After ten years in business with Sublime Sun and Swimwear, Lynn Carolei is looking to take part of her retail store on a trip across town.
The local shop owner is raising money to buy a step-side van turned fashion truck. The mobile store will drive around St. Albert, or pop up at local events and fashion shows, and sell everything from dresses to accessories and swimwear.
“Think food truck only with clothing,” Carolei said. “Really, it’s a retail store on wheels is what it is.”
The idea is not new, with fashion trucks already established in parts of the United States. But Carolei said it would be the first of its kind in Alberta.
To get the truck up and running she needs to raise about $5,000. For that she uses Alberta BoostR, a new Alberta-based crowd-sourced funding website where business owners tell their story and ask for financial aid from the public.
As an incentive for potential investors, Carolei offers rewards such as a certificate for a $25 fund, or a fashion truck party thrown for 20 people for $1,000.
Once she collects enough money the truck will be refurbished to resemble a small retail store on the inside. Customers can browse through interchangeable racks and try on clothes in a change room.
“The nice thing about it is that it’s the Sublime fashion truck,” she said. “I don’t have to necessarily take bathing suits with me. I can take dresses, or accessories, jewelry, bags ... I could do winter coats if I wanted to.”
Carolei added that the truck could be an incentive for other, small retailers as an easy way to reach their customers and save money on a store lease. More information on the fashion truck and how to participate in the fundraiser can be found at www.albertaboostr.ca.
“Similar to the Navy Seals training” describes Steve Adams of his program offered at the new hockey gym he’s establishing in the city.
The local resident and owner of Edmonton-based The Inside Edge Hockey Development is moving his training facility to St. Albert. The two-storey, 4,400 square foot gym specializes on strength and weight training for male and female hockey players of varying ages and playing levels.
Unlike other training facilities, Adams said there is only a selective group of about 45 players that he works with. Many of those applying leave after a few days due to the intensive nature of the training.
“It’s very highly intensive and there’s a lot of expectation levels on these players,” he said.
“It’s not hopes and dreams, this is their job and that goes for the bantam kid in here to a couple of the kids that go into the NHL draft.”
Training at the facility costs about $400 a month, $300 for those who only train twice a week. All new players go through an interview process and background check, and receive specific workout and dieting goals and personal feedback on their game.
Adams said he tries to separate his training from that at other, larger facilities by taking on fewer players and working one-on-one with players.
The Inside Edge Hockey Development is expected to open in early October at 15 Carleton Drive. More information can be found at http://www.theinsideedge.org/
