SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
At the corner of Franklin Avenue and 50 Street, entrepreneur Jill Groenewegen could not think of a more ideal location for her new gift store, Bijou Boutique.
Jill Groenewegen opened Bijou Boutique at the corner of Franklin Avenue and 50 Street on May 1. - Pat Kane photo |
The boutique opened on May 1 where Sasha's Jewellery used to be, and is stocked with Groenewegen's hand-picked collection of items for women ,including bedding, handbags, scarves, clothing, jewelry, and home decor.
Groenewegen is excited to bring in popular lines such as Cucina hand cream and kitchen products from perfumer Fruits & Passion. But what really made the 24-year-old entrepreneur open the store is the location.
"Somebody told me that this space would be available and I just thought that it would make a really great downtown boutique," she said.
Professional women enjoy walking over to the store from their offices on their lunch and coffee breaks, Groenewegen has observed, as a number of Franklin strip establishments have renewed a kind of shopping district in the area.
"Judy (McNicol) from Taiga Yoga is opening a clothing store right across the hall. Then there's Vintage Vogue, there's Chez Patricia, there's For Women Only. It's like we have a good section of shopping downtown now," she said.
"I think it's almost like we're bringing the downtown back for shopping."
Born and raised in Hay River, Groenewegen was inspired by her mother, Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen, who also started her first business at a young age.
The MLA owns a number of businesses today, including Hay River's Century 21 Greenway Realty, bed and breakfasts, and a restaurant.
"I've learned a lot just by being around my mom," Jill said.
The elder Groenewegen, who provided a loan for Jill to start her business, sees some of her own personality traits in her daughter, such as her outgoing nature, her love for people and her soft sales approach.
The MLA lacks her daughter's knack for retail and great eye for fashion, she said.
"I've never actually been in a retail business but I had heard from other people she was really good at retail so I definitely supported the idea. I like my children to be doing things they love," Jane said. "I think she'll do great and I'm very proud of her."
Jill Groenewegen said the city has responded well to the new boutique, with the Bijou Facebook page garnering more than 250 followers within 24 hours of launching last week.
"It's just nice that Yellowknife responds well to new things and people are really excited about the store. I feel like it's a little bit surreal," she said.
