Willow Lea Boutique is Modernizing the Miramichi
It isn’t every day that you see a young woman in the Miramichi open up her own business. Miramichi’s Willow Lea opened for business June of 2020. Willow Lea represents the owner, Lauren Trevors’, family name.
Trevor’s is 22 and got her business diploma at Nova Scotia Community College where she discovered her passion for entrepreneurship. She was born in raised in the Miramichi area and always dreamed of adding more colour and life to her hometown.
“I wake up every morning and am proud of what I do and feel like I am setting an example for my younger sisters that anything they want in life is possible with hard work.”
Willow Lea is an online and in-person boutique that offers a range of different products from skincare, clothing, to home décor.
Trevors’ says her family is equally as proud of her and motivate her to never give up on her passion. She says supportive friends and family are a huge help throughout her journey.
Trevors’ main focus is to make sure products she sells are from women owned businesses, organic, and that they’re ethically made in Canada. Trevor’s says that although these concerns can make running a business more difficult, it also makes it more rewarding.
She says that fast fashion brands like Fashion Nova, Shein, and Zaful are all popular brands that practice unethical production and contribute to environmental damage.
“People should know where there products are coming from and trust that it is good for them and the environtment.”
Considering Willow Lea opened during a global pandemic, Trevors’ began selling her products online in March of 2020 until she could open the boutique to the public. The pandemic has also made it difficult to order more inventory for the boutique.
Trevors’ has big plans to grow her business and would like to eventually open sister stores throughout the Maritimes as well as new business in Miramichi to contribute to its economic growth and development.
Some of the more well-known brands that Trevors’ offers are Holistick, Blush Lingerie Koffee, Pink House, Dippin’ Daisy’s, and Shy Wolf candles. She is always looking for the latest trends and new brands that align with her values.
She says that a lot of her customers come back to re-purchase certain products and many are interested in the organic lines that she carries.
“It’s hard because people in Miramichi are so used to going to the same stores every time they want to go shopping, and those stores don’t offer much for the younger generations, so It’s something I wanted for not only my age, but for everyone in the city.”
Most boutiques in Miramichi are focused on selling clothing and accessories for the older generations and aren’t in touch with the new trends other cities follow, so Trevors’ is modernizing Miramichi one day at a time.