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Nipawin retailer receives national award

Feb 9, 2017 | 9:00 AM

A Nipawin retailer recently received a Retailer of Distinction award from the Canadian Gift Association.

The association brings together retailers twice a year for a gift fair.

At the January fair in Toronto, Nipawin retailer Theresa Chalus received her award.

Chalus, owner of home décor and floral shop Nipawin Florist & Twisted Tree, said she learned she made the nominee list in October but didn’t find out she won the award until the last month when she went to Toronto. 

“It was a real honor and I’ll be honest, at first I was really taken aback by it… it’s very humbling. Often times because of the density of the population the awards are often handed out to retailers down East. For us in Saskatchewan, our province is sparsely populated by comparison,” Chalus said.

She said Saskatchewan has some fantastic small communities that have thriving businesses in them.

“Nipawin is an hour and 20 minutes East of Prince Albert, so we’re far away even from a major center like Saskatoon or Regina. For [the association] to find us and then acknowledge us is really something,” she continued.

She said the award is not just about her.

“It says something about my staff, my team and my family, the community and my customers who support me,” Chalus said.

Over the years Chalus has seen an increase in people coming from out of town to check out the store.

“The thing here in Nipawin, and in a lot of small communities, is that we don’t have gathering spaces in retail, like malls … so we set this store up in a way that you feel welcome, that’s my biggest goal, but the take away is a little bit of inspiration,” she said.

For Chalus it’s not about people coming into the store and buying something, it’s about feeling inspired or excited to go home and add something to it, like updating a room.

She said if the store can do that then she considers it a success.

“The store is set up in a way that’s not classic department store, it’s more set up in a way that you’re in a room or area that you’re drawn to,” she said.

Over the years Chalus said she noticed small town Saskatchewan businesses are closing doors which is creating a demand in those communities because they’re missing something.

Nipawin Florist & Twisted Tree started out in a 900 sq. ft. building and four years ago moved into a 3,600 sq. ft. space.

“I was frightened at first because how were we going to fill this place. That didn’t take me very long and I managed to do that quite nicely but only because somebody will say ‘hey, could you do this’ or ‘we need this.’ It’s kind of grown just out of need and desire from others as well,” Chalus said.

She added in the end the business is all about her customers.

Chalus is a fourth generation retailer and grew up in Nipawin.

Her grandparents opened a store in Nipawin 60 years ago and her father now runs the business.

She had great grandparents who ran a business in the Lloydminster area and even had family in England who were retailers.

“It’s my genetic coding. I love business, doesn’t matter what type of business. I love the people and I like being able to give them something. It’s been a good fit, I love Nipawin and I love Saskatchewan,” Chalus said.

 

swallace@panow.com

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