Latest news with #Grace&Company
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Academy Road retailer joins move online from brick, mortar
A Winnipeg retailer has departed Academy Road for its new address: a website URL. Grace & Company shuttered its storefront May 23. On Monday, it launched a revamped website. 'I just decided that sitting in my store for six, seven hours a day and having two or three people come by was not really feasible,' said owner Dorothy Vannan. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS The exit of her shop, and its European labels, follows neighbouring boutique Margot + Maude. The latter business opted for a fully online model — plus pop-up shops — earlier this year. There's been a noticeable segment of small retailers leaving brick-and-mortars behind since the COVID-19 pandemic, industry experts say. Vannan opened Grace & Company at 556 Academy Rd. in 2016. She built the brand over years. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic — 2019 — was 'phenomenal,' Vannan recalled. Upwards of 20 people visited the shop daily, she relayed. Grace & Company started a website, following an industry trend, but only put 10 per cent of its wares online. 'If COVID hadn't happened, who knows where we would be,' she said Tuesday. But the pandemic did happen. So in 2020, Vannan and her daughter built out Grace & Company's website. All the Polish, Ukrainian and Italian imports were listed, the dinnerware to the linens. Sales rolled in as a 'shop local' sentiment persisted. The years succeeding pandemic-era lockdowns have been tougher, Vannan said. 'I had months where it was like literally nobody.' She slashed store hours in 2024 — 'I can't stay open just to have two people in an eight-hour shift' — and watched as the number of online sales continued to outpace in-person transactions. She paid off her pandemic-era loans, but even so, the accounting numbers aren't ideal, Vannan said. She chose not to renew her lease last year. 'This is a positive thing that we've done to save Grace & Company,' Vannan emphasized. 'It's not a pretty reality, but it's not a complaint.' The overhead costs of a brick-and-mortar are gone. Vannan said she believes the next chapter will be 'great.' Anecdotally, both the Retail Council of Canada and Canadian Federation of Independent Business have noticed small shops shifting to fully online platforms amid storefront cost increases. Rent, utilities, property tax, insurance, labour and crime-related losses (such as theft and vandalism) add to the operating bill. Firms like Shopify have made it easier to run an online business. Also, people have grown more comfortable shopping online due to the pandemic, said John Graham, Retail Council of Canada government relations director for the Prairies. 'There's a lot of risk in shifting to online-only,' he said. 'It's very hard to rely on a Google search in an online space where you're competing with … competitors around the world.' Such a business model usually requires a 'substantial increase' in marketing. If a company can attract clients, then running online-only can be a positive change, Graham said. Storefronts are affected by their location and parking set-ups, he added. Leaving a physical boutique for solely website sales has been a learning curve for Regan Greenwood. Her business, Style Bar, exited 470 River Ave. last year. Greenwood estimates her sales are half of what they'd be during a typical spring with a storefront. However, she's been focused on raising her young family. As her children go to school, she'll dive deeper into paid advertising. 'I don't regret my decision,' Greenwood said. 'Mentally and personally, it's been the best decision for me.' Oversaturated spaces online are difficult to stand out in, she noted. But she has friends with physical shops who are struggling. 'Amazon is pretty relentless on these small-business owners,' said Tyler Slobogian, CFIB senior policy analyst for the Prairies and northern Canada. Businesses that cut storefronts often reappear via pop-ups, he added. Grace & Company will likely hold pop-ups and may take a portion of a Corydon boutique next year, Vannan hinted. She'd like to see more people shopping local: 'There's so many local businesses here that are not feeling the love that they should be.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. A 'Buy Canadian' sentiment is still strong, but less so in import-filled retail sectors, Graham noted. He's seen consumers buying discount brands that are cheaper and similar in quality to brand-name competitors. 'It's sad to see … something close,' said Lenny Kerr, manager of Bump Maternity on Academy Road. Kerr watched Margot + Maude exit. (Another business has since moved in.) Bump Maternity hasn't seen a decrease in foot traffic; Kerr attributes it to the customer base. Manitoba experienced a 7.4 per cent increase in overall retail sales, year over year, in March. Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Buzz Feed
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
14 Iconic Things That've Made It On Oprah's Favorite Things And Reviewers Still Adore
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Once you feel the percussion of a Theragun Mini, you'll just get it. Every year around the holidays, Oprah releasee her ~Favorite Things~ list chock full of buzzy, clever, and gorgeous products. BUT many from past lists are well worth your attention. Here are some worth putting back on your radar! 1. A breathable reusable shower cap, which sounds like the impossible — but isn't! Also, it's extremely cute and easy to eyeball if you, like me, tend to shower without contacts. Grace & Company is a Black-owned small business founded by a mom looking for quick, effective, and stylish options to look and feel good with limited time. Promising review:"I am beyond satisfied with my shower cap! It's the cutest shower cap I have ever came across. Even the packaging is beautiful I don't even want to throw it away lol. It fits to my head perfectly and after using it in the shower my natural hair (which is horrible when it comes to humidity ) didn't frizz up a bit ! I definitely will be purchasing from this company again ! 