantic provinces, focusing on the local population as a key target market. “We wanted to help bring awareness to the people of the Maritimes region of the amazing high-quality products that are made right here in our own neighbourhoods – and that is exactly what we did.”

Despite coming from away, Mark and Joel were charmed by the artistic talent across the region and were determined to support this community on a larger scale. “Artists are fantastic at what they do, and may not always have the time or expertise to promote and sell their products to the extent they would like, and this is where we stepped in.”

To date, Made in the Maritimes has grown to work with over 200 vendors, have been named one of the Top 5 Craft Retailers in Atlantic Canada, and ranked gold and silver across several categories from the Community Votes Awards.

Crafting a community

During the height of COVID-19, Joel and Mark were fearful for the future of their business, knowing they had to be prepared for anything. To their surprise, 2021 and 2022 resulted in their most successful years at the time, thanks to the unwavering support of the community.

The pride Maritimers collectively share for supporting their own has been a key success factor for their boutique. “It’s a unique mindset that supporting small business is important and beneficial to the community.”  

The pair agree, the best part of the job is just that; observing the tremendous commitment Nova Scotians have to the “buy local” movement, which they have been witness to for nearly ten years. And of course, celebrating the success of their artists and makers and watching them continue to grow.

Small town support

As a business built on community, working with CUA seemed like the perfect fit. “We were looking at funding options and CUA simply stood out as an institution that seemed to truly stand behind their interest in supporting small businesses. We felt that CUA would be more interested in our actual story and be supportive as a result.” 

The CUA difference was evident to Mark and Joel, who are clear advocates for working with a community-based banking institution.

“When we reach out for advice or assistance, we are not just a number waiting to talk with someone from another city who doesn’t know our story.”

Joel and Mark were able to start their dream business thanks to CUA’s Nova Scotia Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, which provides Nova Scotian businesses up to $500,000 in the form of term loans, working capital and lines of credit. Over the years they have continued to access lines of credit through CUA to support their business as it grew; from financing large inventory purchases for the holiday season or pop-up shops across the region to establishing their permanent locations in Bayers Lake and Hydrostone Market.

If you have yet to experience the Made in the Maritimes magic for yourself, you can expect a comforting taste of home with a side of wow factor, and maybe a little something for everyone on your list. Place an order online or stop in; the staff are always eager to chat and share the story of each product. Regardless of your taste, you’re sure to find the perfect piece that brings you home, wherever you may be.

For more information on the Nova Scotia Small Business Loan Guarantee Program and other business financing solutions, visit our website or contact one of our knowledgeable Small Business Advisors. If you have a CUA success story to share, email us; we would be happy to tell it.

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