Why Local Matters: Small Shops, Big Impact
Why Shopping Local Matters More Than Ever
In a world that often feels like it’s spinning too fast—with rising costs, shifting economies, and the quiet weight of emotional and mental strain pressing on our neighbours—shopping local isn’t just a feel-good slogan. It’s a powerful act of community care.
Here in Canada, we are incredibly lucky to have a rich landscape of talented makers, artists, and small business owners who pour their hearts into creating thoughtful, beautiful, and lasting products. These aren’t mass-produced, trend-chasing items. They’re carefully crafted, soul-infused goods—pieces of someone’s passion, their late nights, their “what if I tried this” moments.
One of those makers is Leanne, the incredibly talented creator behind Isla Rae Jewelry, handcrafted in Vibank, Saskatchewan. Her pieces are not only stunning—they carry weight in the best possible way. Leanne is a wife, a mother, and a survivor. Through her work, she shares beauty while also giving back: donating both her time and a portion of her sales to mental health and suicide prevention initiatives. Her jewelry tells stories of resilience and hope, and we are honoured to share her creations with our customers.
Supporting makers like Leanne means more than just admiring the craftsmanship—it means supporting the values behind the work. It means investing in someone’s dream, someone’s healing, someone’s purpose. This is the power of shopping local: every purchase becomes personal.
At Wren, we love sharing the stories behind the products we carry—because when you shop small, you're not just picking something off a shelf. You're connecting to the hands, the hearts, and the purpose behind each item.
Another Canadian brand that holds a special place in our shop (and our hearts) is Barefoot Venus, from beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia. If you follow Jillian Harris, chances are you've already been introduced to this magical brand. But if not—allow us the pleasure.
Barefoot Venus is one of the brands that helped inspire and shape what Wren would become. Their iconic mustard bath is a cold-season (and self-care) essential. Made with a powerful blend of wintergreen, eucalyptus, and spearmint, it acts as a natural decongestant, pulling toxins from the body and soothing sore muscles with magnesium. It’s a reset button in a jar—and a staple for so many of our customers.
This is the kind of quality and care we look for when curating our shop. These are the brands that form the soul of Wren—Canadian companies led by passionate women, men and families who truly believe in what they do.
By shopping local, you help ensure these stories continue. You give power to good people doing good work. You bring comfort, beauty, and wellness into your home while helping your neighbours build something sustainable, even in uncertain times.
We’re proud to stock a thoughtfully curated collection of Canadian brands that prioritize quality, sustainability, and wellness, some such brands include:
Bath Poetry – Elegant, poetic bath and body rituals crafted in Lumsden Saskatchewan
Soy Harvest Candles – Clean-burning soy candles that fill your space with warmth and calm.
Bathorium – Canadian-made bath soaks and elixirs that turn your tub into a spa.
SOJA & Co. – Plant-based, earth-friendly self-care made with intention in Montréal.
Rug & Weave – Textiles and decor that bring grounded beauty and natural warmth to your home.
SOCCO Designs – Ethically made home goods blending Canadian design with Moroccan craftsmanship.
Blume – Superfood lattes and wellness blends that support your body and mind, caffeine-free or boosted.
Bloom Boost – Nutrition made easy with this Saskatoon-made power blend source of fibre, iron and omega 3s.
Lake & Oak – Wellness teas and adaptogenic blends that soothe, energize, and restore.
Three Ships – Skincare that’s clean, affordable, and transparently Canadian.
Roma & Lou – Jump on the Tallow trend and treat your skin to a locally-made luxury skincare product.
Ruby Reid – Fine fragrance rooted in a minimalist prairie aesthetic.
Epic Blends – Everyday bath and body staples, reimagined with nourishing natural ingredients.
See You Sundae – Fun, effective sunless tanner that makes everyday indulgence easy and joyful.
TANIT – Sustainable SPF face + body care with packaging that’s kind to the planet.
These brands represent everything Wren stands for: care, creativity, integrity, and a deep love for home and self.
When you choose to shop local, you’re not just supporting a store—you’re helping someone keep creating. You’re giving life to ideas and businesses built around wellness, design, and sustainability. You’re ensuring that your dollars go back into your own community, where they matter most.
Our shop—tucked just off Broadway in Saskatoon—is more than just a retail space. It’s a lovingly curated collection of Canadian magic. It’s your brick-and-mortar subscription box of favourites, discoveries, and meaningful little luxuries.
So whether you're shopping for a gift, replenishing your self-care essentials, or simply wandering in to find something beautiful, come discover Wren.
Gifting made effortless. Self-care made thoughtfully. Home elevated—one Canadian-made treasure at a time.