MANTiC moves in on Main Street

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/12/2020 (1838 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it was clear that longtime entrepreneur Racheal Campbell wouldn’t be touring festivals and events as a vendor this summer due to the pandemic, she began brainstorming alternative ways to sell her products.

Soon enough, a commercial space opened at 1469 Main St.

“And I thought, let’s open a store during a pandemic,” Campbell, 53, said, laughing.

Although a daunting task, Campbell has owned businesses in the past: Boozhoo, an online retail platform for Indigenous artists; jiigibiig, an Indigenous shop at The Forks; and Metlwrx, a jewelry shop in St. Boniface. All shops are now closed.

Campbell describes her latest venture, MANTiC, as an Indigenous metaphysical store.

“Metlwrx was more metaphysical, jiigibiig was Indigenous. So, we just put them together and now I can sell both,” Campbell said.

What customers can find at MANTiC are locally made and imported goods, including moccasins, soaps, crystals, candles, apparel, jewelry, smudge kits and more. The store features close to a dozen local artisans.

Owning multiple businesses with similar products, there’s an evident pattern in Campbell’s business interests. When asked why she enjoys selling these kinds of products, Campbell said it’s because they have purpose.

“All of these products are going to do something for you, are going to help you in some way,” she said. “It makes people happy, people enjoy them, they’re useful. The items that I try to purchase aren’t just going to sit there; they’re going to do something for you.”

Campbell is originally from Duck Bay, Man., a community situated along the western shores of Lake Winnipegosis, but she was raised in the North End and now lives not too far from MANTiC.

She said in the past the locations of her businesses were either expensive to rent or there was little traffic. But she’s pleased to now be based on busy Main Street.

“The North End has its own flavour. I can’t really compare it to any parts of the city because we have, I think, our own little niche in the world. But I do like this spot a lot.”

A family-owned shop, MANTiC opened Oct. 21 and operated with its doors open for a brief period of time before all non-essential businesses were ordered to close in November. Now, it’s taking orders online and over the phone, and is offering curbside pickup. Visit manticmetaphysical.com for more information.