Store owners Phillippa and Kate believe that together they will draw customers for both businesses
Kate Deklerck is tired of answering questions about how she feels about the opening of Kawartha Quilting Systems (KQS) just down the street from her store, The Quilter’s Bolt. For the record, she is thrilled! The fact is, these stores are complementary, not competitive. Quilters need fabric from Deklerck’s shop in order to create quilts using quilting machines sold by the Skjavelands who own Kawartha Quilting Systems. Both stores sell fabrics, but at KQS you can only purchase wide fabric for the backs of quilts with colourful designs by British design icon Kaffe Fassett. And the quilting thread sold at the Quilter’s Bolt is supplied by KQS, so it is win-win. Together the stores form a shopping destination for quilters from far and near.
Collaboration is not so easy when you are in the same business, but local restaurants Madison’s Place and the Pastry Peddler are finding ways to work together as well. Dessert items at the pub-style restaurant are produced by the Pastry Peddler across the street. The restaurant owners also believe that when their restaurants are both opening for dinner, there is a higher probability that diners will come into town looking for an evening meal which could help both businesses.
In other news on King Street, Oasis Boutique owner Nancy Fallis learned this summer that the building that her store has occupied for the past eight years had changed hands and the new owners intended to occupy her space in short order. With a vacation planned just when the sale was scheduled to close, the timing could not have been worse. Fortunately the new owners graciously allowed Oasis to remain in place until Fallis’ return. Look for a new and improved ladies’ boutique with a grand opening scheduled for September 15th when Oasis Boutique opens its doors in its new location, just one door east of her existing shop. Complete details on the business moving into 18 King St. East will appear in the October edition of the paper. KG
