05 May Client Feature: The Peach Basket and Co.
Tucked away on Stratford’s Front Street is a nifty little boutique that dedicated crafts-lovers and unique gift-hunters will love. Since their opening two years ago, The Peach Basket and Co. has become a regional mecca for people searching for a groovy, colourful and one hundred per cent local shopping experience. It’s a store that combines a collection of curated, handcrafted products by local makers assembled in one shop. Each maker’s space offers a variety of quality, natural products at affordable prices. And the cool thing about this shop? Each maker and the owners are independent small businesses.
Owners Dina Fine and Hayley Fine Diehl, a mom and daughter duo, started The Peach Basket and Co. after combining their passion for crafts and their home-based businesses into one enterprise. What began as a pop-up store is now a permanent location, featuring around 35 individual crafters selling their unique products. Dina and Hayley staff the storefront, maintain stock, and take orders and payments on behalf of the makers. Hayley also sells her products in the shop.
“We wanted to create a special shopping experience in our boutique,” Hayley explains. “We encourage customers to browse in our fun, quiet space and take in all we offer. We want them to feel greeted and welcome and be who they are when they’re with us from the moment they walk in our door.”
It’s a boutique because they emphasize the high-end quality of each product they sell. Yet, they also make sure prices are affordable and accessible to all kinds of shoppers. “We see many different people come in searching for something special at a good price. You can find something here for as low as one dollar,” Dina explains. “We most often see women, proud geeks, new parents and grandparents, and those who want all-natural, handmade health products.”
Looking around the room, it’s easy to see the variety for sale. Products range from bath and beauty products to baby and toddler products. Other products include tasty treats and coffee, clothes and accessories, décor, and pet goods. There’s also a plethora of jewellery and other fun items aimed at the geek and gaming crowd. One of the best-selling makers is Kody Foster, who sells his 3D-printed crafts as Fantasy Forms.
“People love his stuff. They fly off the shelves,” Dina laughs. “He’s been so successful he quit his mechanic job and now sells 3D printers and items in Goderich full time.”
That kind of story is a dream come true for these two entrepreneurs. They see their success through the eyes of shoppers and makers who have positive, authentic experiences at The Peach Basket. Their partnership model includes providing small business guidance to the makers, like polishing their packaging and other acumen. “Our business relationships are entirely built around mutual trust and authenticity. We also rely on a foundation of genuine, quality products,” Dina adds. Community-oriented, they also promote local charities and have a room for booking called The Grove. It has the versatility of a cozy crafting and workshop space, party spot, or meeting hub.
A relatively new client of ours, the Peach Basket is a lively addition to our roster because of the colourful, fun, and natural vibes they emanate. Much like the one between their makers and customers, the working relationship between Moore Creative Consulting and The Peach Basket and Co. is also built around trust and mutual respect.
“Now that we’re working with Natalie and Moore Creative Consulting on our blogs and SEO, our website traffic has seen a big increase. Our site’s become more than just a place for information,” Hayley says. “People are browsing from home and getting to know our makers, their personalities, and products. Unexpectedly, the blog’s become a real hook because most of those same customers prefer coming into the boutique to make their purchases in person, having seen our offerings online first. We love that about the site now. Our special boutique experience begins for them before they even arrive.”
Dina’s enthusiasm for the work the Basket’s doing with MCC shines through. “Natalie takes your information and makes magic with it,” she comments. “We can tell that Natalie takes authenticity as seriously as we do, and she makes time to infuse our personalities as owners into our blog content. It’s not just cookie-cutter; she recognizes that successful brands reflect who you are.”
Watch in July for The Peach Basket and Co.’s second anniversary celebration. There will be lots of treats, giveaways, a character, and other fun activities to mark the occasion. The next time you need a gift, why not stop by the boutique at 315 Front Street in Stratford, meet Hayley and Dina, and feel the Basket’s positive, welcoming vibe for yourself.