EXPAND YOUR CLOSET WITHOUT THE GUILT
The last few months have been quiet at Handy Special Events.
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing the cancellation of numerous events during what is normally the business’ busiest season — and the knowledge that event cancellations could continue well into 2021 — owner Diana Pereira knew it was the perfect time to pivot.
Luckily, she already had a plan in mind and was soon taking steps to open Juniper and Oak, a furniture and clothing consignment shop.
“The pandemic was the perfect catalyst,” Pereira said.
She and her business partners had long been interested in expanding the business and, when they discovered each other’s mutual love of estate sales and second-hand shops, the idea for Juniper and Oak was born. The pandemic gave them the time to make that idea a reality.
“We had downtime. I’ve never had downtime in this business, like never,” Pereira said. “So having this time to sit and just breath I thought ‘OK, well this is our chance to do these things we said we wanted to do — no excuses.’”
“It was like our COVID project,” Pereira’s daughter, Lara, agreed with a laugh.
Though Handy Special Events on Millar Avenue currently houses Juniper and Oak, things may be the other way around in the future. Event design inspiration is now largely an online endeavour, Pereira explained, so Handy can continue providing just as many event rental options without having to dedicate as much showroom space to staging. That leaves ample room for Juniper and Oak to expand as much as necessary.
At first glance, it may seem like the worlds of event rentals and consignment stores do not overlap, but Diana is quick to point out that both are sustainable ways to keep unnecessary trash out of the landfill.
Because the clothes most consignment shops stock are higher quality than fast fashion options at the mall, people not only getting a good deal, but also have the option to reconsign when they’re ready to switch up their style and put some extra cash back in their pockets.
As longtime consignment and thrift shoppers, both Diana and Lara say the sustainable aspect is just a bonus. For them, the most fun part of second-hand shopping is the thrill of the search and the undeniable sense of accomplishment when they find the perfect item for the right price — an experience they hope to pass along to their customers.
“You never know what you’re going to find,” Diana said. “And I know when I go into a thrift or consignment store I’m going to come out with a piece that is really unique.”
The best part is, you don’t even need to enter the store to shop. Juniper and Oak is going digital, becoming the first consignment store in the city to offer its entire inventory for purchase online — which is not only perfect during a pandemic, but also expands the shop’s customer base and the consignors’ chances of making some money exponentially.
But, no matter how you decide to shop, the main goal at Juniper and Oak is to provide a safe, inclusive and comfortable space.
“It’s important for us to create a space for people of all shapes and sizes to come and shop and feel comfortable,” Lara said.
“We’ve all had bad experiences shopping ... for whatever reason it might be. We just want people to come in, have a really good time and leave with a piece they feel confident wearing.”