Female Empowerment in Local Business Sector Booming
While Thunder Bay is undoubtedly one of the most controversial cities in the country, many of its inhabitants are drawn to the incredible sense of support and community for small local businesses. Furthermore, many of these businesses are female-owned–far more than the ones covered here. The Argus chose to focus this article mostly on Thunder Bay’s newest female shining stars in the small business community, as well as some classic staples; despite the challenges faced by many businesses during the pandemic, the local support has allowed even more storefronts to open up.
Image sourced from https://www.waxxedcandleco.com/products/march.
Waxxed Candle Co.
Relatively new to Thunder Bay, Waxxed Candle Co. has been thriving since it opened its doors in October at 16 Cumberland St. North. Making candles since 2019, Kate Strange works hard, constantly creating new scents and collaborating with other members of the small-business community. Supported by fiancé Rob Habjan, Kate opened her shop on October 9th, 2020. Its notorious pink door stands out in the BIA downtown sector and is almost always swinging during store hours. Strange is always looking for new ways to integrate other local businesses into her candle line, having created specialty candles for businesses like Ungalli, Milk and Water Baking Co., and Hygge Loft.
Thunder Bay has so many incredible candle-makers: so what sets Waxxed Candle Co. apart? Aside from their incredibly wide range of scents, Waxxed Candle Co. offers a full range of products–from 4oz, 8oz, and 16oz candles to reed diffusers and reusable car diffusers. They’ve also recently paired up with woodworking duo Joanne + Russell to provide locally-made candle coasters.
Whatever space you may need to spruce up or scents you enjoy during a long bath, Waxxed Candle Co. has it all. They are currently accepting online orders for pickup and delivery through https://www.waxxedcandleco.com/.
Image sourced from http://mariamariaphoto.com/blog/view/ritual-skin-co.
Ritual Skin Co.
Ritual Skin Co. has become another Thunder Bay staple for all skincare and clean beauty lovers. Owner Elsie Tranmar opened the shop in 2018 and uses her in-depth knowledge of skincare and beauty products to curate a wide selection of clean, cruelty-free, Canadian products including shaving creams, moisturizers, serums, beard products, and small-branded makeup. Ritual Skin Co. offers vegan options as well as maternity-friendly products and items for more targeted treatments such as foot masks and anti-blemish patches.
Whether you’re new to skincare, looking to expand your regimen, or just looking for some Canadian businesses to support, Ritual Skin Co. is sure to have something for you to try. Consultations are available through their website for those that aren’t sure what products will work for them, and Elsie and her team are always available to discuss options with customers based on their own expertise. Stop by their website for online ordering, or by the shop (when they reopen for in-store shopping) at 8 Court St. South.
Image sourced from Rebel Salad’s Instagram.
Growing Season Eatery/Rebel Salad
Owned by three female powerhouses, the Growing Season and Rebel Salad are staples in the Bay & Algoma neighbourhood. Many students in Thunder Bay– university, college, and high school alike– rely on these two eateries for fresh, healthy food on the fly. Sara Boyer, Amy Kelterborn, and Jelena Psenicnik have created an incredible pocket of accessible, healthy meals in the Bay/Algoma neighbourhood, relying on local ingredients and fresh vegetables to create salad options that anyone can enjoy.
The Growing Season Eatery is located at 201 Algoma St. South, and Rebel Salad is located at 320 Bay St. Both locations have online ordering available, so you can place your order and swing by to pick it up during a busy day! These incredible women have also announced something to look forward to–the opening of a third shop, which will be located in the upcoming Goods & Co. Market, another newly-budding woman-led business venture.
Order The Growing Season between 11 am and 7 pm Monday through Saturday. Order Rebel Salad between 11 am and 8 pm Monday through Saturday.
Image sourced from https://www.bayawesome.com/2020giftlist/.
Pretty Fly Co.
Pretty Fly Co., a hip and modern general store, opened its doors at 198 ½ Algoma St. South in August of 2020. Owner Ida-Maria Cirillo curates a careful array of products, from stylish socks and stationary to Canadian-made treats and local artwork. Pretty Fly Co. is the perfect store for last-minute gift-givers: equipped with cute, original cards, local and Canadian-made jewellery, and beautiful vintage garments curated by Thunder Bay’s Weyward Sisters, Ida is sure to help you find the perfect gift–or perhaps just a special treat for yourself!
Not only is Pretty Fly Co. a great place to find and support new Canadian small businesses, but Ida also creates a bright, warm, and inviting space for all of her customers. Her small elderly Chihuahua, Chico, is often found at her side or greeting customers in the shop. All in all, Pretty Fly Co. is undoubtedly an excellent addition to the Bay/Algoma Neighbourhood. Their shop is currently closed for in-store shopping, but people can order online for curbside pickup at https://www.pretty-fly.ca/.
Image sourced from https://www.goodscomarket.ca/about-1.
Goods & Co. Market
Unlike the rest of the businesses covered in this article, Goods & Co. isn’t open yet–but as a brand-new woman-led project focusing on supporting local vendors and artists, we couldn’t leave it off the list! Located in the old Eaton’s building in Port Arthur’s downtown core, owner Maelyn Hurley expects to open the doors to this innovative market this summer. The market will offer 35 permanent vendor spaces as well as a common area, an operating bar, and a small event space.
Until then, those who are interested can follow their Instagram or check out their website for updates, creative branding, and more.
With all of the new business opportunities in Thunder Bay, it’s no surprise that so few have had to close their doors throughout the pandemic. The support for local businesses has been immense, allowing for new entrepreneurs to dip their toes into their respective projects.