Tell us about your business.
My wife and I felt that Clearwater was really missing a place to buy good food. We had lived in Blue River (very limited food options) and then in the Okanagan ( ALL the food options). When we moved to Clearwater, the biggest thing we noticed was the lack of good food. Looking at how many people were moving here from larger centers, we felt that others must feel the same way! In the Okanagan, we would shop at Italian delis, local produce markets, butcher shops, and health food stores. Yes, Clearwater had a new grocery store that we were happy with for the regular shopping, but where do you go for the unique finds that aren’t in every big box? What about local produce and meats? When you go to Kamloops, you are so busy doing the bulk buys and errands, it’s hard to get to the specialty shops. And so the idea was to have a store where you could buy a selection of high-quality food. We didn’t think that just a butcher shop or produce shop would be sustainable enough. We needed to combine all those little stores into one! Because we dream big, we also saw an opportunity to start providing good grab-and-go lunch options (who doesn’t love a good sandwich? ) and easy dinner solutions like quality frozen pizzas, premade dinners, and local sausage.
What have been your successes, milestones, and challenges?
We have grown and expanded much more quickly than planned. We now have multiple employees, from what I thought would be just my wife and me. We have already filled a space that we thought was too large, and are still bringing in new items and expanding. There are many growth opportunities; the hardest part is picking which direction to go. I believe we provide great service and a very enjoyable shopping experience. We have created a new community space where people seem genuinely happy to come and shop, and have gained a lot of local support (which was one of our most important goals, and we are very thankful for!)
What did you find most valuable in working with Community Futures Thompson Country?
The most valuable thing for me was the direction. I had no idea how to start, how to plan, or get from a great idea to actually opening. It’s been fun to look back at the goals I set and see how I beat them. They also gave me confidence to follow through and see that it could actually work. It was a scary undertaking, but having the extra support helped make it a reality.
What advice would you give to others who want to open their own business?
Be ready for a lot of work (it is rewarding, though). And I think it is important to remember who your customer is and that you are not your customer. Many unexpected roadblocks may pop up; it can be hard not to get discouraged, but keep pushing through and keep focused on your goals.
