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Cathy Akinkunmi – Eunoia Lifestyle Shop Inc
By Gertrude Tumusime Photography by Phebe Ajero - The Muse by Phebe Photography
Cathy Akinkunmi Eunoia Lifestyle Shop Inc. (902) 407-5570 www.eunoialifestyle.ca
CATHY AKINKUNMI
EUNOIA LIFESTYLE SHOP INC. Eunoia: A Rare Kind of Black-Owned Business
Cathy Akinkunmi moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia from Nigeria in 2008. For the last 10 years, she has run one of the city’s most successful event planning businesses — Beautiful Linen Rentals. The highly awarded and rated venture placed the entrepreneur in the spotlight in the local business community. In June 2020, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the peak of the global Black Lives Matter movement, the North End Business Association tasked Akinkunmi with decorating every store on Gottingen Street that was hosting small Black-owned businesses without storefronts. As a Black business owner, Akinkunmi was excited to contribute to the cause. While at it, she noticed, “no Black-owned business had a storefront and none of the mainstream stores was owned by a Black person.” Gottingen Street is a hub for local businesses, the majority of them white-owned. Motivated to change the narrative, Akinkunmi started Eunoia Lifestyle Shop, a store dealing in a variety of merchandise. The store opened its doors at a time when most businesses were at an all-time low due to the pandemic. The shop sells uniquely crafted items from different countries like Uganda and Ghana, and from local entrepreneurs, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) who make wood products, kitchenware, children’s clothing, décor, party supplies and more. “I wanted people to know that Black people can own businesses like this one,” Akinkunmi says. “I focus on BIPOC suppliers because I want to empower my community.” Starting Eunoia, Akinkunmi reached out to the Black Business Initiative (BBI), who had walked with her since she launched her first business in 2011. Yet again, BBI was there to support her. BBI gave Akinkunmi a stall at pop-up markets at the Halifax Shopping Centre and the waterfront to showcase her business. Akinkunmi is always sure to check in with BBI, when she has questions or concerns. “I think my journey would be different without BBI. They are my resource.” Akinkunmi wishes that there were role models to look up to before she started this kind of business but she is also glad she got to figure it out and become a role model herself. “We need more Black people owning such businesses, running storefronts that are not just offering African food or African jewelry.” The store is steadily picking up. “We are increasingly getting known for certain items and are getting a lot of repeat purchases on such.” Akinkunmi’s biggest challenge now is that she has not seen as many customers as she would have during normal times. Nevertheless, she is optimistic that Eunoia is going to thrive to be an example for other Black entrepreneurs. Even though the pandemic has been incredibly tough on businesses, Akinkunmi believes it has exposed the inequality that has marred the business landscape for a long time. The self-starter is grateful for the social justice movement Black Lives Matter, for opening the eyes of many people about the struggles of Black entrepreneurs. For a Black female entrepreneur, Akinkunmi says she has had to work twice as hard, although she hates to think that all the obstacles she faces as a business owner are as a result of her colour. She is focusing on what she can control. “I have always believed that you have to work hard to achieve what you want.” Akinkunmi is advocating for more resources to support Black-owned businesses to succeed. For now, her energy is on growing the Eunoia Lifestyle brand because “that’s a statement for me”.
Cathy in her store located in the north end of Halifax.
