Last year, local Sarah Vandette opened the doors to Marché Sarah on October 6th, 2014. This year, she happily celebrates her first year anniversary.
Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, Huntingdon local Sarah Vandette (also known as Sarah Myatt) always knew she wanted to operate her own business. After a stint working in Montreal, Vandette returned to Huntingdon with the idea of opening her own store. Today, Marché Sarah offers an abundance of hard to find goods in bulk, as well as vast selection of organic products, which includes all-natural toothpastes and soaps.
The space, located at 110 rue Chateauguay in Huntingdon, QC, was a perfect fit for Vandette. The building, which has a history as both a meat market and gift shop, was perfect for what Vandette wanted to do. It was an opportunity to offer locals goods that they may not otherwise be able to purchase in the supermarket (without having to make a trip into the city). “Carrying bulk artisanal ingredients allows people to experiment a little more with their cooking—people can buy the amount that they need, as opposed to being forced to buy a product that they may not enjoy,” says Vandette. Marché Sarah also affords locals the opportunity to shop for all-natural, organic ingredients that can be difficult to find in a small town. Currently the shop offers bulk foods with specialties that include a massive collection of hard-to-find spices as well as a selection of rice not typically found in grocery stores. Shoppers can also peruse a bevy of treats that include sugar-free chocolate covered almonds.
According to the young shop owner, there was a steep learning curve when she first opened the store. Although she had experience in finance, there were many challenges. Within the first three months, the fridge quit in the shop, causing an incredible amount of merchandise to be lost. “I’m learning a lot as I go,” said Vandette with a smile when asked about how her first year had gone. “I’m always trying to improve.”
These days, Marché Sarah is one of the highlights of the main road in Huntingdon, offering bright, seasonal window displays to go along with her selection of merchandise. Open six days a week, Vandette runs the entire operation on her own, along with the help of some close friends and family. With business streaming in steadily thanks to a dedicated roster of clientele, Marché Sarah will also be offering vacuum-packed, ready-made meals in the next year. Using family recipes, the food will be homemade, offering a low-sodium option to shoppers. The shop will also strive to offer more local products.
To ring in her first year in business, Vandette will host a sale from October 6th to the 10th. The shop will offer specials on specific merchandise throughout the store, with six mystery items discounted at 25% off, with gluten-free products at 45% off. Samples will be available for people to try throughout the week with locally made River Road Roasters Coffee on hand to warm up chilly shoppers. For more details, contact Marché Sarah at 450-322-1250.
The importance of local businesses is essential. Next to Travailleurs des Vallees, which opened this year, Marche Sarah was an inspiration to them.
