Creative Etsy movement a big hit in Niagara
When graphic designer Jaime Drayer decided to pair her two loves, cats and wine, she never thought it would lead to such success.
The Hamilton woman, who was in Niagara Falls this weekend selling some of her cat-and-wine-themed prints and products, said business is so good she’s considering leaving her day job.
Her business, Kitties and Cabernet, is such a hit on the online marketplace Etsy right now that she’s having to turn down wholesale requests.
“I have cat and wine-themed prints that I design and print at home and hand-cut them all myself. I’m a graphic-designer by trade, so this is my creative outlet,” said Drayer, who attended Saturday’s Etsy: Made in Canada event at Heartland Forest.
“The mugs, I hand-paint them all myself, and I’ve also got a few gift baskets, and some hand-made jewellery with the paw charms.”
Drayer said she donates 10 per cent of all her sales to local cat rescues.
“I just started in March of this year. It’s been wonderful. I’ve had to actually turn down a couple of wholesale orders because I just can’t do it all, or I’ve pushed them up anyways, and said let’s re-visit it in the new year.”
Drayer said when she first started, she thought it would be for fun, and a good way to raise a bit of money for some animal shelters, but didn’t expect such a positive reaction from customers.
“My stuff is very niche, and I thought, there’s no way people are going to really be into it, and they really are, so it’s great,” she said.
“I have two cats. I love cats. My friends all know me as the crazy cat lady, and I like my wine, so I usually joke that my happy place is cat in lap and wine in hand.”
Drayer was among more than 65 Niagara artisans who offered their hand-made items for sale Saturday. Many Canadian cities, including Niagara Falls, hosted a one-day marketplace to celebrate the Etsy community. The Niagara event included original artwork, furniture and decor. This was the second time Niagara Falls hosted a Made in Canada event.
“Etsy is a global online marketplace that allows small businesses to have their own shops without having a brick-and-mortar store,” said
Karrie Bannerman, team captain for the Niagara Etsy Artisans.
“We’ve got all natural pet goods. We also have lots of great local Niagara food vendors.”
Another vendor was Jody Edwards. The St. Catharines artist, who goes by Jody Van B on Etsy, has had a lot of her prints featured in television shows.
“I’m known for my feather studies, and I do water colour and they’re really realistic,” she said, adding she’s been on Etsy for about six years.
“I’ve got so many great opportunities. Some of my pieces were purchased by CSI, the show. They found me on Etsy.”
In addition to original art, Edwards also does prints.
She said it started as a hobby, but has turned into quite a successful business.
“When I had my sons, and they were really young, I was looking for something to do at night, that I could paint, something simple,” said Edwards.
“I was finding things around the house, so I had a feather and a shell and everything, and my feathers just kind of took off, and I’ve been researching birds and stuff ever since.”
Niagara Falls resident Ashley Berry has been doing hand-made dresses for 13 years, and decided to get on Etsy six years ago.
“My business is called Itsy Bitsy Spidey and we do hand-made dresses and hand-made head bands, and baby wear,” she said.
“I get my fabrics either from New York or Toronto, and I hand-make all the patterns myself, and I make all the outfits myself.” rspiteri@postmedia.com