The Rankin Inlet business community has a new member after Nitsik Leasing and Sales held its grand opening last week in Rankin Inlet.
The new business is owned by Chris Connelly and Leo (Dali) Kaludjak who have worked on getting the store open in Rankin for the past two years.
Connnelly, 32, said he and Kaludjak, 31, worked together for years and they go hunting together every weekend.
He said the two friends could never get everything they needed for a weekend hunting trip under one roof in Rankin.
SA国际影视传媒�WeSA国际影视传媒檙e talking anything from skinning knives to tarps, homemade hunting gear and things of that nature,SA国际影视传媒� said Connelly.
SA国际影视传媒�Sometimes you just couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get what you wanted here at every store and, in fact, you often had to go to three or four different stores just to get anything and it was really expensive.
SA国际影视传媒�We wanted to try and have a place where people could come and get everything they need to go fishing or hunting for the weekend, and at a fair price.
SA国际影视传媒�Our main goal from day one was a one-stop-shopping place for all your hunting and fishing needs.SA国际影视传媒�
And having just about anything a person needs Nitsik Leasing and Sales certainly does, from a qamutiik and nitsik to plenty of sewing tools for the ladies, and all made by Connelly and Kaludjak.
Connelly said he and Kaludjak are the only staff members at the store for now, but his sister, Avery, has been helping out quite a bit.
He said when they were ready to open the store they hoped to eventually hire local staff, but, after the grand opening, that might come a whole lot sooner than later.
SA国际影视传媒�WeSA国际影视传媒檙e already thinking about possibly expanding some of our lines such as safety gear, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e one of the vendors for Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) so we can bid on contracts for stuff like that.
SA国际影视传媒�So, for example, AEM may want to order 200 pairs of safety glasses, weSA国际影视传媒檒l give them a price and then theySA国际影视传媒檒l announce who theySA国际影视传媒檙e going through, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 us, Home Hardware or whoever.
SA国际影视传媒�WeSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to get in good with AEM so we can supply Meliadine with tools and stuff.
We also sell Arctic Cat products and weSA国际影视传媒檝e all ready sold a couple of ATVs and two snowmobiles.SA国际影视传媒�
Connelly said the local business community has been happy for their early success.
He said pretty much every local business needed help and encouragement when first starting, and he and Kaludjak are appreciative of the support theySA国际影视传媒檝e received so far.
SA国际影视传媒�I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know why there hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been an attempt to start an operation like ours before we came along SA国际影视传媒� whether local businesses were just competing too much against each other or what. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not too sure
SA国际影视传媒�It was crazy busy during our grand opening, and we found ourselves re-ordering a lot of stuff (the next morning) that we sold-out of during the first day.
SA国际影视传媒�Our biggest sale item was the old ceramic hunting teacups. We had two cases of those and they were gone in like an hour and a half.
SA国际影视传媒�TheySA国际影视传媒檙e really durable cups that everybody loves to take out hunting, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e really hard to find. We were the only place in town with them, and people really like those cups because theySA国际影视传媒檙e so tough and last forever.SA国际影视传媒�
Connelly estimates about 400 people went through the store on its first day.
He said watching the people file through during the Grand Opening, it was almost hard to believe that he and Kaludjak had been working to get the store open for the past two years.
SA国际影视传媒�It took awhile, but we finally got it open.
SA国际影视传媒�We kept pushing since the day we decided we were actually going to do it. We knew it was going to happen, we just didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know when.
SA国际影视传媒�The paperwork was nonstop but it was worth it in the end.
SA国际影视传媒�And I hope Leo and I run this store for the rest of our lives now.SA国际影视传媒�
