Market store gets to the heart of what motivates the makers
Celebrating good people, using good practices, making good products. That is the razón de ser for Tierra Hermosa Local Market, opening in Creemore this week.
Proprietors Cheri Mara and Santiago Saavedra, who is Chilean, named their new business Tierra Hermosa, which translates from Spanish to beautiful land, in gratitude for the beauty and the gift of where they now get to live.
The couple moved to the Creemore area in 2020 and wanted to give back to the community through a business.
They had already been thinking of moving out of the city when the pandemic hit. Mara said her work in the cannabis industry had brought her to the area so when an opportunity to move presented itself, they took it.
“We love the village and we love the community,” said Mara.
She and Saavedra have more than 30 years combined retail experience working for other corporations and look forward to bringing their own values and principals to the local retail shop.
They agree there is something very special about a product that is handmade.
“The love that goes into the product, you can almost feel it,” said Saavedra. They aim to celebrate that process by creating a platform for creators and makers to sell their products, share their stories, and connect with their customers. In addition to stocking handmade products, the creators will be invited to make appearances in store and will have profiles on the store’s website.
Mara said she has really enjoyed meeting the people behind the products and hearing their stories of how they got started, some of which spawned from pandemic projects by people who suddenly found themselves with extra time, in need of income, or looking for a creative outlet to help keep their mental health stable.
Saavedra said he really admires the hard working people who have grown these home-based businesses, sometimes while working full-time jobs and caring for children.
Tierra Hermosa Local Market has 25 vendors on board so far and Mara said she continues to make connections through other markets and by word of mouth within the community of crafters. The homemade arts, crafts and personal care products on the shelves include candles, macrame, pottery, artwork, jewellery, charcuterie boards, cannabis accessories, tea, Christmas decoration and Mara’s mom’s quilts. It’s all sourced from with Ontario, with 80 per cent being of makers located within Simcoe County.
Tierra Hermosa Local Market, located at 2 Francis St. E., is opening Nov. 4, with a grand opening planned for Nov. 12. Regular hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For a full list of vendors, visit www. tierra-hermosa.ca.
