SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A barber is putting his sense of style into a new venture located in the lower floor of the YK Centre mall.

Aron Abadi, a 28-year-old Eritrean who also works at Ragged Ass Barbers, opened a new store called YK.XO Street Fashions just before Christmas.

The new shop specializes in earrings, rings, hats featuring the logos of popular sports teams, many high-top sneakers and accessories from luxury name brands including Gucci and Fendi.

"We don't have this stuff in Yellowknife," Abadi said. "Instead of going down south, now customers can come here."

Abadi estimated the items ranged in price from $30 to $300.

Abadi, and his business partner Daniel Zewude, said it took approximately six months to renovate, get furniture, install lights and paint the space. They plan on installing a display wall for sneakers in the near future.

"Most of the merchandise is from customer feedback and orders," Abadi said.

Abadi said the opening date for the store was pushed to two weeks before

Christmas Day.

"It's the right time to sell," Abadi said. "Customers can buy their gifts (here). My original plan was to open after New Year's but I have to open before."

Abadi and Zewude said the rush paid off, estimating they sold about 60 to 80 per cent of their inventory during this initial period.

"It's a lot," Abadi said.

Abadi also said Nike Air Jordans are currently very popular as are hats from popular sports teams including the Toronto Blue Jays, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Montreal Canadians

and the NFL.

However, like many businesses in the city, Abadi said the acquisition of goods and shipping to Yellowknife is the biggest challenge. He said it takes about two weeks.

Still, Zewude said customers from the smaller communities outside of Yellowknife are excited when they come to visit and see the store.

"They order a lot of shoes," he said. "Five, six shoes and hats."

Zewude estimated about half of the shop's business is directly from customer requests and pre-orders.

Abadi also said with the shop, he wants to show a young person's age doesn't hinder them from adding something to the city.

"My idea is, all the young people, we can do something in Yellowknife," he said. "We can work. That's the best thing."

When it comes to staff, besides Zewude, the store employs two students on a part-time basis.

As for the future, Abadi and Zewude hope to bring in more sizes, more kinds of Air Jordans and a lot more football merchandise.

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