Shop Local The Walpole Artisans Co-op

There are many reasons to be part of a co-operative. In the case of artists, who normally work on their own, the main benefit is to know you are not alone in wanting to make a living doing what you love. &emsp;&emsp;The Walpole Artisans Co-op, a group of local and regional artisans and fine craftspeople, is in its 17th year (some original members remain in the group). It started with an annual studio tour the weekend after Thanksgiving and grew to include a full-time co-operative gallery space downtown where members can display and sell their work. Most artists are from New Hampshire and Vermont, although there are no geographical restrictions for new members. &emsp;&emsp;Jim and Andrea Slayton Lorette of Westmoreland, co-op members since 2014, initially joined to have retail space. Jim, the owner of Rare Material, creates artifacts he calls "mystery treasure boxes;" Andrea makes hand-forged jewelry. Both also own and operate Bunny Boogie, which features skincare items and gifts adorned with prints of original sketches by Jim. The couple works in their home studio. &emsp;&emsp;Now, they have realized the many other benefits of membership. &emsp;&emsp;"There's a collective group of knowledge to draw from," notes Jim. "You get to know and become friends with these artists, who provide you with a lot of input." &emsp;&emsp;The advantage of a shared storefront, he continues, is that you don't have to man the store every day. In fact, you don't have to staff it at all if you're a member: all are volunteers. Plus, expenses are shared. &emsp;&emsp;"It's a big advantage for an artist who wants to make that crossover as just a hobby to something more fulfilling," he says. &emsp;&emsp;Andrea enjoys the ease the co-op offers of meeting with customers. &emsp;&emsp;"You can talk about custom orders while you're at work at the co-op," she says. "It's also beneficial for the co-op and other artisans to bring in patrons." &emsp;&emsp;Another benefit is classes: the co-op has offered several over the years. The most recent was at painter (and member) David Howell's studio and was structured as a discussion for artisans to talk about and share their experiences with selling and promoting their work online. &emsp;&emsp;The co-op features more than 20 artisans working in several media, including wood, glass, pottery, jewelry, fiber, sculpture, painting and photography. It offers everything from home decor and furnishings to wearable art and gift items at all price points. &emsp;&emsp;There is a juried process for new members. &emsp;&emsp;"We expect you to know and have a command of your medium," notes Andrea. &emsp;&emsp;Most artisans are working members and are behind the counter on business days. Artists are responsible for entering their prices on the computer and displaying their own work. Inventory is rotated on a regular basis. &emsp;&emsp;"If you want to change the price, you adjust it yourself," says Jim. "There's a lot of freedom." The commission, he went on, is more significant than in a traditional retail location. &emsp;&emsp;The co-op works to have a presence in the community. The organization has donated gift certificates to various local organizations to use as prizes or giveaways. It organizes events such as a recent live music performance, dinner, silent auction and art sale to benefit a local charitable organization and openings/receptions for new artists. &emsp;&emsp;The co-op, however, has not hosted a live event since the beginning of the pandemic. The organization sanitizes the space every evening and encourages social distancing for patrons of the gallery, which has a state-of-the-art air filtration system for optimal safety. &emsp;&emsp;The co-op is always looking for new members; this year, in particular, a potter and basket weaver are needed. &emsp;&emsp;The co-op is on track for this year's artisan tour, which will be the weekend of Thanksgiving at the co-op, town hall and glassblower Chris Sherwin's studio at 33 Bridge St. in Bellows Falls (visit walpoleartisans.org or the co-op on Facebook for up-to-date information). &emsp;&emsp;Above all, the co-op's most significant benefit is that it encourages people to shop local. &emsp;&emsp;"When a dollar is spent here in your own community, you don't realize how far it goes in that community," says Jim. "Every time we make a decision, we think about it from a local perspective." BOX: Walpole Artisans Co-op 52 Main Street Walpole, NH 03608 603-756-3020 Walpoleartisans.org