6 small businesses to showcase wares at Devonshire Mall pop-up

Six small businesses in Windsor and Essex County are taking turns occupying a kiosk at Devonshire Mall for oneweek during Small Business Month in an effort to raise awareness of their stores and operations.

"We'rerunning this campaign to highlight local and independent businesses and to educate the public about the importance of supporting local, independent businesses, and giving these business vendors that we selected an opportunity to promote their businesses and create further awareness and hopefully attract a new customer base at a very busy shopping destination in our region," said Sabrina Demarco, executive director of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre at Invest WindsorEssex.

The kiosk opened Monday with the first vendor, Whiskyjack Boutique. The store isin downtown Windsor and usually busy with tourists coming in to buy unique, Canadian-made gifts such as jewelry, books and greeting cards.

Co-owner Allie Mistikidishopesbeing at the mall will bring in new clientele.

• Some small businesses in Windsor-Essex say rising costs mean 'death by a million paper cuts'

"For us, it's a good exposure to perhaps some shoppers that might not venture downtown where we have our shop," said Mistikidis.

She said she makes sure people know where they are and also makes them aware of their website where they can order online. The store will ship for free to Windsor, LaSalle and Tecumseh ifthe customer spends $50 or more.

Demarco said Invest WindsorEssex chose the businesses on a first-come first-served basis, but they also had to meet certain criteria, such as having adequate inventory to occupy the kiosk.

"We want to let consumers know that these local products exist and where they can find them throughout the region," said Demarco.

Whiskyjack Boutique began occupying the kiosk Monday and will continue for one week.

"I think it's important that people recognize that shopping local is essential," said Mistikidis.

After that, each of the other five businesses will occupy the kiosk for one week until November.

The other businesses are:

• Urban Art Market - Oct. 7 to 13.
• Corporal4Life Apparel - Oct. 14 to 20.
• Montaneros Coffee - Oct. 21 to 27.
• Ruscom Maple Products - Oct. 28 to Nov. 3.
• The Little Petal Truck - Nov. 4 to 10.