Biz Edge :: Danielle Cameron The faces behind Kootenay businesses
Seek the unique at Three Bears Gift Shop
Wendy and Daryl Stankewich take tremendous pride in their work —Photo by Kris Lindblad
When Daryl and Wendy Stankewich chose to make Invermere their home, they were eager to take control of their destiny. Daryl had retired from a 30-year career in Calgary, and he and his wife were ready to enjoy small-town life. “Four years ago we bought a house out here,” said Wendy Stankewich, “and last year we decided we wanted to be here all the time instead of part-time. We were kind of watching for a business to buy, but nothing really came about, so we decided to create one.” h3. Creating a dream With much consideration and careful planning, the couple started up Three Bears Gift Shop—a warmly engaging store with elegant decor and enticing merchandise. The items for sale are varied and interesting, reaching a wide customer base and offering gifts that are not available anywhere else in town. Best of all, the shop supports the work of local artists. “We have some (items) by an artist out of Bull River down by Cranbrook…named Caroline Kelly,” said Stankewich. “(Also) Sid Dickens—who is an artist out of Vancouver who does the limited edition memory blocks—and then we have some bird houses from an artist out of Victoria. Everything else…I buy from different companies all over Canada.” h3. A wide selection The store carries home decor art, stuffed animals, baby items and everything in between. Customers are also pleasantly surprised by the shop’s affordable prices. If there is one thing that keeps Wendy Stankewich happy as a business owner, it is the positive interactions she has with the people who come to peruse her wares. “Everybody is always happy when they come in here,” she noted cheerfully. Three Bears Gift Shop is located at Parkside Place in Invermere.
Welcome to Biz Edge: a column dedicated to the celebration of small businesses and the people who make them prosper. If you are the proud owner of a small business, I would love to hear about your victories, challenges and plans for the future. Please email your information and photos to me at danielle@kpimedia.com. I look forward to profiling some of the region's leading-edge entrepreneurs.
