Public General Store
New Take on a Classic Concept
Olena Kozel and Erin Ahl have created a modern business with roots in the past. Sherbrook Street’s Public General Store is a place that’s more mercantile than shopping mall.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourselves and how you met?
A: We were both born and raised in Winnipeg. Erin took graphic design at Red River College and along with running the shop, she has a jewelry line that is sold here. Olena went to the University of Winnipeg for art history and has worked for another local business, The Tallest Poppy, for the last few years. We met through mutual friends and developed a strong friendship early on.
Q: When did you decide to go into business together and why? When did the store open?
A: Everything happened very quickly and organically. We were both feeling uninspired with our work situations at the time. We wanted to bring something new to Winnipeg that we had admired in other cities. We wanted a space that reflected our aesthetic, our city and our neighborhood. We opened in 2016 with the intention to have a comfortable space for anyone to shop. We try to focus on Canadian brands, low waste and a variety of price points.
Q: What are the benefits of working together?
A: We have always had a similar vision and that drives our business. It takes a lot of work to have a healthy business partnership, but it has been an amazing experience to grow as business owners together. We can honestly say there are no downfalls. Neither of us would want to do this alone. We get to hang out and have fun in a space that we made for ourselves!
Q: How did you choose the concept and products for store?
A: Our goal was always to become a neighborhood one-stop shop. Our main focus is to provide our customers with honestly made, useful, small batch products for the home and self. We try our best to offer low waste on all our natural products. People come back for our cleaning product refill stations. Customers may buy glass containers or bring their own container from home to refill. We have laundry soap, hand soap, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner and a countertop spray. It smells amazing and it is all plant-based.
Q: Why did you choose the location?
A: We lucked out on the space. We were in early stages and we weren’t necessarily looking, but we couldn’t pass it up. We fell in love with the storefront immediately. We did a lot of work stripping it down to its bare bones to make it feel more open and modern. We wanted it to be clean and fresh but also warm and inviting.
Q: What experience do you want your customers have?
A: We hope that everyone feels comfortable and welcome in our space, that’s so important to us. We want our customers to want to spend time here and have a fun shopping experience.
Q: What would people be most surprised to learn about Public General Store?
A: We got the space before we even really knew what we wanted to do with it. We both knew we wanted to own a shop but never thought we’d have the opportunity to do it when we did—or together! We decided on it one evening when we saw the ad for the storefront and basically got it the next day.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out?
A: Everyone has heard this a million times, but we’ll say it again: Don’t give up! Seriously. We’re not going to lie, it gets tough and it feels scary and so many things happen that aren’t “according to your plan.” You learn to adjust and to be patient. Waking up in the morning and getting to go to a job that you’ve made for yourself is a feeling we wouldn’t trade for anything! Also, do it with someone you trust and respect because you definitely need to support each other during the process. And it’s also a bonus to celebrate your successes with your best pal.
All photos by Kristhine Guerrero
