Hidden Gems: Meet Rachel Tan and Tara Chavarria of Hometown Shops

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Tan and Tara Chavarria.

Hi Rachel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Tara and I met when she was a manager at a local shop where I became a vendor. This store focused on championing small businesses and local artisans. We both love this idea and wanted to see it incorporated into other parts of Colorado. We worked together for about three years before we started to take the jump and start our own store!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This past year was a rough one. The store we were both a part of sold right around the same time as Covid hit. We were left a bit rudderless and tried to make it through the year doing pop-up markets throughout the Denver area. This was the first time we had sold our goods together as a team and I think we make a pretty good one! Tara is outgoing and a people person so she is great at sales, and I’m quieter and love creating things behind the scenes. We found a seasonal shop to be a part of for the holidays, which helped us get through the year. But we didn’t have plans in the new year as far as a permanent home for our small businesses. A lot of our fellow vendor friends were in the same boat and struggling because of the past year, many having to go on unemployment to survive. It’s really rough out there for artists and small businesses right now.

We’ve been impressed with Hometown Shops, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We started Hometown Shops first as a home for our own little small businesses and then opened up to other local artisans in the area. LOVE the selection of people and local products that will be in our store! It is the best mix of high-quality handcrafted jewelry (wire wrapped, stamped, hammered, leather, woodcut and clay), candles, soaps, cutting boards, art and cards, clothing, home decor, and lots of unique gift options. We want this to be a store that makes it easier to access local goods and to support local artisans. We will be open Mon-Sat 10-7 and 11-6 on Sundays. This business is not a moneymaker for us but rather a community of artists that support each other.

Contact Info:

• Email: hometownshops.co@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hometownshops/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourhometownshops