Rebecca Smith and Jeff Kay, Owners, The Licit Garden

Meet Rebecca Smith and Jeff Kay, owners of the recently established The Licit Garden. The Licit Garden is an exciting new boutique located at 118 Cumberland Street North in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Both Jeff and Rebecca were raised in Thunder Bay and developed a passion for creativity and exploring the world from a young age. Over the past few years they knew that they wanted to create a business of their own. They explored various concepts as a couple and with friends, but for one reason or another the timing was never right. During the summer of 2020, the concept of a boutique came along and they started to build a business plan around their dream of having a business that would transport customers to a new place. The concept originated from extensive travel and the experience of waking up in a new place, grabbing a coffee, and heading out to explore a vibrant neighbourhood to see all of the quirky local offerings. Both Rebecca and Jeff value the importance of ensuring products are sourced in a sustainable and ethical manner. Many of the products found in the shop are from companies or individuals who share these same values, so you not only look good but can feel good about what you are buying.

Q & A with Jeff and Rebecca What drew you to entrepreneurship?

We are both very independent, creative, and hardworking. We knew that to truly be fulfilled and challenged we needed to build something of our very own as an outlet for our personal expression.

As a couple we enjoy travelling and felt particularly inspired by the colours and creativity in many desert towns and along the west coast. Once the pandemic hit and our wings were clipped, we devoted our time and energy into bringing that feeling to Thunder Bay in the form of The Licit Garden. It’s a place where everyone is welcome and we truly hope they can feel the thoughtfulness and love that has gone into every aspect of the business.

What has been your most memorable moment being an entrepreneur?

Signing our lease! From the moment we saw our current space, we knew that this was our opportunity to fully commit to this project and there was no turning back once the lease was signed.

There have also been countless moments of pure gratitude for all of the wonderful and supportive people we have met entering the realm of small business.

Who was your biggest inspiration/mentor?

We do not have one single mentor. A lifetime of experiences that has brought us to where we are today. We are both extremely lucky to have supportive families and friends that have helped us throughout this process.

One unlikely mentor for me personally (Rebecca) has been FedEx—from the amazing people on the ground here who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to the brokers who opened my eyes as a brand-new business owner trying to navigate international importing. I had no idea that I would spend my evenings trying to understand free trade agreements!

If you could go back in time what piece of advice would you give yourself?

There are so many things we could tell ourselves! One thing is to not waste years waiting for the perfect time to take a risk. There is no perfect time and there will always be challenges and obstacles to overcome. Secondly, be compassionate with yourself. As a new business owner you are learning at light speed and you will make countless errors. Stay humble and lean on those with more experience and expertise when you need to. Most people are happy to share their wisdom with you.

“To do something is better than not to do something.” - John Lennon