Given the slip
Longtime business moving out of Confederation Court Mall
Lady Slipper has been operating in the Confederation Court Mall for 30 years.
The store’s owner was recently given 30 days to vacate the premises.
Debbie Matthews, owner of Lady Slipper, received a notice letter to leave the mall by the end of July. She says there was no mention in the letter as to why she had to move.
Instead of letting it get her down, though, Matthews is viewing this as an opportunity.
“I’m done with that and I’m moving on,” said Matthews.
“It’s just going to be a fun, a different business without the pressures of being in a mall with mall hours.”
While she’s not ready to reveal where that new location will be, Matthews says it will still be within the Charlottetown area.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” said Matthews. “We are not going to be so much all things to all people. We are going to focus on the commodities that we do extremely well in.”
This includes special occasion dresses, accessory items and, of course, the bras, she said.
“We are the only ones who do bra fitting and we have brands that are available nowhere else.”
The Lady Slipper clientele is not just from P.E.I., but also in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
“We know that we have something that just really isn’t readily available in every store throughout the Maritimes,” she said.
“We will continue on with those things. We will probably be much more boutiqish than we have been in the past.”
Matthews said the shop will include something extra, bringing in a new partnership to the store, but it’s too early to announce this collaboration.
“I have 42 years experience in retail and then the person who is coming in with me is young and fresh and full of great ideas,” said Matthews.
“We are a perfect fit and we are going to enhance each other’s business and we are both excited about it.”
Matthews is giving her staff the summer off while she works in the background planning for the new shop.
“We are going to be in a better location for my type of business and I’m quite OK with it … It’s just part and parcel of the process that goes on in entrepreneurship.”