Leading up to SA国际影视传媒� and during SA国际影视传媒� Small Business Week in Yellowknife, we asked you to nominate who you thought was YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Best Retailer.

From those nominations, residents voted for who they thought that business was. We now have a winner.

Boreal Kids Consignment, co-owned and operated by Lyric Sandhals and Amy Allan and operated in the basement of the 50/50 Mini Mall, received the lionSA国际影视传媒檚 share of the 163 votes cast SA国际影视传媒� 74 SA国际影视传媒� and won themselves a marketing package courtesy of SA国际影视传媒.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was amazing to hear that we won,SA国际影视传媒� said Allan. SA国际影视传媒淚t told us that what weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing is something people need and it gives us that boost to carry on and grow. We have our own little established space and weSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping to be able to become more accessible to everyone in the future.SA国际影视传媒�

With that in mind, letSA国际影视传媒檚 introduce you to exactly what Boreal Kids Consignment is all about.

Sandhals and Allan started the business in October 2020 with the idea of selling pre-loved and new baby, kids, maternity and womenSA国际影视传媒檚 clothing, as well as footwear and accessories.

SA国际影视传媒淟yric and I had talked about doing something like this for years,SA国际影视传媒� said Allan. SA国际影视传媒淭he struggle we had was how to find the right space. The risk of getting into consignment was low, but there was the risk of opening a store and plenty of risk up front when starting a business.SA国际影视传媒�

Add to that the risk of opening up a business during the pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淭hose were scary times, for sure,SA国际影视传媒� said Allan. SA国际影视传媒淏ut it allowed us to reach out and start seeing what was out there. There are a lot of people who want to try and make something back from expensive purchases theySA国际影视传媒檝e made over the years.SA国际影视传媒�

HereSA国际影视传媒檚 how consignment works:

People can take their items to the store during regular business hours SA国际影视传媒� Monday to Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. SA国际影视传媒� or they can be mailed in for those who live outside Yellowknife, Ndilo or Dettah; shipping costs are borne by the sender.

Any item sold on consignment will receive a 40 per cent return from the store and all monies are paid out by e-transfer at the end of every month. Items not sold after three months will either be returned to the owner or donated to a charity, if thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what the consignor wants.

No womenSA国际影视传媒檚 footwear will be accepted and all two-piece bathing suits must have both halves in order to be accepted. All items must be in good condition SA国际影视传媒� no tears, rips or stains SA国际影视传媒� and no crocheted or knitted items will be accepted without brand/sizing tags.

Allan said in addition to consigned items, the store now sells new items that are hard to come by in Yellowknife.

ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a rental component to the store as well, she added, with strollers, car seatspl playpens and mini-cribs available.

Allan said the store is filling a void of sorts and the consignment market across Canada, as a whole, is starting to grow.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith the cost of living being so high now, people want to try and gain something back from what they may not need anymore and people are looking for good items at a lower cost,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淢aternity and kids clothing have a short shelf life and itSA国际影视传媒檚 also a way to support sustainable living. We want to support slow fashion and ethically-produced items.SA国际影视传媒�

Like every other small business in Yellowknife, the store had to close during the evacuation, which put a dent in their business.

But Allan said back-to-school shoppers and the coming holiday shopping season have seen things rebound somewhat.

SA国际影视传媒淥bviously, it was a bad time to close and people were shopping down south while they were away,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 turning around now and weSA国际影视传媒檙e seeing a lot of people start their Christmas shopping. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e happy that people are supporting a local business and we hope that theySA国际影视传媒檒l all support local businesses here in town.SA国际影视传媒