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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
As Kyla Ouillette made money last Saturday at her multi-party Valentine's Day sale, her six-week-old son, Elijah Douglas Ouillette, slept peacefully by her side.

Multi-party sale organizer Kyla Ouillette was joined by her six-week-old son Elijah Douglas Ouillette at the Valentine's Day sale at the Explorer Hotel last Saturday. Ouillette holds the markets every other month for direct sellers and home-based vendors to increase their business. - Thandiwe Vela/NNSL photo

The multiple vendor market, held all day at the Explorer Hotel's Katimavik room A, was among several sales events the stay-at-home mother organizes throughout the year for Yellowknife direct and home-based sellers to increase their business.

"If everybody splits the cost to book a room and we make a few sales, get a few parties booked, everyone makes money," said Ouillette, adding since she started the multi-party sales about a year ago, she has never run into problems with breaking even with the rental of the venue.

Selling tables for the bimonthly trade events by word of mouth is no challenge for Ouillette, with direct-sellers eager to peddle their goods outside their home.

Claire Donison, district manager with health and wellness company Arbonne International, said the trade shows provide "great exposure" for her Frame Lake-area home-based business.

"I've always done very well at these sales and it gives residual business as well. More than just getting different sales, I meet new people and I make a lot of new contacts at these things," said Donison, who moved to Yellowknife from Norman Wells last summer. "It's nice to be able to meet people."

Last week's sale drew about 50 shoppers throughout the day, with many looking for more than what is usually offered in the city.

"Living in Yellowknife, there's not a lot of places to go shopping," Ouillette said. "So you can come here and shop at 12 different places all in one room."

The great majority of clients who attend the sales are women, with many of the vendors, including Ouillette's Epicure Selections healthy meal solution products, catering to the market.

Other vendors at the market included Princess House, Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Scentsy, Ice Road Truckers, and Stella and Dot.

Like Ouillette, who also has a two-year-old son, and Donison, who has a daughter in kindergarten and a three-year-old son, about half of the vendors that participate in the multi-party sales are stay-at-home mothers.

The rest of the vendors have their business on the side, as a hobby, or for extra income.

While the sales have hosted up to a dozen tables so far, Ouillette plans to expand into two rooms and hold bigger shows as demand grows.

The sales give her the opportunity to share more time with her infant children, although she said she will continue her home-based business even after they grow up.

"I like doing it," she said. "If I don't have to go to work and I can stay in my pyjamas all day, I will."

A previous multi-party sale was held for the Christmas season in the Champagne Room.

The next multi-party sale is scheduled for April 21.

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