Meet the Team!
Meet Tico – Our Chief Corgi Officer!
Tico is always on duty to greet you with his signature smile and wagging tail. Whether you’re stopping by to shop, chat, or just need a little puppy love, he’s here to brighten your day.
He’s not just a greeter – Tico’s our official morale booster, ready for cuddles or a quick playdate with fellow furry visitors. We’re proudly dog-friendly, so bring your pups along to meet Tico and join the fun!
Meet Jenna – The Heart Behind Artisan MRKT
Jenna, our founder, comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Her family once owned a charming French bakery back home, where she began learning the ins and outs of running a family business from an early age. Her angel mother was the heart and soul of their family business – Jenna followed her everywhere, soaking it all in. That experience planted the seeds of passion for craftsmanship and community.
Before Artisan MRKT, Jenna’s last career was dedicated to helping small and medium businesses thrive financially. But in 2020, everything shifted. Dusting off her sewing machine, she began volunteering to make masks – a simple act that reignited her love for creating. From masks, she expanded to crafting cat toys, ring dishes, handmade jewelry, ornaments, and more. She launched her own Etsy store and even collaborated with Eataly during one holiday season.
After stepping away to focus on her growing family, Jenna was reminded of the values she held dear – supporting others, fostering creativity, and building community. Those tiny humans inspired her to return to her roots, and from that, Artisan MRKT was born.
Jenna’s story is one of passion, resilience, and the belief that small businesses can create something truly special.
Meet Layal
Layal is a digital artist and computer science student with a love for drawing cute characters and animals. She's also passionate about game development and visual storytelling.
It’s super exciting to be part of this creative space and to get to know you all!
It’s super exciting to be part of this creative space and to get to know you all!
Meet Wenhui
Wenhui loves discovering the stories behind local handmade creations and sharing them with others. At Artisan MRKT, she enjoys connecting with artists, curating displays, and being part of a creative, welcoming community that celebrates art in everyday life. Outside of work, she loves exploring local coffee shops, discovering hidden gems around the city, and finding joy in colorful things that brighten the day.
Meet Hanaa Layla
Hanaa Layla Hakem (she/her), and she's a second-year Psychology student at the University of Toronto. She's a proud Torontonian, born and raised in the Cabbagetown area, so working at Artisan MRKT truly feels like being right at home. A little more about her is that she enjoys spending her free time reading, journaling, going on long walks, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends. She also love to binge watch TV and her current favorites are Abbott Elementary and Modern Family. And her favourite artists are Gracie Abrams and Noah Kahan. She's so excited to be part of a space that uplifts local artists and small businesses. She's really looking forward to connecting with each and every one of you.
Meet KimKim Koyama was born and raised in Toronto. His interests and hobbies include nature, entomology, astronomy, languages, weightlifting, architecture, and automotive design. He is a cat lover, having grown up with them, but as an adult he has met many nice dogs and enjoys their company too!
He takes pride in working at Artisan MRKT with its focus on local and other Canadian talent, and enjoys helping customers find just the right gifts for themselves and their friends and family.
He takes pride in working at Artisan MRKT with its focus on local and other Canadian talent, and enjoys helping customers find just the right gifts for themselves and their friends and family.
We can’t wait to share this journey with you.
Jenna, Tico and the Artisan MRKT Team.
Credit: Live Doodle Drawing by Amy from Labijournaling