Located in Old Montreal, the Empreinte cooperative allows around twenty artisans to obtain an attractive royalty on the sales of their creations, in addition to being part of a dynamic and caring community.
Jewelers, ceramists, fashion designers… 21 artisans – mostly women – are members of Empreinte, a cooperative born in 1974, whose mission is, as it is written on its website, to “promote and democratize the professions d’art du Québec by disseminating the works and products of local professional artisans”.
The advantages of being a member of Empreinte are numerous (access to a large pool of buyers, window to the international market, product promotion, etc.), but the one that has the greatest impact for artisans is the system royalties. Unlike a traditional store, which gives on average 50% of sales revenue, members of the coop receive 70%. The remaining 30% is invested in what is necessary for the proper functioning of the store (salary of the manager and employees, website, savings, etc.).
Renée Bovet informs us that a jeweler from the coop, “one of the best salespeople in the store”, would be able to live on royalties from the Empreinte alone. But this is not the case for all members. “There are a lot of artisans – a lot of young people – who still do artisan shows in Ottawa, in Toronto… craft fairs, and all that to manage to make a good salary. » The silk painter, even if Empreinte is her best store, sells her creations in several other points of sale in Canada.
Who says coop says member involvement. At Empreinte, each of them must devote 18 to 24 hours per month to various administrative, marketing or operational tasks, depending on their skills and interests, in addition to offering 24 hours of availability per year for management. stock and store maintenance.
For the craftswoman, compulsory periods in the store are good for morale. “I wouldn’t do it five days a week, but two to three days a week gives you a little pat on the back. It allows me to meet clients who tell me: “ah, you’re so good”. »
Being a member of a cooperative also means being part of a community of people who share the same values and ideals. “I love being connected with other artisans. There are always questions that you ask yourself in your work, in relation to stores, suppliers or anything, and there are always people who work in the same field and who will help you. It’s super stimulating to have people close to you who do the same work as you,” emphasizes Ms. Bovet.
To become a member of the Footprint, you must submit your application during the annual call for applications campaign, which takes place during the winter. New members are elected at the general assembly. “For all major decisions, all members must make the decision. It’s done by a show of hands. It’s super democratic.”
