08/26/2026
When the goal is the advancement of artists, their art and overall creativity & engagement within the small business community, there is no room for competition, only collaboration.
It's never about gatekeeping and trying to keep it all to yourself.
More artists making more magic and having more outlets to sell & share their art means more local money being spent locally and only helps to further the small business & maker movement as a whole.
Be someone in your community who inspires other people to create, and don't be selfish, especially with other people's work.
On that note, this is Carol who owns Sassy, Crassy & Creative in Northborough. We have a similar business model and even have some overlapping artists.
We were also both recently nominated for best boutique and best gift shop in MetroWest. The day before the voting ended, she came in to wish me good look and buy a plant.
We talked about different ideas and about all of the many things we have in common, especially how lucky we are to be able to showcase the work of so many talented artists in our spaces and to have so much love & support from our communities.
I'll be honest: I'd love to win in any of the categories we were nominated in, but if I have to lose, I hope it's to someone like this.
Follow her and go to her shop. Go to as many little shops as you can and ask who the artists are and follow them too.
Art is meant to be shared.
