Frode Goa, Owner of Kant in Stavanger, Norway.
Last month, Jill and I had the AWESOME opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in Scandinavia, with a week specifically in Norway. We spent a day in Stavanger, with a very cool and artistic few streets a stone’s throw away from our cruise ship.
Our itinerary was to visit the local museum and enjoy local fanfare, but we ditched the tour when we saw this boutique shop with really cool-looking apparel. The vibe was exactly up our alley, so we stepped into a wonderful place named KANT.
Your first steps into KANT.
The vibe was local and authentic. I could have gone home with every single item in the shop, and would have if only I had the extra luggage space. Owner Frode Goa was there to greet us, and he explained that all of his items were designed and screen printed in the shop.
He continued to tell us that the sweaters were all made of Norwegian wool and knit by his sister. It was safe to say this was not a souvenir shop, but rather a local entrepreneur with creativity that highlighted his beloved home, Stavanger.
You get stuck in the world that you live in every day and forget that the rest of the world is full of individuals who are doing exactly what you do. They dream of carving out a space for themselves in this world and work hard to be unique, as well as earn a living.
Frode’s modest press in the corner of his shop.
I loved his story. I loved his creativity. I loved his soul being on display for all those who entered his place. You will never find that at big box stores, and it is the primary reason why you need to go out of your way to shop small.
Small business owners work their tails off in order to make a single sale. It doesn’t just help them pay the bills; it justifies their existence. When I had a small t-shirt business a few years back, every single sale I made told me I was taking real steps towards achieving my dreams. It inspired me to keep going, keep creating, keep thriving – and it kept me sane!
We’ve all seen the meme describing when you shop small, you’re buying cleats for a child playing football, horseback riding lessons for a little girl, etc. This is one of the few true statements on social media. Supporting local small businesses in your area does all the great things we’ve discussed, but it also ignites your community.
Frode packing up my shirts into a custom screen printed paper bag.
When everyone is successful, we all win. I implore you to always shop local whenever possible, even when you are abroad. Souvenir shops are cool, and magnets are always a cool keepsake, but if you really want to take home a small piece of the place you are visiting, this is where you need to be.
For more information on KANT, please visit his website: https://kant.no/ or follow Frode on Facebook, it’s definitely worth following: https://www.facebook.com/kantnorge
Vi sees! (See you later in Norwegian.)
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