10/10 hands down!" — Jennifer R. Get it from Amazon for $22.50+ (available in six colors/prints). 2. Compressive — but just-right stretchy — Girlfriend Collective leggings will become your new faves in your everyday rotation thanks to two pockets, neutral colors that go with everything, and the fact that you can tell all your pals that they're made from recycled water bottles. Amazon See what BuzzFeed editor Melanie Aman has to say about how truly great these leggings are: "You can check out my full Girlfriend Collective leggings review for more deets but the tl;dr is that they will faithfully support you through any and every exercise. I love these leggings so dang much that I've purchased eight (winces) pairs during quarantine and they're all in heavy rotation. I love the compression fit; it's supportive without constricting my movement or breathing. And as someone who sweats a lot, I especially love that these leggings wick away moisture. If you can afford the splurge, I highly recommend snagging yourself a pair before I buy all of them." Get them from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in women's sizes XXS–6XL and in five colors). 3. A compact Theragun Mini you can def make room for in your routine and gym bag. The percussive massager goes to town with tiny (reasonable!) punches on your aching muscles. It's especially great for giving yourself a massage during travel that didn't exactly allow for a fancy spa appointment. One charge lasts ~2.5 hours. BuzzFeed editor Melanie Aman loves her Theragun Mini for post-workout relief: "Exercising has been a huge boost to my mental health during quarantine, but the DOMS man — the DOMS hurt like hell!! I'm talking hurts to walk, hurts to lower myself and sit, hurts to stand up, hurts to lift things heavier than a stuffed animal, hurts to exist. I learned early on that this little gadget was suuuuuuuuper helpful in reducing my discomfort and loosening my tight, angry muscles. While jackhammering my calves and thighs is not an incredibly fun experience (TBH it hurts especially when I'm massaging already sore muscles), I know the next day I'll wake up with significantly less pain." Get it from Amazon for $179+ (available in three colors and two styles). 4. Hot N Saucy hot sauces to transform all of the recipes you've grown sick of cooking at home. Just wait until your leftover grilled chicken meets the Sweet Potato N Habanero. Yes, I will officiate at their wedding. Amazon This Black woman-owned small business is based in NYC and made in small, flavorful batches to bring the heat. This set includes: Collards N Ghost (seen on Season 18 of Hot Ones); Garlic N Peperoncini (the brand's #1 seller and seen on Season 14 of Hot Ones); Black Garlic N Peri Peri; Carrot N Chipotle; and Sweet Potato N Habanero. Promising review: "Unique flavor profiles, and with getting five for the price is a great deal when it comes to quality hot sauce. You can put this on ANYTHING! Favorite is the Black Garlic N Peri Peri one!" — Sheirsha Get the five-pack of sauces from Amazon for $45. Psst, I love love love the currently sold-out Beet N Fresno hot sauce. 5. A bestselling gourmet TRUFF sampler pack will make anything you put this sauce on (of course, within reason), taste DECADENT. The white truffle sauce is amazing on scrambled eggs, which (come to think of it), might be pretty decadent these days. Amazon This set comes with Original, White Truffle Edition, and Black Truffle Oil. Promising review:"I was gifted these sauces for Christmas and I am so happy I was! The flavor is smooth and you can truly put these on ANYTHING. They are so delicious and non overpowering. Highly recommend!" — Alan Truex Get it from Amazon for $74.99. 6. A stay-put, satin-lined head wrap with a chic, ADJUSTABLE front knot so that'll be one less thing you've gotta worry about today. Amazon Grace Eleyae founded her eponymous small business after a bumpy car ride in 2014 left her chemically straightened hair *literally* broken. The Black woman-owned brand has grown into a full line of protective hair care products that are both fashionable and functional. Promising review:"I loved how comfortable this turban felt on my head. I saw some people complained about it not staying on. I can't speak for them, but it did stay of my head overnight even after wild sleeping. The turban stays securely on my head from the beginning (much better than my bonnets). I also feel they look nicer than a bonnet." — L Get it from Amazon for $31 (available in black and white colors). 7. An adorable microwavable sloth plushie with a stress-relieving lavender aroma for a soothing treat because, well, the state of the world. Warm up this bad body and snuggle with him as you use 5 Calls to make your voice heard. Promising review:"I bought this as a gift for my 11-year-old granddaughter — she loves it! It's super soft! It's super huggable! She's very cold-natured, so she loves heating it and then snuggling up under her blanket with it! I'd definitely buy another one!!" — Sherry Patterson Get it from Amazon for $24.60 (available in additional styles) 8. A pair of plaid touchscreen gloves can let you toggle back and forth between podcast options and text you back without pulling your glove on a *frigid* walk. Top It Off is a woman-owned accessories business with a mission to women everywhere the perfect mix of style, quality, and price. Promising review: "I was checking out the list of Oprah's Favorite Things in hopes of finding a reasonably priced gift for my sister. Bingo!!! These are so pretty. The colors (deep pink and complimentary jewel tones) are gorgeous and the inside of the gloves are smooth and not scratchy. She was so happy when she opened the gift bag. Temperatures don't get much below 30 where she lives so these will keep her hands warm on fashionable outings." — S Lindsey Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors). 