It's Been a Long Time Coming - Our Journey to a New Store

How it Began

Frederick MADE was founded in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. What started out as a way to support artists during the pandemic turned into something bigger than I could have ever imagined. Frederick MADE has been fortunate enough to work with over 200 local makers since we first opened our doors in 2021. 

Owning a store was never something I planned on doing, but it has been the most rewarding journey. I was presented with the opportunity to open a small store in 2021 and jumped on it. I had a 2-page business plan and a few hundred dollars (a solid college student budget). 

Expanding Frederick MADE

After we opened our store, I was able to see that there was a need to support artists in the community, but I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to run a “store.” I always loved attending indoor markets in large cities and wanted to see if I could make that happen in Frederick. Six months after opening our store, I decided to take a leap of faith and open The Artists Market, where we could host multiple vendors in our space. 

Running markets is not for the faint of heart. While the passion was there, markets quickly became oversaturated in the area, and the novelty wore off. Additionally, managing a storefront with 30-40 local vendors, plus markets with different vendors every week, was not something I could sustain on my own.

We knew early last year that we would not renew our lease in our current location, but we didn’t know what direction we were going in. I started looking over the summer just to see what kind of places might be available, and we even considered building out a space. In hindsight, I’m so glad that it didn’t work out. It would have been even more work to drive traffic, cover the expenses, and take a chance on another space I just wasn’t sure was right for us. 

Time for a Change

Our journey quickly took us on a new path in September. I became very ill with an unknown chronic illness, and days later, one of our owners had to take a step back from the business to focus on their family. Fortunately, it forced us to look at the business and what we wanted going forward. 

I had been looking at our numbers for the last year and making note of the top-selling brands and products in our store. I was delighted to see that many of my own handmade products were some of our top sellers and thought it might be time to invest in myself a little bit more. I also realized how tired I was. While working with so many local artists had been amazing, I could not continue to run a business of this scale by myself.

In December, we decided that we would be closing our chapter on this iteration of Frederick MADE. I know that it helped so many businesses, but I needed something more manageable and something that brought me joy again. I wanted to try things on my own and build a more traditional boutique while still focusing on handmade goods. We reached out to some of the vendors that had been our top sellers and asked them to come with us as we ventured into new territory.

Finding Our New Home

My initial plan was to take the summer off entirely. Retail is slow in the summer and it would give me a chance to rest. In February, I reached out to the team at Shab Row & Everedy Square to see if they would have any properties available later this year. It turned out that they had one available sooner, and it was perfect! I viewed the space three times, getting more ideas every time I was there. I quickly realized that this might have been my dream all along.

Looking back on our journey with Frederick MADE and our time at the FSK Hotel, I’m not sure I ever had the spark like I do now. I loved our time there and what we were able to do for the community, but it never felt like I was fulfilling my dream. I opened a store with very little planning and expanded because it felt like the logical thing to do. Everything I did for Frederick MADE was because it felt like the right step for the business, but not necessarily the right step for me. 

Since we first started considering our new location at Shab Row, the ideas have been flowing constantly. The vision quickly formed, and I felt excitement and purpose like I never had before. It is a place that inspires me and has taken on a life of its own, and I feel like it’s exactly where I am supposed to be.

I will always be passionate about supporting local makers and small businesses, and they will always have a place in this new location. I am so grateful for everyone who believed in us over the years and supported our endeavors at Frederick MADE. I hope you take some time to visit my new store, Sweet As Sugarcane [at Frederick MADE] and see how my love for small businesses intertwines with this new dream of mine. 

Want to support us during our transition? Purchase a commemorative art print starting at $5! 

Sweet As Sugarcane at Frederick MADE will be opening in June!