Incubator mall helps small businesses
Arctic Creations makes seakskin vests and mitts

by Nancy Gardiner
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 05/97) - Monica Ell is a well-known CBC Radio personality in Iqaluit. But there's a side to her that people may not know so well - she enjoys knitting, crocheting and sewing, and she runs her own business.

Ell recently took a year's leave of absence from her 17-year career at CBC to start her own business venture -- Arctic Creations.

The idea came from cousins in Rankin Inlet and Coral Harbour who run similar stores. A sole proprietor, Ell says it was difficult at first to convince people that she was serious about it - especially suppliers.

But she saw an opportunity with the opening of an incubator mall in the community where she's lived most of her life.

"If it wasn't for the incubator mall, I wouldn't have even thought of starting a business," she says.

The mall is located in Iqaluit's Parnaivik building.

Steven Morse, a business analyst with the Kakivak Association, says the mall has been up and running for over a year now. Ell's business started June 6.

Kakivak helps small businesses in the Baffin region.

The association provides subsidized rents to businesses for up to three years to help Inuit and non-Inuit businesses set up shop in the incubator mall. After that, businesses are subject to a review.

There are three retail and two commercial operations in the mall, including Arctic Creations.

Kakivak also assists with accounting, marketing, business plans and financing through the territorial Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Aboriginal Business Canada and the Baffin Business Development Centre.

Morse says the benefits include access to services otherwise not available, employment and income, self-reliance for Northern Inuit, pride of ownership and benefits to the businesses themselves.

Arctic Creations employs one full-time person and an occasional staff member who comes in during busy times. Seamstresses are also employed on a piecework basis.

The seamstresses make parkas, duffle socks, sealskin mitts and vests, duffle embroidery mitts and personalized crocheted hats. They take mail orders (sketches of the desired item help) and do zipper repairs and alterations.

Arctic Creations won the Business of the Year award this year as well from the Baffin Chamber of Commerce.

Ell finds time for her store when she's not working at CBC Radio full-time as editor.

In the fall, she hopes to expand, with a sewing room and more crafts, such as cross-stitch, needlework and rug-hooking products.

Also in the incubator mall are Nunanet, Kamagiak Jewellery, Uqsiq Communications and a consulting service.