Vasiliki Papanikolopoulos loves to shop local
Vasiliki Papanikolopoulos is a small business advocate and the founder of Coimatan - an organization that easily connects small businesses with the Minnesotan community. Vasiliki’s upbringing across the U.S., Greece, and Cyprus has influenced the importance she places on shopping local and buying products made of simple, natural materials that celebrate earth and craftsmanship. Scroll down to shop Vasiliki’s picks!
On December 5 (this Saturday!) Coimatan is organizing A Night In to Celebrate. Everyone is invited to unwind with heartwarming performances brought to you by participating small businesses, local organizations, and nonprofits. Proceeds support Minnesotan neighborhood businesses! Grab your tickets here.
Why is shopping local important to you?
Shopping local matters to me because if I do it, it means I’m in tune with my surroundings - it shows I’m paying my respect to the shop owners and other small business owners who have created something to offer their community.
What’s your favorite part about living in the Twin Cities?
Sometimes you only realize things after you’ve moved away for a bit, in my case to Philadelphia. My favorite part about living in the Twin Cities is how we surround ourselves with nature, and in many ways, how quickly we adopt sustainable ways of living (reusing items, repairing clothes, buying vintage/antique, making with natural materials) to better our lifestyle, more so than for the sake of trends.
When I daydream of kitchens, I largely think about wood cutting boards (and teapots.) I find them to be the centerpoint of a kitchen 1) given they are where meals come together and 2) because of their natural and lasting beauty - they automatically bring a sense of warmth in aesthetic and feeling that no plastic cutting board could ever replicate.
Wow, speak of wood art! Never thought I would be a spin-n-serves buyer but the wood technique and floral energy in this piece spoke to me. With the maker’s brilliant craftsmanship, apparently the art piece can also function as a side table! Mind blown.
I’m a huge fan of products that are thoughtful in their packaging - this candle with the wine bottle and label being artfully reused is super cool.
All animals are cool, but bees, given how many ways they benefit society with their diverse offerings as pollinators and honey makers, really have my attention lately. (And, perhaps because of the film Honeyland). Two things also caught my attention in the product description - the collaboration with Haitian beekeepers (the book Buy the Change You Want to See shares stories of why we should and can all contribute to the rebuilding of the Haiti economy) and the packaging is biodegradable. Yes!
When I started to realize how much plastic surrounds consumer products (kind of like an onion), it was bar soap that I became obsessed with. It grabbed my attention at local markets and I rediscovered its perfection (and practicality).