HOLLAND TWP. — It’s been quite the year for Maranda Shear.
Shear is the owner of Art as a Lifestyle, a multi-focused shop where customers can blend custom soaps, lotions and candles; make their own pieces of art in crafting classes; and purchase products made by Shear herself.
The store has been open since 2018, when Shear — a former employee at Moynihan Gallery & Framing in downtown Holland — took the popular Candle-ology brand and blended it with her own business plan.
At first located in Holland Town Center, Art as a Lifestyle relocated to Not So Shabby at 2975 W. Shore Drive in February. The move came just weeks before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order, which shut down retail service across the state.
“It’s been a cascade of craziness,” Shear said. “During the shutdown, Not So Shabby lost some vendors that just couldn’t keep going through it. So, we did some reconfiguration. We have a new classroom and I’m just starting up classes again.”
Not So Shabby is an antique and refurbished furniture shop with a number of vendors. Customers can view Shear’s booth, against the back wall, during regular business hours from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 12-5 p.m. Sundays.
But for new creations, customers will have to schedule an appointment by texting Shear at 989-390-2661. They can also utilize Shear’s new online system through her website at artasalifestyle.com.
“We finally have online service,” Shear said. “You can make a candle or lotion or soap. You can choose your scents and we’ll use our best judgment to balance it. We’re never going to steer you wrong. It’s very exciting. It’s an easy way to replicate scents you’ve purchased before.”
In a few weeks, Shear will launch a new monthly subscription-based experience. Subscribers will get a new chapter from a book written by Edgar Ellis Wolf and a candle with a signature scent each month.
“It’s something we’re trying out,” Shear said. “It’s a totally new concept and we’re really looking forward to it because it’s something we’ve never seen before.”
In general, Shear wants customers to know that Art as a Lifestyle is still here.
“I thought it was the end,” she said. “But we’re here and we want you to come check us out. We’re doing some cool new things and we’re excited to see you.”
