feature

feature: TWENTY EIGHT NORTH

STROLL ALONG MAIN STREET AND DISCOVER TWENTY EIGHT NORTH. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL LIFESTYLE SHOP BUILT WITH COMMUNITY AT IT’S

VERY HEART.

Meet Carly, the creative entrepreneur behind Vancouver’s Twenty Eight North

Did you know that Main Street was voted one the best shopping streets in North America? It truly has something for everyone, from a unique mix of boutiques, to great dining, amazing food and of course Twenty Eight North, an inspiring Lifestyle Boutique that’s nestled in right along one of the best blocks on Main Street & 28th.

Owner Carly is a quintessential creative with an entrepreneurial soul. She has curated a collection from local brands and finds that you’ll see exclusively at ‘T8N’. With the innovative addition of the new Create Your Own Box Wall, you can combine everyday essential products with featured local services to discover. It’s a unique concept that you won’t find anywhere else in the Lower Mainland!

A wife and mother to two young boys, Bodhi (3) and Koa (10 months), Carly has resided in the Lower Mainland for over 20 years after moving from Vancouver Island where she was raised.

A lifelong equestrian and competitive dressage rider, horses have always been Carly’s passion. She attributes training, riding and being around the barn as a grounding force for balance as both a Mom and Entrepreneur. Carly is also a former member of Team Canada who represented the Canadian Women’s Triathlon at the 2012 ITU Sprint World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

I’ve always had a very strong creative and entrepreneurial spirit. I always knew that I would be in business for myself. As an entrepreneur, I draw from my experiences as an athlete competing at a high level and translate the mindset required for success and achievement in sport over into my business. It’s how I approach my work.

Carly shares, “I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and run a successful company. I’m a thinker, a dreamer and a doer. I actually told my Mom when I was 5 that when I grew up I wanted to be ‘a hopper, a skipper and a jumper!’ I really have no idea where that came from, but I would definitely call myself multi passionate!

As I went along in my working life and professional career, the biggest realization was just how much I loved creating, working for myself, building a brand and supporting my community. This business really encompasses all those facets, so I think you could say it is what I’ve always dreamed I’d be doing!

Photos: @iulia.agnew

Our store is truly a lifestyle shop. You will find a wide variety of home decor products such as blankets, wall signs, and candles from best selling brands such as Canvas Candle Co. and Suburban Beach Farmhouse Signs. You’ll also discover sustainable clothing and apparel made by Couture Therapy with a great selection of casual everyday wear and basics – a definite customer and staff favourite! Accessorize with fashionable hats by Westvon, and our wide variety of minimal jewellery. We also carry the must-have, buttery soft, most comfortable wireless bras by Fayvori.

In addition, you’ll find makeup and cosmetics, skin care products, and giftable bath & body products by brands such as Beth & Olivia – one of our most beloved brands who has been with us from the very beginning! We also carry men’s apparel by Stede along with a small selection of men’s grooming and apothecary products.

The Twenty Eight North Story

Originally named Sunday Small Goods, in 2018 we initially opened as a 2 week pop-up. I was coming to the end of my mat leave with my first born and I knew I didn’t want to return to my corporate career in sales and marketing. I had zero experience in retail or with how to open up a brick and mortar store, but I was determined to make this happen!

I found the space, negotiated a lease term with an intimidatingly large property development firm, built the website myself, created the logo, found 35 brands through the Artisan Market platforms who wanted to join our store, and sourced the displays in less than 7 days. Fast forward to 2020, a few months into the pandemic, I really didn’t know if the business was going to survive. We had such significant revenue losses and the original business model of renting space to local product-based brands within our store had completely come to a halt as businesses were no longer willing to rent space, given the landscape. To say our business was hanging on by a thread was an understatement. I remember the moment so clearly that caused me to come to my decision. I was standing at the park with my kids as my toddler played on the slide and the feeling was so clear and strong. We needed to close down our existing business and change every aspect of how we ran things. This meant changing our entire concept – the name, the brand, the product offering, the store’s aesthetic and the primary revenue model for the business.

Our new name Twenty Eight North is derived mainly from our location on Main just north of 28th, but it also signifies, heading North, meaning keeping on moving forward and up and ties in that we are a Canadian company.

Q: Who has been your biggest cheerleader? Throughout the past year and a half I have been a part of the Business Babes Collective Mastermind. I honestly don’t think I would be where I am today or that my business would still be standing through this pandemic had I not had the amazing support of the girls in our group. I would have to say that each and every one of them have been my biggest cheerleaders and especially Danielle Wiebe, who is also my business coach and mentor. I am just so grateful for her incredible support, guidance and belief in both me and my business.

What’s your number one value that you take with you?

I would say that I have two: Empathy & Compassion. I always try to relate and put myself in another person’s shoes. Even though the paths we walk are all different, it’s so important to be compassionate towards others and how we may differ. I try to look through the lens of where someone else is coming from and have compassion for everyone regardless of differing beliefs, views or circumstances.

Q:

TAP TO WATCH

Meet Carly & Shop with Kyla

Check out the video... let’s go! Q: Describe the scene as we watch you in your ‘element’. Me sitting in front of my computer designing products and getting inspiration from Pinterest. My favourite aspect of what I do is definitely the creation and design of everything!

Q: When we visit your shop, how shall we ‘make a day of it’? Did you know that Main Street was voted one the best shopping streets in North America? Come for a stroll along and discover amazing stores like our neighbours over at Nineteen Ten Home as well as Olive and Wild across the Street. Treat yourself to a facial at Plain Jane Skinbar after having brunch at Meet on Main or Chickpea. Sooo delicious! Pick up some sweets at Trafiq just down the street, their in house baked goods are to die for. If you are visiting in the later afternoon or evening, The Shameful Tiki right next door to us is an absolute must experience, they have delicious tapas and incredible cocktails! Last but not least, grab a Chai from East is East, they are the best you will ever have!

Where do you see this brand in 5-10 years?

Some of our bigger picture growth projects that we have for the future are having our own robust T8N product line collection of Bath, Body & Home products which we would like to branch out into having in other retail stores. We would also like to take our brand into the US market and grow more locations. I actually always dreamed of having our store in every major airport across Canada, but I may need to revise that plan now! With my love for interior design we are also looking at the possibilities of growing the brand into the design and vacation home sectors in the future.