Use us or lose us, says arts and crafts emporium
It doesn’t get much closer to ‘shopping local’ than a hidden gem in the middle of Oban celebrating the creative talents of those across Argyll.
Made in Argyll Arts and Crafts is at the waterfront opposite the railway station and next door to The Olive Garden.
It provides a vital shop window for dozens of local creatives, selling a wide variety of colourful and locally-made bespoke gifts lovingly created from woodwork, crochet, basket-weaving, jewellery, knitwear, photography, paintings, and many more.
Owner Janice Stewart has run it for three years and said: ‘Everything we have in the shop with the exception of wool is all handcrafted by local crafters. There’s nearly 40 of them providing to us and to be part of the shop you’ve got to live within Argyll and Bute. They all take turns in manning the shop as well.’
Janice, of Tralee Bay, is a keen knitter herself and also makes paracord dog leads and craft kits for children. She paid tribute to the contribution of Ada Daly, of Oban, for her support, and Argyll and Bute Council for its recent business grant to help through lockdown.
Scotland’s Towns Partnership, with the support of BID4Oban, has launched a ‘Love Local’ campaign encouraging everyone to support businesses at the heart of their community. Janice gave it her backing too: ‘If people don’t support shops like these they are going to disappear. It’s unbelievable how many talented crafters and artists there are in Argyll and Bute, and they need somewhere to showcase their crafts.
‘I am trying to give them a place to do things as cheaply as possible, I don’t intend to make profit, but to reinvest in the shop.’
Made in Argyll is open between 10am5pm Monday to Saturday, and between 11am-4pm on Sundays. https://www. facebook.com/madeinargyll/