9. A silk cooling sleep mask that'll make you throw out your old one because this is filled with lavender and flax seeds for a ~soothing~ effect on your tired eyes. Consider it a just-enough weighted blanket for your eyes that'll signal to your chatty partner that it's *lights out* and no, you can't watch this TikTok right now. Amazon Promising review: "I regularly use sleep masks to help achieve a deeper sleep. I love this mask because I can customize how much filling/weight it has. I usually take out about half of the filling and it's the perfect amount for me. I adore the light lavender scent and the silk texture. I recently misplaced my mask while on a trip away and bought a replacement mask at the airport. I didn't last two weeks with that mask and had to come back here to get another if my favorites. Thanks for a lovely product and the restorative sleep it gives." — Chantelle - Bespoke Strokes Calligraphy Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors). 10. A custom paint-by-number pet portrait so your next crafty attempt at capturing your dog's likeness will be as PRIZED as a Picasso but won't like something from his cubist period. (OK, that would still be pretty iconic, though.) Paintable Pictures is a small biz specializing in custom paint-by-number kits. Promising review: "This was so much fun! I tried three different photos in the tool they give you and chose this one. It shows you a preview of each painting, which is really helpful when deciding which image to go with. Not every picture came out as good, so definitely try a few! Easy to use, and fun to paint — excited to frame it! I actually have some paint left over and will try to do another one!" — Jonathan Kebert Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 11. A compact travel iron and steamer with six fabric settings will take up about the same amount of space as your Revlon hairdryer brush in your luggage so you don't have to rely on the (mostly faulty) method of hanging up a shirt in the hotel bathroom while you shower. No need to even pull out an ironing board! One reviewer calls out that it's gentle of silk and linen! Promising review:"Ordered this to bring to a wedding this past weekend and it was a total hit. Perfect for getting last-minute wrinkles out of bridesmaid dresses! And will definitely be using for touchups before work instead of lugging out my massive ironing board. Great purchase!" — Carolyn Toll Get it from Amazon for $96 (available in four colors). 12. A National Park outdoor blanket to help fight against shivers while you're out enjoying the great outdoors OR on the couch rewatching the Ken Burns doc The National Parks: America's Best Idea. (Psst, call your rep and ask to protect those parks and park rangers!) This lightweight, packable blanket is extremely durable so stuff like water, sand, and more won't tarnish the blanket view 'til you can see the real deal at Yellowstone. Amazon Rumpl is a small biz inspired by sleeping bags. They use only 100% post-consumer recycled materials, and are now recycling over 5 million discarded plastic bottles through their supply chain every year. They also offset all their carbon emissions with carbon credits! Promising review:"I loved it so much I got one for my brother for Christmas. Great for hiking, camping, road trips, boat, couch — anything! It is lightweight but warm and not as restricting as a sleeping bag. Extremely easy to clean/wash/dry and doesn't bog down the washer or hamper!" — Kimberly Heitz Get it from Amazon for $103.20+ (available in nine styles). 13. A genius personal item suitcase with *removable wheels* can help you fit all sorts of Draconian personal-item and carry-on restrictions. No, I will NOT be paying extra to bring overhead-bin luggage. Take OFF luggage is a small biz. Promising review: "I refuse to pay the outrageous cost of checking a bag or carry-on. Once you take the wheels off this fits perfectly into the sizing thing for Frontier so I don't have to pay anything. Fits quite a bit of stuff in it as well. So far I've used it on a foujr-day trip to California and a three-day trip to Las Vegas. We are going on a 10-day trip to Puerto Rico soon on Frontier, and again, I don't want to pay for bags, so I made sure to book a place with a washer/dryer; otherwise, this would probably be too small for 10 days." — S. Denzel Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in four colors and two sizes). 14. And a pricey (but so worth it) Ninja Creami you've seen all over your FYP for good reason. People are OBSESSED with this compact countertop appliance with seven presets. With this, you won't have to run out for a delish smoothie or wait 'til your Italian vacation to induge in gelato every night. Yes, it was on Oprah's 2024 list a mere few months ago, but it's already an icon. Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Creami in action. Psst, reviewers with dietary restrictions and preferences love being able to customize their own treats, and many point out that this will likely *save* you money, with the cost of specialty ice creams these days! It even comes with compatible storage pints and lids so you can bulk prep. (Perhaps THE best version of meal-prepping.) Promising review: "This is my favorite gift. I use it at least five times a week. The size of the containers is perfect for when you want a sweet treat, and I love that you can control the consistency and softness of the way they come out. Fairly easy to clean as well." — Luke Johnson "I made banana sorbet and was amazed at how creamy and ice-cream-like it turned out. I was literally baffled at how it could transform just squished frozen banana into a smooth, velvety texture that tasted just like ice cream." — Amazon Customer Check out more Black-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Black History Month this year! Of course, the content doesn't end after February. Follow BuzzFeed's Cocoa Butter on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest Black culture content year-round. BuzzFeed
