Our Story

hello happy hq is a female operated duo whose goal is to provide a platform to showcase local small businesses.

Being small business owners themselves, Heather and Charisse thoughtfully curate markets and events across Ontario that allow for the general public to experience and tap into the wonderful world of handmade.

Since 2018 – this team has established themselves as innovative, adaptive and transparent event organizers with an emphasis on community over competition.

We are … better together.

  • Charisse de Leon

    CO-FOUNDER

    currently calling Milton home, while married to a chef (oui chef!) … I spend a great chunk of my life rooting for my babes on the baseball / softball diamond.

    you can also find me doodling and subtly swearing over at pixelpaperhearts. I’ve only had 2 ‘real jobs’ before this maker life. first as a photo lab technician and then I spent nearly a decade at Aritzia - with my last role being in retail HR. I quit in 2013 and never looked back.

    coffee is my love language, french fries with mayo - always and I spend too much $$$ on skincare products.

  • Heather Cameron

    CO-FOUNDER

    currently living in Hamilton with my husband and two, not so little anymore, kiddos.


    I come by the small business life naturally having started early on in life! My very first market happened at an outdoor arts festival at the age of 15 where I sold my lino prints. From then on it’s always something I’ve returned to. After a 6 year stint in various provinces as a visual merchandiser for H&M I starting the small biz life back up again for real for real in 2015 with my current biz bailiwick!
    My toxic trait is building online shopping carts across the inter webs and never actually committing, half my body weight is always caffeine and I’m a real sucker for a new skin care product.