THE CO-OP SHOP
The Co-Op Shop, a monthly shopping event featuring local small businesses and entrepreneurs, launches Aug. 11 at Rumours in the Ala Moana Hotel from noon to 6 p.m.
The event is organized by the Independent Aloha Co-Op headed by Sharon Abad, Lani Davan and Melyssa Davan-Takenouchi. The three ladies share a passion for fashion and each own a business (Abad has a pop-up traveling boutique called Pockets, Davan makes jewelry under the name Paper Doll Hawaii, and Davan-Takenouchi sells vintage clothes and other items, as well as handmade jewelry with polymer clay).
“We started The Co-Op Shop because we were looking for other events to vend at,” explains Davan. “We were already doing various trunk shows, craft fairs and events. We all wanted to grow our own businesses and expand our customer base, so rather than waiting for other events to pop up, we decided to take the initiative and create an event ourselves.”
Each Co-Op Shop event will have slight differences, but Davan says it’ll always be free to the public. There also will be a “lucky drawing” with proceeds donated to a charity or nonprofit organization. For the Aug. 11 event, they’ve picked the Hawaii Foodbank and are encouraging guests to bring a canned good for a “lucky drawing” ticket. Prizes will be announced every 30 minutes, and include gift cards, gift certificates, jewelry and more.
Jee Hae Jones
Participating vendors include Beloved Boutique, Knotty Kompany, Mixe Medium, Vintagebox, Calieco, SQNT, Proprium Boutique, Dolled Up Boutique, Sun Kiss Love Hawaii, J Styles, Lola Doll, Mochi Mochi Baby, IZRI Optics, Pockets, HonHI, Coco & Bee, Paper Doll Hawaii, Le Voyage, Haffguddei Designs, Oh Happy Cakes, PhotoOps Hawaii, Yoshi’s Bentos, Art & Shyience and Sunni McCord: Nerium, as well as featured artist Remi Mead.
“We try to invite vendors who are different from one another so that there is a good variety to appeal to all types of people – women, men, families, etc.,” says Davan. “You can find everything from women’s clothing and men’s T-shirts to upcycled children’s clothing. There also will be handmade jewelry, women’s accessories, unisex sunglasses, handmade baby and children’s items, a beauty bar, a cupcake vendor, bentos, music and cocktails (for 21-and-over in a designated area). We will have DJ Doggfather and DJ Sho spinning to get everyone in the shopping mood. The Co-Op Shop is a place where friends and families can come, hang out and shop.”
For more information, email IndependentAlohaCoOp@gmail.com.
