Press article
May 07, 2019
Published on May 4, 2019 at 12:00 PM | Updated on May 4, 2019 at 12:00 PM
Arloca, a 100% local boutique-workshop
The Arloca boutique is located at 6572 Saint-Hubert Street in Montreal.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE
Freshly opened, the Arloca boutique-workshop-exhibition space was born from Catherine Lecompte and Sébastien Biguet's passion for promoting local crafts and their creators. Merchants at heart and driven by strong social and eco-responsible values, these two thirty-somethings envisioned a unique space with a street-level presence.
Catherine Lecompte and Sébastien Biguet have worked extensively in retail. A saleswoman during her studies, she has always enjoyed interacting with the public and spent 10 years as a manager for a group of stores. For his part, he was a buyer and participated, among other things, in the launch of the Sportium brand.
"We noticed that when people shopped at big-box stores, they would quickly get rid of the products without necessarily realizing the value of things. During our trip to the Gaspé Peninsula last summer, we looked for souvenirs made by artisans. We were ready to pay a little more to buy something with a story, created with passion right here. It’s nice to use items every day knowing they weren't mass-produced," says the co-founder of Arloca.
The idea then took root in the minds of the couple, who decided to launch their own business and offer products that align with their personal values.
An inspiring space
Sébastien Biguet and Catherine Lecompte, co-founders of Arloca
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE
"We wanted a street-level location, and we heard about the revitalization of Saint-Hubert Street. It was popular in the 70s, and with the planned construction, it will become almost pedestrian-only, while still keeping a traffic lane," explains Ms. Lecompte with enthusiasm, believing that the area will regain its former glory.
Furthermore, the couple fell in love with the space at number 6572. Spanning three levels, it features a majestic staircase.
"We designed an exhibition space upstairs; creators will be able to exhibit their work or hold collection launches there."
The boutique itself is organized on the ground floor. "We focused on product categories for gifting and self-gifting, for all budgets and occasions. There is a complete section for children, another with costume jewelry of various ranges, a stationery section with cards and posters, a home decor and tableware zone, and another with a few backpacks and handbags. We didn't spread ourselves too thin by choosing too many creators, and it was important to find a partnership suited to everyone's reality. When buying a product at Arloca, we can explain where it comes from, how it's made, and customers realize they are supporting Canadian creation," she says, adding that even for the shop's fit-out, everything was done by a local artisan using eco-responsible materials.
Finally, in addition to the boutique and exhibition space, Arloca benefits from a 500-sq.-ft. room in the basement for organizing creative workshops.
