When COVID hit in March, Bradford entreprenuer Kimberly Harvey didn't know what was going to happen to her jewellery business. Her income relied soley on the sales she made at various vendor and craft markets across the province.
With gathering restrictions and events cancelled, Harvey was forced to think of other ways to sell her products. She sells her products online, but it just wasn't enough to keep afloat.
"When everything closed and all the festivals started closing, I can tell you I had a major mental breakdown," she said. "I feel like my hands are tied I couldn't go anywhere, I couldn't do anything, my business was crumbling."
It took her years to build up her business, getting herself booth space into popular in-demand festivals, "and it was all taken away from me in a matter of days," including her tens of thousands of dollars invested in vendor fees. In 2019 alone she spent $25K in booth fees.
"There is so much uncertainty right if big festivals will reopen," she commented. "I know so many full time vendors like myself are losing everything right now."
"With everything shutting down I had no work, and CERB was ending, I had no choice but to do something radical," she said.
With the pandemic pushing into the summer months, Harvey decided to take a leap of faith and open her own store inside the Upper Canada Mall, with support from the Ontario Made program from Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME). The program helps retailers and consumers promote and identify local products.
"All the big companies are flooding the ads on social media so you can't get many views," she said. "Since I announced the store opening I've had a lot more people interacting with me online and they're excited about the store and they want to come see so I think I'm making the right move."
Harvey has invested every last penny she has to open her store, My Lil Gem. Prior to starting her own business, she worked at Peoples Jewellers as a manager and customer designer.
"I always love making that unique hard to find anywhere else styles for people," she explained. "Simple but meaningful."
She creates all her inventory of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The only items she doesn't make are her rings, which she purchases from a supplier. To make her jewellery, she sources supplies from all over the world, and other local craft stores.
She has become quick at her craft, and able to make many pieces in a few hours, but once a week she challenges herself to make something unique that she's never made before, just for fun.
"It just makes me happy," she said.
She has spent the past few months renovating the space to have it ready for opening day, Oct. 1.
"The demo proved to take three times as long as I originally planned," she explained. "I was so surprised how many of my friends just showed up to come help, they would be at the door of the store in the mall and I wouldn't even know they were coming."
To show her support for local business, she enlisted the help of local business E-Signs in Bradford to make her store signage, and had decor pieces made by Innisfil businesses, Anchored Signs and Knot House.
Selling out of a brick and mortar location will be different than travelling to sell her items she says, but admits it will be nice to keep her stock in one spot without the hassle of travelling and setting up. Another added bonus is she now has more space to showcase her products.
Currently she has two employees, but hopes to be able to hire a few more before the holiday shopping season. Eventually, she would like to open up a few other store locations.
My Lil Gem is located in the lower level of Upper Canada Mall in the former Things Engraved space. You can also visit their online store here.
