I received a lovely gift from a friend recently, a woodworking project with a hand-painted image, clear-coated and glazed. It is something to look at. This item was produced at a Men’s Shed near Ottawa. The Craft Industry continues to be a prime mover for many people’s incomes, in addition to their regular income. The Craft Industry is also a dynamic and important part of our greater economy. In Canada, over 175,000+ people are employed by craft manufacturers and distributors involved in this industry, with over a million others producing crafts and works of art individually at home or in neighbouring groups, selling these at Craft Shows, local markets and local retailers.
Handicrafts hold significant value historically, culturally and economically to us. Not only are they a means to preserve traditional art forms, but also a way the artisan can earn a financial reward. Handicrafts encompass a large array of products such as textiles, pottery, toys, jewelry, glass blowing and glass works, wood and metal work and art forms, as well as artificial and natural flowers. Crafted with precision and care, it carries the very essence of the region it is created in.
In America, retail sales in crafts amounted to 1.2 trillion in 2023. The Hobby Lobby sector has sales exceeding $7.9 billion+. In Canada, the sector’s value amounts to $738 Million+ with an added Hobby Lobby Sector of $250 Million, with exports adding a further $125 Million. This is not junk change, but a solid and forever-growing sector. Since the pandemic, the growth of this sector has increased by 8% annually, with a flourishing black market, usually found online or in local markets near you, to boost people’s incomes.
Want to help others, find a perfect holiday gift and possibly make a new friend or two? Go to your local Holiday Market or Local Markets during the weekend, stroll about and enjoy.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun” (Albert Einstein)
“Creativity is allowing you to make mistakes, while art is knowing which ones to keep”(Theodore Levitt)
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
