The new localism trend is gaining momentum as a reaction to the globalist extraction economy that has surrounded us. Shopping local keeps money circulating between neighbors, building value along the way. While shopping local is a great idea, most merchants offer few things that are actually locally sourced. There might be some local soaps, or a hand knit hat made by a local crafter offered amongst the array of imported goods. But what if there were a place you could go that would offer a great selection of unique, one of a kind merchandise, all of it produced and sourced from local entrepreneurs? Fortunately, such a place exits, and it is called Artique Co-op, just off exit 8 of the Northway.

Elizabeth King and Angela Letdke birthed Artique Co-op in January 2009, as an inspired idea between two old friends. When Angela was going to school out in Rochester, she was a member of a co-op store that offered locally crafted goods and antiques, all under one roof. She loved the store and it eclectic mix of products and the personalities behind them. After completing college, Angela returned home to the Capital District. She and Elizabeth reconnected, and became partners in a wedding videography business. After five years in the wedding business, the two women reached a point where they wanted to move on to something new. The co-op in Rochester was continually in Angela’s mind, so she proposed the idea of creating something similar here in the Capital Region. “Get in the car, we’re going to Rochester” Angela told Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth saw the co-op first hand, she, too, was inspired, and the business was born. They two women chose the Plaza 8 Shopping Center, in southern Clifton Park for their new venture Close to neighborhoods, and being centrally located to the greater Capital Region made the Plaza perfect. Plus, there were no other retail offerings in the plaza, so they were adding a non-competing component to the neighborhood mix.

Once they had the space, now who would come and join this new concept in retail? “We put ads on Craig’s List, and that got us a few vendors,” said Angela. “We’d go to craft fairs, and asked the ones we liked if they would join us, and we got a few that way” “Word of Mouth has been huge,” said Elizabeth. “A lot of these people know other people who are doing stuff, and suddenly the space was nearly filled!” Angela added, “We feel privileged to offer a place for these people to sell their wares. We’ve got some amazing talent in here.”

Artique Shopping has something for everyone. The categories of things for sale are: arts, antiques, collectibles, crafts and gifts. There are household goods, furniture, lamps and lighting, bath and body care items, jewelry, gift cards, and so much more. Vendors are selected for their quality and uniqueness. “We don’t want to have a competitive environment,” say Angela. “We have four potters, but each one is different than the other. They actually complement each other.” There are already 65 vendors set up at the store, so the selection and variety is amazing.

Many of the crafters are creating things that have personal meaning that they want to share with the world. There’s a bag maker that uses excess webbing from seat belt manufacturing. It is woven into unique handbags, clutches and purses that are amazing durable and fashionable. It’s a novel approach to re-using and re-cycling what would normally be garbage for the landfill. Another unique vendor is actually a couple of sisters, 14 and 16 years old, calling themselves “Organic Girls.” Their mom is teaching them the skills of running a business, and they’ve develop a cosmetic line based on organic ingredients. Their mission is to “provide organic, vegan, cruelty-free products at prices we can all afford.” These girls are learning what it takes to run a business,” said Elizabeth. “I wish my mom did that for me when I was 14!” Another vendor, Floyd Warriors, is a breast cancer survivor. The founder, Lisa Morahan, recalled the band’s music and movie ‘The Wall’ from her high school years and remembered the famous Hammers scene. She found the movie’s many references to Nazi Germany seemed to mirror our Nazi of today killing millions rather silently- cancer. The sound of the marching Hammers reverberated in her mind as she prepared herself mentally to get into battle mode. She connected especially with the Hammers because during her journey through cancer she became a born again Christian and quickly adds, ‘Jesus was a carpenter!’ Pink Floyd’s tune ‘When the Tigers Broke Free’ reminded her of her Mom who always said ‘Go Get em’ Tiger!’ to her and the family’s annual tradition of the Peppermint Pig and silver hammer also seemed part of Floyd’s ‘Pigs on the Wing’. She realized Pink of Pink Floyd was the signature color of her own breast cancer and thus, the name was born.  Ms. Morahan established floydwarriors.com, a local organization whose mission is ‘Dinner is Done… Dishes are Clean…The Kids are OK!’ and strives to help local Capital District families get basic life necessities in the home while undergoing cancer treatment. Her on-line day timer system helps family and friends coordinate schedules to easily volunteer their time in the home of a loved one. Ms. Morahan truly believes she was spared the brunt of typical side effects to show the greatness of God and to inspire others to pursue their God given talents, even after a cancer diagnosis.

“We’re blessed to have these amazing people sharing their things with us,” said Angela. “We are now a family.”

The vendors love the concept because it gives them a place to sell their items without having to have the overhead of a store for themselves. They rent only the space that they need, and there’s no commission on sales. As a result, for the quality offered, the prices are very affordable. There’s a common marketing budget for the store, which also helps keeps cost down. “We all chip in and work together; we’re a team here,” says Angela. “It’s a huge risk opening a business today, and by helping each other we are minimizing that risk.”

Being a co-op, the vendors also share in the task of running the checkout. The friendly face behind the counter is actually one of the co-op members. “We don’t have employees,” said Angela. “We have owners. Everybody who works here makes the stuff you see.”

The shopping experience at Artique is unlike any other. It’s an amazing showcase of talent and creativity. Every turn reveals a new wonder. “We want people to get lost in here, so that they can see how many things there are” said Angela. Angela and Elizabeth have worked hard to make for an excellent customer experience. There’s always food samples to taste out at the checkout counter. Each vendor uses their own flair and creativity when designing their booth . “Our goal is to have satisfied vendors and satisfied customers. The vendors appreciate all the opportunity this place gives them, and we respect that by making the customer feel welcome and happy. We’re not just selling stuff, we are building a community,” said Angela. “It’s been great,” says Elizabeth. “In just less than a year, we’ve got all these great people together making all this great stuff, and the customers just love it, too. They saying they are so happy this store is here!”

It’s obvious that there is a craving in our community for things real and authentic. People are starting to get the message that supporting local matters. Fortunately, thanks to Elizabeth King and Angela Letdke, we now have the Artique Co-op, where it really is, all for local.

Artique Shopping is located at Plaza 8 Shopping Center, 1536 Crescent Road in Clifiton Park. Call 724-0750; online at www.artiqueshopping.com