Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 22/02) - A lot of funky clothes come in a 212 square foot sliver of a box.

The box and the threads within are for Brudy's Urban Wear in Centre Square Mall, a store that's clothing the stylish of Yellowknife in New York digs.

Bryony Tesar, owner of Brudy's Urban Wear in Centre Square Mall, just received the new Bootilicous summer line for women. - Michelle DaCruz/NNSL photo

Bryony Tesar, her husband and three children opened the business in mid-March.

"We let the kids work here to get the experience of running their own business," said Tesar. "It has opened their eyes to a lot of options."

Brudy's carries designer lines from New York, like Sean John, by Puff Daddy, and Phat Farm. Tesar has also started carrying take-off products from Canadian manufacturers. She stocks both men's and women's apparel including plus sizes and accessories.

Tesar is confident she has a water-tight business strategy.

Good location, competitive pricing and hard-to-find merchandise.

The majority of Tesar's teen clientele tell her the lines she carries are hard to find even south of the border.

"Kids come back from Edmonton and tell me either they couldn't find this type of clothing or our prices were more reasonable," said Tesar.

Brudy's is the first retail venture for Tesar. She learns quickly though.

"People would walk by and think our store was only a display, so we moved the till to the front by the door," she said.

Clothing is packed into the tiny space from floor to rafters and the limited space inspired some creative solutions. She has changed the merchandising four times since they opened.

Brudy's is having typical new business growing pains, like having to wait six months before the bank will grant them credit card or Interac services.

Importing product from the U.S. is also difficult for the small store owner because customs limits the amount of merchandise purchased at one time. Most Canadian stores bypass these problems by employing a customs broker, but right now she is concentrating on building relationship's with southern Canadian stores who can sell her the same U.S. products at wholesale prices.

"Business is doing better than expected but we are still being cautious," said Tesar.