I have profiled Willow Fish Peterson before for my Sonoma County: A Community Portrait podcast. But I would do anything within my small power to help her, for her mission is the same as my own—to showcase the best of the North Bay, and make makers some money.
Her exemplary store, Made Local Marketplace, currently shows the products of over 150 local makers, artists and brands drawn from a list of over 1,000. Simply put, hers is our made in North Bay store. She also owns the production imprint, “Made in The North Bay.”
CH: Describe your Montgomery Village store.
WFP: A crafts fair inside a store! We have goods grouped by maker—like at a crafts fair, but also displays where we bring goods together from different makers into sets, like a dinner table set, in the manner of a traditional retailer.
CH: I love your display cases—lots of Victorian cabinets, lightly refurbished work tables, apple crates, farm baskets. It’s all very funky, rustic and eclectic in our own local style. Could you pick out a few products?
WFP: Yes! But it’s so hard to choose! Well, in our home goods department, we have wonderful hand-turned redwood platters, vases and bowls by Sam Lefkowitz. He doesn’t have a website or email; he just turns up here twice a year in his old truck.
In our bath and body section, we have My Apothakeri, which are products by Kary Knecht. She loved and was inspired by those fancy perfumes, but her body had a reaction to them, so she has researched ways of creating alluring scents with all-natural ingredients.
CH: It’s super homey that with any product we pick up you can tell a fond story about a local producer. That’s the opposite of the Amazon experience.
WFP: I’ve a great way to meet and support our neighbors.
CH: It’s a great place to shop for a gift or to inquire what we make and who we are. I would recommend it to the local and the tourist alike. You told me that you were willing to consult with local entrepreneurs in the creation of parallel stores in any of our five North Bay counties.
WFP: If you’re out there, give me a call!
Visit the store. Also, click here to purchase Fish Peterson’s local good gift baskets or listen to her describe her business model in her own voice!
