Help Keep This Creative Community Space Open

Hi!

My name is Maegan, and I own Shoppe and Tailor Studios, a local Toronto community maker space and sewing studio.

The pandemic struck my business very hard, dropping revenue by over 90%. Though we have been working hard to bounce back, we haven't reached our pre-pandemic numbers, and now have this new pandemic-related debt to repay. The goal of this Go-Fund-Me is to contribute to repaying our government relief CEBA loan. Our total owing amount is $40 000 by January 18th, 2024.

Shoppe and Tailor Studios offers studio space for designers, costumers, DIYers, and beginner sewists to learn, practice and run their small businesses. Not only do we offer access to sewing machines, cutting table-space and fitting rooms, but also beginner tailoring lessons, workshops, special events, business advice, and camaraderie. Shoppe and Tailor Studios' core values are providing a safe and inclusive space for everyone to work, create, and comfortably be themselves.

Our sewing community space in downtown Toronto is important, as it provides a central hub for creative people to launch and grow their small businesses, network, and skill share. In an economy where many people make ends meet by running a side hustle (or three), and can't justify the cost of a full-time space, Shoppe and Tailor Studios provides options. We give people the opportunity to use tools and equipment that they otherwise may not have access to, and bring creative minds together under one roof.

Our College & Ossington studio also provides important facilities for the arts and entertainment industry in Toronto. In the past year, we've been able to provide fully equipped workspace to theatre companies like Volcano Theatre and Tapestry Opera, enabling teams of dedicated people to create the costumes seen in the incredible art on our city's stages. Our studio has also provided a safe, professional place to hold fittings for independent films, stylists, and other productions.

We would be remiss not to mention that our vast Queer community is a driving force behind what we do here--Shoppe and Tailor Studios has been playing an integral role in hosting designers working on fresh looks for Toronto's thriving drag and burlesque performance community. We love teaching our community the skills to tailor their own clothes to suit their body and feel comfortable in their own skin! We stand firmly behind our policies of "No bigotry, racism or hate speech will be tolerated" within our studio. Having a safe space for you to land in is important to us.

We need to come up with $40 000 by January 18th, 2024 to receive forgiveness on an additional $20 000 from the CEBA loan program. If you aren't familiar with the CEBA loan program from 2020, the Canadian government offered small businesses $40K for covering payroll costs, then added an additional $20K-- totalling a $60K loan. If $40k is paid off by January 18th, 2024, the additional 20K is forgiven. That forgiveness will mean the difference between keeping our doors open and continuing to serve our community--or not.

We need your help to pay this off!

By paying off the CEBA loan, we will be able to allocate our revenue to our community initiatives such as:

We want so badly to bring these offerings to life and keep our doors open for you. Even one single dollar donated to our cause lets us know that our community is behind us and that you believe in our efforts to keep providing a safe creative space. Even a small amount means the world to us.

Other ways to support us:

Purchase a membership - We have several different tiers of flexible & half-day memberships available! Memberships guarantee us monthly income, which helps us to budget and plan. If you like what we do here, and want to support us in an ongoing way, please consider our $10/Month "Friend of the studio" donation "membership".

Buy our Merch!

Shoppe and Tailor Studios Merch

A portion of the merch proceeds will contribute to paying back the CEBA loan, of course, but sales from Shoppe and Tailor Studios' swag will also help us in paying our staff for new added studio hours and keep up with fair wages associated with living and working in Toronto.

Sign Up for a Class!

Want to join our community? Sign up for a workshop, class, or come out to one of our PWYC Craft Nights on the second Monday of every month from 6pm-8pm!

Your contribution means so much to me and our growing community of makers and designers! We have so much potential for greatness in this space, but we can't accomplish it without you right now.

From the bottom of my heart,

Thank you.

Maegan