New address, new horizon!

Location is crucial!

The workshop-boutique has been in its new premises for less than a year and I can already see the benefits, despite the few inconveniences caused by the renovation and construction work.

With location being recognized as a key element of success in both business and real estate, this new address provides my company with the visibility and ease of access I was looking for, in addition to benefiting from magnificent natural light. The ideal conditions to carry out my aspirations for this business dedicated to local purchasing!

Moreover, from the main entrance, we have a view of the city of Quebec which suggests beautiful perspectives for my shop and all the artists/artisans who are part of it!

Promising projects and great ambitions, but it doesn't all come from the sky!

Determination and audacity

In 2020, after more than a year of research and steps to relocate my business, there was no way the arrival of Covid-19 would compromise this project, which was crucial for my professional future!

I admit that there was a moment of great uncertainty, even worry, when the public health authorities first imposed the closure of businesses. But I also felt a strong desire to adapt to the situation and ensure that my business survived while waiting for a return to "normal." I was lucky that I didn't know the pandemic would last so long!

Another thing I didn't expect was how big this project would become! I wrote in my first blog post that I had decided to move the workshop-boutique to smaller premises for various reasons... Well, I ended up doubling my space!

It evolved this way through discussions with my spouse and business partner. Guided by our shared vision, both professional and personal, we decided to centralize business and home under one roof. In January 2021, we purchased this commercial building that had been occupied by a travel agency for several years and transformed the interior to move my workshop-boutique there. In the meantime, we sold our own house and hired an architect ( Chantal Gingras ) to add the floor that will serve as our home. Despite the definite advantages this will bring me, I want at all costs to avoid the trap of working all the time. I am therefore determined to jealously preserve the boundary between home and work, as a matter of quality of life.

My mission: promoting local talent

The reason for my business was initially to practice my profession as a clothing designer and to market my own creations . But for the past 5 years, promoting the work of Quebec artists and artisans has become as fundamental to me as my own practice.

Now that I have more space, I will continue to improve the selection of artisan products, in addition to dedicating more space to the visual arts.

Precious support

I chose to persist in a career I'm passionate about, even though it was far from the easy path. I'm sometimes told I'm lucky to be doing what I love for a living, but I can assure you it's not a matter of luck, but rather hard work and perseverance!

Where I am lucky is that I am surrounded by people who believe in me and who support me each in their own way: my partner, sincere friendships, involved artists and artisans, a loving family, a loyal clientele and more recently a solid networking group. All these precious people nourish my creative and entrepreneurial strength by making sure that I feel supported at every stage of this beautiful adventure that is CM atelier-boutique!

We still have several weeks to go before the construction and renovation work is completed, but the store remains open (with rare exceptions)! In the meantime, we're gradually seeing the final look take shape, which will look something like this, with a few minor changes:

The horizon that is emerging for my new boutique allows me to envisage that it will become a must-see for arts and crafts in Quebec, as much for local as for tourists!