Well hot damn!! One year later, Alyson has opened up shop permanently inside the same building. It’s time for her to take over the Rise DJ Booth to promote her grand opening TONIGHT (Friday 11/6, 5P – 8P), and time for you to learn about another hip local business and enjoy some stellar Instagramming across Western New York. Here’s Alyson to take it away!
We were one of the members of the launch edition of the Queen City Pop-Up last November and December in the Market Arcade. It was a chance to test the local market and see how a public space would play for our business. We got to see what people were interested in, and what they weren’t, and people’s willingness to support local business. We had always been a little scared of retail, but after seeing how excited people were to see shopping coming back to Main Street, we were definitely encouraged.
Seeing the Market Arcade building for the first time, we instantly fell in love. We knew we wanted to be here, and when a larger space than we were anticipating became available, we decided to expand our idea of a stationery shop into our crazy idea of a wedding co-op. So now in addition to our line of art prints and pottymouth, snarky greeting cards, we have a beautiful collaborative space featuring our event stationery, the wedding planning prowess of Lisa and Patty from Main Street Events, and gorgeous florals by Joe and Brendan from Sage and Buffalo Floral Art. We’re also in talks with some other amazing folks, including a photographer and vintage rental company.
Over this past summer, my husband and I decided to to take the company full time as a family business, so now we both split time between the shop and staying home with our 1 year old son and 4 year old daughter. I feel so fortunate to be doing what I love, in a city I love, and we couldn’t do it without the help and support of our amazing family and friends.
Finally, this music of ours: My taste in music has been described as “Canadian alternative,” random, and awful, but everything here has had some sort of meaning in my life. From songs I sing in the car with my kids (Cirice is my 4 year old daughter’s favorite song, thanks to Nick she loves metal) to songs that have inspired me now or at some point in my life (probably the most random, seeing the video for A-ha’s Take on Me is my earliest memory of wanting to be an illustrator).
Is your business opening? Or has it been open for a while? Either way, we want to help you get more eyes on your brand and more people through your door. You can hop in to the Feature Friday DJ Booth, or we can throw an event in collaboration with you and your team. Reach out to us! Risecollaborative@gmail.com.
