Meet Our Founder & See Her Vision

Born and raised on Prince Edward Island, Renée Durant created The Prince Edward Mercantile Co. with a simple but powerful vision: to help Island makers and artisans thrive year-round while bringing the charm, craftsmanship, and warmth of PEI into homes everywhere.

After spending nearly 20 years away from the Island, returning home gave Renée a renewed appreciation for the beauty and spirit of PEI — the ocean on one side, potato fields on the other, and a deeply supportive community of local makers unlike anywhere else.

As a small business owner since 2019, Renée understands firsthand both the passion and the challenges that come with building a handmade business. After watching several prominent year-round gift shops close across the Island, she recognized that many talented artisans needed another way to connect with customers beyond seasonal markets and tourism.

So instead of creating just another online shop, she built something bigger.

Founded in Abram-Village, The Prince Edward Mercantile Co. is a curated online marketplace that brings together handcrafted and locally made goods from artisans across Prince Edward Island — creating a welcoming space where makers can be discovered and customers can shop thoughtfully made products with confidence.

Since launching, the marketplace has continued to grow and now proudly features more than twenty PEI makers and artisans offering everything from candles and skincare to fused glass, artwork, gifts, home décor, and more.

But at its heart, this business is about more than products.

It’s about community, connection, and creating opportunities for local makers to share their talent with the world.

Renée is committed to building a trustworthy and transparent shopping experience rooted in Island hospitality, quality craftsmanship, and meaningful customer care. Her goal is for every visitor to feel less like they’re shopping from a website — and more like they’ve discovered a new friend.

Because every purchase supports more than a single business.

It supports local families, artists, dreamers, and makers across Prince Edward Island.