when deciding what could make our first dc location extra special to the community, one local business came to mind. Shop Made in DC has made a significant impact on its community by promoting and supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs. this unique retail concept offers a curated selection of high-quality products made by artisans and makers from the dc area. from handcrafted home goods to one-of-a-kind fashion pieces, Shop Made in DC showcases the creativity and talent of the local community while fostering economic growth and sustainability. beyond being a retail space, Shop Made in DC has become a cultural hub in its own right, hosting workshops, events, and collaborations that engages dc and promote the spirit of creativity and innovation. their positive impact on local businesses, artisans, and the dc community as a whole is truly inspiring!

given our affinity for the brand, we were thrilled to team up with SMDC on a dedicated retail shelf in our georgetown café, featuring a custom-curated collection of blue and white home goods. we sat down with Shop Made in DC co-founder & chief localist stacey price & regional corporate & partnership manager carina romero to talk about the brand and its personal connection with the community.

how did Shop Made in DC come to be? (forgive my rhyming haha)

stacey: “in 2017, we launched Shop Made in DC as an economic development experiment. we wanted to see what would happen if we created a space with nothing but locally made goods— could we change neighborhoods, build community and change buying habits? could we have a viable business model? the answer was yes, and we opened our second and third stores in 2019 at the wharf and georgetown. now we have 6 dc locations, and have since launched shop made in virginia. we will open our first Shop Made in Maryland store in 2023.”

that’s amazing! what’s your favorite thing about being a small business owner?

stacey: “i appreciate that we can come up with something quickly to do and just do it. the team has autonomy to do big things without much oversight as long as the mission stays the same - supporting makers and artists and as long as it is within our bandwidth. i love doing creative and impactful things without having too many plans. i believe in strategy and operationally-sound business but the magic happens in spontaneity.”

carina: “collaboration is also so important! my role is to put the makers in corporate gift boxes and now makers are able to just be in front of people and lead workshops! i just had a meeting with someone who makes tea and honey events and we were brainstorming how to do a bunch of different workshops.! it’s been fun to work with makers and do something different and unique." 

stacey: “we do a lot of co-creating with different makers, offering slight suggestions since we have a finger on the pulse of what the consumer wants. this way, we can help guide makers to create profitable and well-loved products…. we have a very great team who’s in it for the mission as well and everyone really loves working with us and the makers.”

it’s so wonderful how you’re literally creating space for artists that didn’t exist before. why did you find it important to work with local artists?

stacey: “i’ve spent my career working for small and local businesses, from the time i left my undergraduate degree, from marketing to technical to running non-profits supporting independent business growth, so it’s in my blood! my father was a small business owner, same with my brother, it’s in my dna whether i like it or not! it comes with the challenge of wanting to do too many things and not always having the bandwidth, so when looking at the maker culture and dc we thrive by creating a low entry to market opportunity in our spaces to allow makers to scale their business.” 

carina - “stacey also gives a platform to makers to showcase all that they can do! each group has a rotating spot in the store to help spread the love — even though i might have a favorite tea maker, we can spotlight stacey’s pick, who might have a tea flavor that i’ve never seen before! there’s a show for female makers that’s in georgetown, union market, and virginia. now these women have a chance to both share their work and sell it. stacey is really good at opening her arms and creating a platform for creators who don’t have the same access."

what are your favorite items at the store, i have to know!

stacey: “i can’t do that because it’s like picking your favorite child!” 

carina: “my husband was a chef, so i really love the food items! everything from mulling spices, teas, locally roasted coffee beans coffee roasters, hot sauces, gf snack bites— there’s so many cool people making food who don’t get to have a restaurant so it’s really nice to support them, even to our local jewelers and more…"

with all the different amazing items at Shop Made in DC, how did you choose the specific items that are displayed at maman georgetown?

carina: “we thought about what it is that you guys at maman have, and things that would feel really special to georgetown — we have our print, and food is such a beautiful love language that you don’t get to have a keepsake for! so whether it be a mug, some honey, a journal, ceramics, or prints… also anything blue and beautiful that melds with the space.”

what are some favorite go-to spots in dc that we have to check out?

stacey: “i am obsessed with the new rubell museum, it hails from carina’s stomping ground in miami from the minds of two miami artists. it’s held where marvin gaye went to school, it’s super unique, and there’s a lovely collection right now on dc artists and the african american community.”

carina:  “i love lutece! i’m going to dinner there next week with my husband and we’re super excited, it’s right across the street from you all in georgetown! it’s delicious and serves up inventive new food.” 

okay spill: what’s your favorite maman item??

stacey: “that damn cookie! the one with the macadamia nut and chocolate chunks” 

carina: “kevin (my husband) and i got the cookbook and we’re excited to try the cakes. i’m also a sucker for a good cortado, the proportions are just right, and the foam is always perfect!” 

stacey: “i’m a sucker for an iced americano!”

shop the curated SMDC collection at maman georgetown today, or visit their stores in georgetown at 1304 wisconsin avenue nw and in union market at 325 morse street ne, retail #4! 

p.s. Shop Made in DC helped connect us to michael crossett, the artist who designed our custom union market coffee cup! to read more about that story, click here. to read more about our bethesda cup artist, stefanie stark, click here.