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October 18, 2023
If you love shopping on Etsy, going to craft shows, or finding one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and relatives, we have the perfect business for you to explore. From jewelry to home goods and from clothing to self-care items, Made In Burlington, located in the Wayside shopping area, has something for everyone in a space that is open and welcoming to all.
This month we are highlighting Made In Burlington which started as a pop-up during the pandemic and has expanded its services, products and vendors and become a must-visit shop. Recently celebrating its second year in operation, Made In Burlington has made quite an impact on the shopping plaza as well as within Burlington and the surrounding communities.
Join us in learning more about our Burlington Business Spotlight – Made In Burlington.
The Story Behind Made In Burlington
Burlington resident and mom of two, Laurena Smith, loves to work on crafts and art projects. During the pandemic, when craft and holiday fairs were scarce, she found herself missing access to handmade items. This was her motivation to open a Facebook page in the fall of 2020 for fellow Burlington crafters wanting to connect with locals looking to buy handmade items.
By the time Christmas rolled around, the Facebook page – Made In Burlington – had 40 crafters and over 500 members. Fast forward six months and the following grew to over 2,000 Facebook members after a successful summertime outdoor marketplace.
The Facebook page was just the beginning for the motivated and inspired Laurena. Just a year after starting the page, she opened the Made In Burlington pop-up store at Wayside Commons. As the owner of the successful shop, she enjoys working with her clients to design and create all sorts of crafts such as baby onesies, personalized wine glasses, and paint kits.
As the shop began to take root, Laurena used her business acumen to bring in more crafters – all talented and creative women – to make the pop-up shop truly come to life! Each one brings a skillset that helps uplift the already popular store.
With the expansion of the crafters came the ability to showcase new and exciting items in so many different mediums including jewelry, candy, crocheted items, and one-of-a-kind gifts the whimsical to the utilitarian.
What’s especially unique about this crafty store is that the products are displayed in categories such as kitchen items, gifts, clothing, etc. rather than grouped by crafters, making the shop feel more like a personalized department store than a craft show.
Special Events & Workshops at Made In Burlington
Made in Burlington is more than just a shop filled with beautiful items, it’s also a place to attend special events and workshops where guests can learn how to make their own crafts. For instance, this month, workshops such as pumpkin bowls, kids’ fall button canvases, and all things witches can be accessed and registered for through the special events calendar.
The staff at Made In Burlington loves to interact with the public through classes and workshops as well as through programs such as Walk Wayside, the monthly farmers market and Made In Burlington Marketplace.
As the holidays approach, workshops including candle and coffee making, building a Boxwood tree, wreath making and sleigh weaving are available. Get in touch with your crafty side and enjoy an afternoon or evening crafting with friends and family.
Awards & Giving Back To The Community
Although Made in Burlington is new to the business world in Burlington, they are already making an impact. Thei ingenuity and entreprenuership has been recognized by business organizations across the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Made in Burlington recently won Northshore Magazine’s Best of the North Shore Editor’s Choice Award in the Handcrafted Gifts category. They were also a Salem Five Mover & Shaker this summer, which celebrates businesses that were creative, courageous, bold and/or pivoted during the last couple of years.
As a way of thanking the community for thes recognitions and the support they have received in just the past two years, the team at Made In Burlington is always looking for ways to give back as well. They frequently host fundraising events and sales. They are also gearing up to bestow their first scholarships to local art students this spring, via a fund they put into place in memory of one of the crafters who passed last year of cancer.
How Burlington Plays A Role
During a recent interview with owner Laurena Smith and Melissa O’Dowd, the shop’s marketing maven, the two women explained just how much Burlington has helped contribute to the success of the shop.
Not only have the people of Burlington who visit the shop been supportive, but the local municipal departments and organizations have also been welcoming. In particular groups such as the Select Board, Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Office have helped support, encourage, and make this business the success that it is.
Smith explains the impact that the support of residents, other businesses, and the community has given the shop. “By supporting my small business, you are supporting 90 other small businesses.” This is in reference to the 90 vendors who sell their items in her shop.
If you haven’t found this gem of a shop yet, we encourage you to explore all the beautifully handcrafted and one-of-a-kind items they offer. Additionally, we congratulate Made In Burlington for celebrating their second anniversary and wish them much success as we head toward the holiday shopping season.