Joey’s began in 1978 with the purchase of inventory, shelving and equipment from a gift and candy shop in Fort Smith, N.W.T.
Three of us own the shop: Di Field (friend) and Pat and Shari Burnstad (sisters). It was difficult in choosing a name for the shop. Many businesses in N.W.T. Take the names of animals such as ptarmgan, ravens, polar bears, wolves, etc. After much deliberation we decided to call our shop Joey’s Sweets ‘n Things after an Australian animal (Di is from Australia). It has been a good decision as every child in town and surrounding communities knows Joey’s.
You are probably wondering why children would be interested as this is an article about a business for a craft magazine. The year we opened the shop I was on educational leave at the University of Alberta. I visited the NAIT Entrepreneurial Centre to check what one needed to open a craft shop. The first thing that was listed was a need for 30,000 people in the surrounding area. Hay River has a population of 3,000 and the towns in the surrounding area are over 50 miles away. So, we decided to keep the candy and gift line and just add craft supplies. That turned out to be a good decision as when one line is not selling another line is on the move.
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Our first location was several blocks away from the main business sections of town. The rent was $600 a month and it was small. We did not purchase any big equipment or store display items. To hang or display items we used stove grates, egg crates covered with fabric, pickle jars for the candy, etc. Our purpose was to keep our cost as low as possible. We sold gifts and candy. After several years we moved around the corner in the same building. Now we were across the street from the main shopping area. We tripled sales - location is definitely important! At this time we added a major sewing and craft line to our inventory. About five years ago we moved again, this time to the main shopping area.
We now sell gifts, candy, custom trays and baskets, sewing and craft supplies and ice cream. In the summer we sell 16 flavours of ice cream which brings our customers into the shop when normally would be outside enjoying the summer weather. Once in the shop they buy other things besides ice cream. During the winter months we offer quilting and scrapbooking courses.
At the present time we are downsizing a number of our craft items as they are slow movers. Scrapbooking and quilting is still a good seller for us so we will keep it. Candy and ice cream always sells. Since many northerners are into the internet we are presently setting up a web page and hope to have it running by the summer.
We have been in business for 17 years and they have been good years.
Joey's Sweets 'n Things
4 Courtoreille St Unit 1
Hay River, N.W.T. X0E 1G2
Tel: (867) 874-3300
Fax: (867) 874-3323
Email: sharbu@northwestel.net
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