Many people in Port Hope may have walked up Walton Street and seen a store called, “The Nooks.”
In there, you’ll see shelves full of assorted products with a particular handmade charm. GoNorthumberland is proud to have Nooks owner Colleen Imrie break it all down.
The Nooks website calls the business an “artisan retail business incubator”— With the belief that they’re inspiring Canadian makers across the country to follow their dreams, build successful businesses. The Nooks fundamental model allows artisans to have their own “nook” at one of nine locations across Ontario to sell their crafts in a physical marketplace.
Imrie told us where she got the idea.
The first Nooks location opened in Toronto but Port Hope is home base for Imrie. Port Hope’s location is currently working on Hello Sunshine Baby Nooks as well, which is a Nooks store exclusively for baby products. Currently, The Nooks Port Hope is displaying the work of 53 different artisans, ranging from candy and snacks to body care and jewelry.
It’s easy to see that The Nooks is designed to attract a community of artisans wherever they have a storefront. Imrie says the community is the most important piece of the puzzle.
The Nooks have gained a lot of media traction Canada-wide. Toronto Star wrote a spotlight piece on The Nooks in 2017. In face of this popularity, Imrie says she has the artisans to thank.
You can find the Nooks at 68 Walton Street, Port Hope, seven days a week.
Written by: Noah Lorusso
