Being Vocal about Local...

When I walked into The Ornamentry, carrying a cardboard carton full of christmassy stuff I had created during my first winter in Alaska, the place resembled a household, poised for a big move. Crates of all sizes lay haphazardly: some leaning against the wall, some sprawled on an empty table, and some jutting out of the semi-opened cabinets. Judy Grahek, the 70-year-old owner of the shop, examined the few things I had brought in: painted tiles with stands, birch bark cards, paperweight pebbles depicting Alaskan scenes, candle votives, with motifs of ravens and wolves, she nodded, "nice work", and handed me a form to fill. No questions asked. A form, an inventory...and a hug. That's all was needed to join a fleet of 80 some artists, artisans, and crafters who showcased their work at The Ornamentry, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Once  the shop opened for the season, it was hard to imagine that this was  the same chaotic place I had walked in a week earlier with my stuff, and filled up a form. Soft music in the background, meandered from room to room, through its maze-like structure. It was as though, everything, by a sudden touch of the magic wand, had found its rightful place.  Gift items of all shapes and sizes looked snug in their new surroundings. From the ornaments hanging from the chandeliers, to the beautiful, handwoven tapestries on the wall,  to handmade gift baskets, to musk-ox wool knitted into mitts and scarves, to pottery, jewlery, peanut brittles, dill pickles, and preserves: everything  looked exquisitely jubilant and unique.

However, tucked away  in a quiet alley in downtown Fairbanks,  it was easy  for a newcomer or a tourist, to miss The Ornamentry while strolling past. But, if your horse sense pulled you in to its festive interiors, you would want to come back to this one-of-a-kind gift shop again and again. But, you couldn't. For, The Ornamentry used to open only twice a year: once before the thaw from mid-March to mid-April, and once in the dead of winter from November to the third week of December. Even though seasonal, Judy had over the years, built up a strong following of 1500 some customers, and that too without ever advertising. She did nevertheless send out a notification to everyone on her mailing list, reminding them of the dates and timings The Ornamentry would remain open. 

Store overheads were low since Judy, the brainchild behind The Ornamentry owned the property, and was thus saved the cost of leasing/renting a place. "So, three months of sales a year is enough to go for a vacation somewhere, and be able to spend the rest of my time with family and friends," was  Judy's simple rationale. Fair enough. 

So, for those who wanted to avoid "made in China" souvenirs, sold in Walmart, The Ornamentry was the perfect place to shop. Moreover, it was the only outlet in the city which gave the local artists and artisans from around the state an opportunity to display and sell their  work. Dedicated to promoting 'buy local', Judy took a meager 20 percent cut from the sales. "I believe, it doesn't matter what the economy is, people come here  not only to buy something exclusive, and 'made in Alaska',  but also because they know that the money is circulating locally", Judy told the Daily Miner in an interview. And the success of The Ornamentry was proof enough to uphold her belief. 

Great lesson here for all of us. When you are shopping for gifts this holiday season, or just wanting to buy something special for yourself or your home, buy local, and support the local economy. A product made by people who bring their personal experiences, skills, and imagination to  give it that rare edge is bound to have more character than the one which catapults out of an assembly line into a  big box-store.  Right? And, as I  like to say, going off the beaten track, looking for that small-time vendor, sitting in the corner shop, and rummaging through his/her trove of treasure, is always more fun!