How did you come up with the idea for this business?
My brother was an amazing artist, and at 45 years old we lost him suddenly and unexpectedly, and with this I lost a part of myself. Struggling to find myself, I decided to step out of my comfort zone to find excitement again; a little adventure…I would continue creating artwork in memory of him. Family Tides was more than just a business, it was a way for me to feel close to someone I loved and missed very much, and I was privileged to do so with my daughters by my side and with the support of my entire family. Every day I spent at the waterfront was a day my heart healed a little more. He would have been proud his family.
What important lessons have you learned from running your own business?
Not knowing how well the business would actually do, my daughters and I created a small inventory of items; but after only one week of being opened we found ourselves in need of more inventory due to the amount of sales we had received. So the important lesson I have learned is to ensure we have access to a higher amount of inventory before opening day.
Do you feel like there was community support for your business?
My community supported “Family Tides” one hundred percent. From purchases made, to sharing our business information and location, and the kindness we received from all.. we felt welcomed by the community.
Can you share a memorable interaction with a customer?
There’s so many memorable moments that came from the short time our business was open, but one interaction that I had with a customer does stand out to me. A woman from the community was searching for a gift for her grandson, and explained to me how she always bought him knitted souvenirs. Unfortunately knitting is not a skill that I have, so I was unable to help her with her search but we did have a discussion in regards to knitting. I told her I would attempt to teach myself how to knit small projects, and she stated she would return next summer if we are running our business at the waterfront. I’m still learning but I do hope to be able to produce at least one knitted item to add to our inventory, should we have the opportunity to be a part of the kiosks in the summer of 2024.
Do you have plans to continue or expand your business? If no, what would be the main reason?
Over the winter months I have had the opportunity to expand my business. I hope I did my brother proud by stepping out of my comfort zone and displaying my artwork for the public to enjoy, however it was time for me to move forward. Even though I carry the memory of him daily, I’ve decided to step out on my own and create a new vibe.
I have changed the name of my business to “Mark My Words.” Although we continue to create similar items to those sold last year, such as paintings, and handmade jewelry, the main items created are unique bookmarks; ranging from handmade/hand painted wooden bookmarks, to hand-sown cloth bookmarks.
If we have the opportunity once again to open our small business at the Canso waterfront for the summer months, we will be creating souvenirs that display Canso” and surrounding areas, as well as our beach vibe creations.
What advice would you give to others who are looking to start their own small business in MODG?
Although our shop in the summer of 2023 was a last minute decision, we did well for the small amount of time we were opened. My advice would be to ensure you have a plan created well before the month in which you open your shop, and to have extra inventory on hand!