It all began with an event, that became a pop-up shop, and today is a year-round store in St. Vital Centre.
Love Local Manitoba first arrived on the scene in 2014, and in response to its popularity, chef and small business owner Peter Fehr opened a pop-up shop in the mall to help people easily find meaningful, high-quality Manitoba-made gifts for the Christmas season.
The shop never went away. Today Love Local Manitoba is thriving in its shop near The Bay.
“We have over 600 different products there that are all 100% Manitoba-made,” says Peter. “We're really proud to showcase all these amazing small Manitoba businesses in one little shop at St. Vital Centre.”
He continues, “A lot of our vendors whose goods we carry in the store are small businesses. So you're literally helping feed people's families by supporting the businesses that are in our shop. It's really valuable to support your neighbours, your friends, and just to keep money circulating locally – having a direct impact on people who are our neighbours and our friends. There's huge value in that.”
It also feels special when you know that the product you're buying was made locally. It’s not just an item – it’s a story. It’s a connection.
Marlene is the store manager for Love Local Manitoba in St. Vital Centre. She knows about the connections created by the shop because she sees it every day.
“We carry such a diversity of products – I just love seeing people stop in, interact, explore, discover all these amazing artisans who are completely local. We make it feel like you’re stepping into a market – we make it accessible so you can enjoy that market feeling.”
As the owner of Gourmet Inspirations line of fine high-end sauces, rubs, and syrups, Fehr understands small business owners because he is one, too.
“I happened to be in the store this morning and got to talk to a customer and introduce my own products to them in person and it was really special to just kind of build that relationship a little bit with another human being who is now supporting my business.”
Those who remember the Love Local Manitoba popup shop, or who attend their annual food, beer & wine event, could be forgiven for thinking the shop only carries food and beverage products.
While Love Local Manitoba does in fact carry many beautiful, delicious, high-quality food items, Peter notes they’ve also built out the shop’s home goods division.
“We now carry candles, jewelry, some kids and adult clothing, cutting boards. We carry some locally handcrafted knives and a lot of fun things like that. Some different pottery, mugs, cups, glassware – and that’s in addition to all the food products. Mustards and sauces and syrups and chips and toffee and jerky and all kinds of cool food and beverage products.”
For those unfamiliar with locally made goods, Peter offers an inside look:
“In small manufacturing, the standards of quality are high because you have your hands on the whole process – sourcing good quality local ingredients, connecting with local suppliers wherever we can. And it’s either a small team or sometimes just one person making these products, making sure the quality is just superb on every single batch.”
Marlene adds, “We have so many clever, well-made items that would make ideal gifts too, if you’re really wanting to represent our amazing prairie province. Beautiful Manitoba-shaped cribbage boards that are made in Giroux. If you’re looking for something smaller, we have these high-quality Manitoba-shaped fridge magnets that double as bottle openers. And the Manitoba Collection from Jacked Up Jill Coffee is such a perfect gift – celebrating everything that we love about our province, with really really great coffee, beautifully packaged for giving.”
Peter says that heading into the holiday season, the shop at St. Vital is busy crafting custom gift baskets as well.
“At the store, we do a lot of corporate gifting. We can also order in bulk if you need to get a certain product for all your employees,” says Peter.
With over 600 products to browse as you do your Christmas shopping, one thing is for sure – gifts from Love Local Manitoba are a win for the community, the creator, the giver, and the receiver.
Love Local Manitoba is located in Winnipeg’s St. Vital Centre, just a little walk down from The Bay.