About us

A micro and mighty local gift shop meant for the sunshine makers, the light protectors, and the raging feminists in us all. This shop runs from the heart, our love of family, and a fierce knowing to stand for what's right. This shop is a safe and inclusive space for all and one where we celebrate what makes us weird, what brings us joy, and moments of connection bringing hearts and community together. 

MEET TARA

Hi Friends, Or hopefully, soon to be Friends. 
Tara Bendig here. 
Nice to meet you all!
A little bit about me. 
I'm a soft hearted human that wants to welcome you to her space of inclusion. 
This is a shop I created from a place of pain, to bring some joy into my life and into my community. 
Loss found itself on my door step. And as many of you know, big losses change us in ways we never expected.
That happened to me.

Let me back up here. What is a Bendig? It's me. I'm a Bendig. Tara Bendig. This name belonged to my wife, Tina Bendig. Belonged as in, she passed away in October 2022. 

Suddenly, I felt that I no longer could put my energy into spaces that just made me smaller. I could no longer put all my energy into someone else's dream. 

But what is it that I did want to do with this whole new chapter in my life?!

Gifts. That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to create a space based on joy and connection. 

For as long as I can remember, gifts were a way I learned to express my love, care or thoughts.
Sometimes... words can't say what a gift can. 
Sometimes words have no comfort, but a sweet card and journal could provide a soft safe space that told someone I cared. Gifts were expressions of gratitude and when received, if we got it just right, they create a beautiful pocket of joy for someone.
Gifts make us feel seen.

Gifts were how I knew my mom saw me. How I knew she was listening. Special occasions would show up, and that thing I’ve been wanting... all of a sudden was on my lap wrapped with the most glorious paper. The excitement and happiness could be felt in my finger tips as I unwrapped and In my heart as I recalled the conversation when I told her just how much I wanted that specific thing I just opened! 

A box of chocolate at your best friend's parents' funeral. Because there are simply no comforting words sometimes... but there's the small comfort of the familiar in the form of: a favourite chocolate.

Gift giving quickly became my love language.

From a tragedy, a dream blossomed, and came to fruition. 

I wanted a shop where everyone felt safe to show up in.
A space where anyone could find just the right gift for a loved one.
A space where it was really random, super eclectic and just felt good to putter about in.

Enter… TheBendigCompany! 
And this space was born.
Ever changing. 
Ever growing.
Always inclusive.
Joy began again. In small ways. Small pockets... and I knew I was going in the right direction. 

With love, with righteous rage and with kindness, Join me in celebrating all the colourful and different ways you can show people you love them at your finger tips. 

I can do this! I am doing this! Let’s do this friends!

All or Nothing, TB 

WHERE TO FIND ME

The shop is tucked away within my mother's shop, Shall We Knit? (best local yarn shop around!) and is located in the heart of Kingsville, Ontario in Wrobel Plaza (corner of Main St. W. & Division St. S.).

Come check us out in person or check out our online shop. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and to help you find that special something. Make someone's day! Make your own day! You deserve it. And so do they.