As a local maker and a digital marketing guru, potter Brandi Klein wanted to find some way to highlight Saskatchewan businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 inspired push to shop local — and she’s finally found the perfect idea.
Klein recently launched From: the Prairies, a series of curated and themed product boxes full of Saskatchewan-made products from small Saskatchewan-based makers.
“Really, we’re connecting Saskatchewan’s people to Saskatchewan’s businesses,” said Klein. “I spent a lot of time on the pottery wheel over COVID, really contemplating what [supporting local] means and that’s the mission we’re launching with this, is creating an accessible option for people to purchase and experience local.”
The first box theme is Prairie Pampering, featuring a collection of products meant for an at-home spa day provided by seven local businesses.
Available in two sizes, the Prairie Pampering box includes products like a mimosa kit from Good Spirit Kombucha, citrus bath soak kit from Avicii Day Spa + Boutique, a handmade jewellery bowl made by Klein herself, and more.
Also included are stylized recipe cards for products, a welcome card explaining the product box's mission, and a QR scan code that opens up a custom track recorded by Regina musician Ava Wild to complete the unboxing experience.
“Each curated box is designed to engage all five of your senses,” said Klein. “We’re really touching on smell, touch, see, hear, taste, and that’s how we went about curating this box and picking our box partners.”
The Ultimate Prairie Pampering box includes all seven products from seven Regina-area small businesses. (supplied)Klein’s carefully puts together the boxes in a small-batch format, meaning each themed box will be limited edition. The boxes are currently available for free delivery within Regina city limits, with priced shipping options for other parts of Saskatchewan and Canada.
Klein also feels the boxes are a great opportunity for both makers without a formal storefront to advertise their products, as well as for customers living too far away to try local products.
“I find that people who’ve moved away, Saskatchewan is still home for them,” said Klein. “And so [with shipping options], we want to be able to give those people a taste of home and bring the prairie hospitality all across Canada.”
The Prairie Pampering box became available to order earlier this week, and Klein is feeling good about the response she has received so far.
“The support that people have been showing is just so moving for me,” said Klein. “I’m very excited for people to experience our small businesses, experience that prairie hospitality that’s delivered to their doorstep, and we’ll see what happens moving forward.”
There are plenty more exciting ideas for future boxes in the works already, said Klein, including potential lifestyle topics such as pets, barbeques, even maybe some throwback themes like the Spice Girls — but she’s keeping details under wraps for now.
“We just want to have fun with this because we have so many amazing businesses here in Saskatchewan, and it’s exciting to see the breadth of what we can do here,” said Klein.
Most of the businesses included in the launch box are from the Regina area, but Klein has visions of expanding From: the Prairies to include makers from every part of the province.
“Moving forward, we’ll be reaching out to a variety of businesses from across Saskatchewan because we’re so vast and we have so many makers, and we really want to showcase that,” said Klein.
A website for From: the Prairies is still under construction and will be launched soon, said Klein, but for now, she invites customers interested in ordering the Prairie Pampering box to private message From: the Prairies on either the Facebook page or Instagram page, or to email her at hello@fromtheprairies.com.
