Local Business Highlight: MADE Riverside
MADE Riverside is a brick and mortar store located in the Inland Empire that resells handcrafted and custom-made goods created by local artisans. The store’s inception began as a family endeavor to establish a set location for makers to sell their creations without having to navigate the complications of sellers’ markets. Their store is now a well known go-to for Riverside locals and hosts over 100 local small businesses selling their products.
We interviewed MADE Riverside’s owner, Rico, to learn more about how the business came to be and what challenges his family faced when launching their vision.
What is the history behind the store?
The family behind MADE started selling handcrafted woodwork at markets like the Rose Bowl before the idea of a physical store came up.
“We had retail experience,” Rico says, referring to his dad’s experience as a business owner. “We also had market experience. So we kind of had the entrepreneur going, and then the retail thing going.”
Anyone who enters the MADE Riverside store will instantly notice a number of crafted goods stamped with the Riverside rain cross— symbolizing that MADE is truly a store for local artisans. While this wasn’t originally intended, it has become part of what makes the store a Riverside favorite.
“We're kind of known as the rain craft store in Riverside, but that wasn't intended,” Rico says. “That's just what happens having local makers that are proud of where they're from.”
What challenges did you face when MADE Riverside was first launched?
“So in the beginning, for the first two years, I was out all the time, trying to find people and trying to convince people of our resale model,” Rico says. “Since it's kind of a unique mode, it's really hard to explain to people what we do.”
The hardest thing about being an entrepreneur is the first step. For the team behind MADE, the first step was finding local artisans to jump on board.
“The main challenge was getting the makers and another challenge was actually gaining advertising and gaining notoriety and finding a way to share what we're doing,” Rico says. “The other challenge was obviously the business side. We knew how to make things, but there are a ton of things that go into just running the brick and mortar business that have to happen behind the scenes— contracts and figuring out how to successfully track inventory.”
Did you struggle to find a building that fit your needs?
“We (originally) tried to get a location downtown, but it was harder because we weren't established.”
Rico and family also found it hard to explain their business model to building owners. The family decided to take a vacation to Arizona, and when they came back, they were able to find a location within a week near the Riverside Plaza. The timing worked perfectly, and the MADE team eagerly began to set up shop.
The store now has two sides, and is continuing to expand. After a quick month of searching, Team Stance secured yet another location for MADE Riverside in the Freeway Industrial Park for Rico to expand his custom fabrications business: Alderette Designs. Part of MADE Riverside’s evolution has been to get more and more involved in the community.
How has the shop, as a local business, been able to stay involved in the community?
“I'm really big on that: keeping it local,” Rico says. “We try to buy and use local...and that's great for the community. All the small businesses helping the other small businesses— that's what's gonna help Riverside as a whole to rise, I think.”
During the pandemic, the team at MADE saw some of that community support in return. “People were buying gift cards even though we were closed. It was a really cool sense of community.”
What is the future of the store?
“We're just really focusing on trying to bring more people into the store, bring notoriety, and bring back our regular customers. We're in the rebuilding phase (post pandemic).”
After the “rebuilding phase,” Rico also hopes to continue expanding Alderette Designs and bring more small businesses into the MADE Riverside network.
When asked if he would recommend starting a business to others despite the many challenges and setbacks, Rico said “absolutely,” without hesitation.
“I've grown as a human being,” he says. “We need more small businesses and less big corporations. If people don't step up and start getting out there and (start businesses), then all we're going to have is big corporations.”
“Even if everything shuts down tomorrow, I still learned so much. (Starting MADE Riverside) is an experience I don’t regret.”
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Our team at Stance Commercial Real Estate is happy to help locals like MADE Riverside move into buildings that allow their businesses to grow. Ready to expand? Not sure if you should lease or purchase? Our team will help you find the perfect location and answer all of your questions. Call Joe today at (909) 772-1212 for a free consultation.
