We were stoked to cover Aaniin Retail, Toronto’s first 100% Indigenous-owned department store, back in January. The store has faced some challenges since, but with Aaniin Retail winning Bear’s Lair, it’s safe to say it has some smooth sailing ahead.
Bear’s Lair, an Indigenous business reality TV series based in Vancouver, just wrapped up their second season. The show features 18 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis entrepreneurs pitching expansion plans to ‘The Bears’ (Indigenous business moguls) and Guest Judges. One business owner walks away with $100,000. This season, that winner was Chelsee Pettit (Aamjiwnaang).
Pettit took to Instagram to express her gratitude.
“Everything that could have went wrong went wrong just before I needed to get on a plane and fly to Vancouver. The week leading up I had gone back and forth with: I cant memorize a pitch, I cant retag 500 SKUs of inventory alone, I can’t miraculously make 2000 orange shirts arrive on time. I had 3 brand-new interns and one part time helper working my store every day, contacting me and not knowing what or how to do things. I also had my credit cards and accounts fully maxed because my best sales person was in Vancouver.. (me)
But we got it done.
I hounded UPS everyday until the shirts arrived at my fulfilment centre, and then hounded the fulfilment center to send them out so theyd arrive on September 29!
I answered every call from anyone who called and was checking my cameras at the store to locate tools my staff were looking for.
We also were planning an event on Sept 30 for Truth and Reconciliation Day and our first Business Development Day for Indigenous entrepreneurs Oct 2!
I slept 4 hours each night or not at all trying to perfect and memorize my pitch and, each time I thought that was the end of my rope, I got through to the next round!
Even though it feels like a miracle, I know that it was hard work and resilience paying off. I could have quit so many times and almost did, and I would have never even blamed myself. But then this incredible outcome never would have happened.
You’ll never know if you don’t go for it. There will always be one million reasons not to. It can seem scary or overwhelming, but the best decisions often are!“
Stream season 2 of Bears’ Lair on APTN Lumi. Stay up to date with Chelsee Pettit and Aaniin Retail on Instagram, and check out their online store.
