 
" I took a $2,000 start-up loan, an idea I was passionate about and in a few years, proudly grew the company to gross a total sales revenue of more than $30 million. |
About Leah ChevallierMy business career in the Juvenile Industry started back 1996 with the birth of my first son. Arriving in Calgary after living in Europe (and South America) and full of ideas for baby gear; I was hugely disappointed with the baby store selection in the city. I took a $2,000 start-up loan, an idea I was passionate about and in a few years, turned my home-based business into a 5 store, award winning retail chain. I went on to also open a kids shoe store, an eco toy store & birthday party venture as well as a 40 page glossy, parenting magazine and a manufacturing/distribution company for the juvenile industry in Canada.
I learned the ins and outs of the retail world first hand and eventually grew the company to gross a total sales revenue of more than $30 million. In 2009, the beginning of the next chapter in my learning was unfolding, only I did not realize it at the time. The recession was starting to get a chokehold on the baby industry in North America and we were beginning to feel the pinch from the the online deal sites, bargain discounters and brand hackers. Not to mention, people were tightening up their wallets and downgrading the calibre of their key nursery items. At the same time I was helping my young daughter navigate Alberta Children's Hospital with a serious neurological condition that would see us through a 2 year treatment, 8 blood tests a day, 34 pills per day and countless sleepless nights. (Update Sept./13: she is off treatment now and seizure free! HUGE grateful hugs to all the people at Alberta Children's Hospital for the life changing and life saving work they do on a daily basis!) In hindsight, I could have slowed down the business pace at which we had become accustomed to, but hindsight is always blindingly clear, isn't it? In the end, due to recession, changes in demographic buying habits, bailing out a franchised location before our corporate ones and other trying circumstances, we were forced to close several stores, sell another and lost our flagship Westhills store for a multitude of reasons. Painful? You bet. But all of these trials have helped round out my award winning career in the juvenile, retail and design industry with some well seasoned lessons and fantastic learnings. I can tell you that there are several incredible learnings that will forever mold and shape the business person I am today! Would I change the outcome in some areas if I could? Yes, but truthfully, the learnings that come from being on top and then humbly sweeping up pieces are not something that can be taught in any business school, classroom or seminar. It is a very sad and humbling experience but not without it's education. As a successful business owner and CEO of a company that birthed multiple successful business concepts, I now place my passion and experience into the hands of my clients. I thrive on helping my customers see new potential, research markets, competitors, source manufacturing, track compliance, labelling, packaging, help them to watch for warning signs, tighten processes, tweak procedures, work on branding, social media, visual merchandising, creating their own personal experience and eventually improving their overall performance. |
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