Vendors at Butterdome craft sale see ‘elbows up’ holiday boost

Vendors at Alberta’s largest craft sale say they are seeing a boost in sales ahead of the holiday thanks to the continued ‘elbows up’ attitude among Edmontonians.

The craft sale at the University of Alberta Butterdome is celebrating 35^th edition and has attracted over 200 Canadian artists and vendors.

Amid the ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S., artists say the buy Canadian movement is going strong.

Roland Daum, an oil painter, has been selling at the event for 27 years and he has noticed a 30 per cent jump in sales so far this year.

“People are really starting to look internally at all of us and enjoying the culture here and sharing it,” Daum said. “I find that that’s the main thing an artist does, and if I can get that journey through to other people, it’s awesome.”

For shoppers like Justine, shopping local is important.

“It’s really important because you can give back to your community and support the ones that are here in Alberta, Canada.”

Another shopper at the Butterdome, Ethne, says, “Anything that we can do to boost our own economy is good, and also, it just feels good to support local people rather than a faceless corporation.”

Meanwhile, Sam, thinks that the turn inward is long overdue.

“I think we should have started beforehand too, because I don’t know why it wasn’t emphasized before, because it just makes our economy stronger.”

Event organizer Samantha Milner, show manager, Signatures Canada, says people who used to shop online are opting for a face-to-face alternative along with a patriotic push.

“With the turn in a little bit of a push for Canadian-made, that people are really coming back to the markets really enjoying meeting the maker and seeing everything that’s handmade,” Milner says.

The Butterdome craft sale goes on until Sunday.