LAKEPORT >> “There”s this whole idea that you don”t have to go out of our community to find those quality products that you want,” said Cheri Holden, owner of Watershed Books and one of the brains behind Lake Made, a one-year-old business endeavor providing local artists with an opportunity to showcase and sell their work.
Though small, the concept is neither narrow nor limited.
“We had this idea ? for local craftspeople and artists to have an outlet locally, so some of us got together and began Lake Works,” she explained. “Lake Works is all local artists, craftsmen and producers.”
As a result, the retail space called Lake Works, at 307 North Main Street in Lakeport, includes many surprises.
“We have everything from paintings to glass work to woodwork to boards to rugs,” said Holden. But the list doesn”t stop there. Items for sale also include pottery, jewelry, clothing, painted shoes, cards and a number of local authors, who put up their books for sale at Watershed Books. The bookstore”s storefront is attached to Lake Works, so that people can move freely between the two spaces.
In addition to artwork, Lake Works sells local goods for anyone interested in a treat for themselves or even their pet. “We especially like local products,” said Holden. “We have nuts and jams and soap and dog biscuits ? those things that people can count on.”
“We have approximately 30 plus makers and another 30 authors,” revealed Holden. Some of the artists offer instructional classes for the public and many of the local authors make appearances. This past Saturday one artist taught a silk scarf making class, while this upcoming Saturday afternoon there will be a jewelry making lesson. “On the Saturday before Christmas we”ll be having a local authors day,” said Holden. “It”s giving people the opportunity to show their work and community members and visitors to see their local crafts,” said Holden.
Besides the obvious boost in sales for local artists, presenting locally made goods is excellent for the community and the environment. Part of this is due to the lack of shipping costs. Thanks to Lake Works, makers, artists and crafters don”t have to pay to send out their goods once they do sell them. Additionally, all of the money spent at a local shop stays in the area to benefit the community.
“The idea of staying local is environmentally sound and economically sound,” said Holden. “Small businesses support their community and the money that is spent at these small businesses stay in our community and it is so economically smart.”
For the most part, artists and craftspeople contact Lake Works for the chance to sell their work in the retail space. Information about the shop spreads through word of mouth in addition to Lake Work”s online presence.
Artists who are interested in selling their work in the shop simply contact Lake Works for the opportunity. They visit the Lake Made retail space and show Lake Works their items. If the staff feels that the artist”s work is appropriate for the space, they allow them to sell their items. Each crafter and artist decides their own prices and Lake Made coordinates with them regarding when they wish to place their items up for sale. “We”re fairly flexible,” said Holden. “There”s coming and going.”
Lake Works has to be especially flexible during Christmas time, as there are an abundance of craft fairs and shows during the holiday season. “Artists in these times take some of their work out of the shop to take it to crafts fairs and stuff and that”s totally fine with us.”
The Lake Made retail space has been extremely successful, with a number of artists coming in with new items. These pieces include painting and photography. “Hardly a week goes by that we don”t see a new maker come in that talks with us about their work,” said Holden.
While Lake Works isn”t intended to be the sole income of any artist or maker, it”s a nice way to get artwork to the community. “Nobody is going to make their whole living at Lake Works,” Holden said. “But I think everyone has sold something every quarter.”
Each artist who rents out a space for their crafts in the Lake Made retail space is personally invested in their sales. Craftspeople take turns working the store and playing host or hostess for visitors.
The Lake Works space is all about collaboration, and they encourage people to help out at the shop. “[Makers] get a bigger percentage of sales of their things when they put in a three and a half hour shift at the shop,” Holden explained.
Lake Made isn”t the first of its kind. Recently, five counties in Northern California got together to create North Bay Made, which is the same concept as Lake Made but on a slightly larger scale. North Bay Made promises to give artists a larger platform to get their work out to the public. “Other businesses in the North Bay Area have been conspiring together ? for their crafters to have the opportunity to share their work,” Holden explained. “There are similar stores all around the North Bay.”
With North Bay made, the future of Lake Works and other similar projects look bright. “We have been open just about a year and its been doing wonderfully,” said Holden. “I hope that we”ll continue with the success that we”ve been enjoying here at Lake Works this last year.”
Lake Works is located at 307 North Main Street in Lakeport. They”re open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
