ABOUT TOWN
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
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Sock Soiree opens new store downtown Fun and funky styles that will knock your socks off
“o
ne can never have enough socks!” exclaims Dumbledoor in the famous Harry Potter series, but you don’t need to be a wizard to appreciate the style and utility of a good pair of socks. Whether you are an athlete looking for quality socks to spice up your team’s by uniform or a fashJennifer ionista with an eye Cox for design you will definitely want to visit Sock Soiree (located across from the Sid Williams Theatre just down from Mudsharks on Cliffe Ave.) Sunday Dennis and Jason McMahon opened their downtown location on December 8, 2012, but their business is not completely new to the community. Before opening their doors, the entrepreneurial couple operated as a home-based business, selling
Sock style
socks at festivals and markets, and holding sock soirees at various locations on Quadra Island and in the Comox Valley. “During this time, Sunday and I would often talk about how cool it would be to have a sock shop and customers would ask, ‘where’s your store?’ ” explains McMahon. “We decided it was time, and our dream came true!” But their dreams don’t stop there. Plans are in the works to launch a line of west coast themed socks designed in the Comox Valley and produced in Canada. Dennis and McMahon have been busy working on their design and sourcing a manufacturer with hopes to unveil their product in the coming months. Socks are not just for keeping your toes warm. Dennis and McMahon strive to support independent designers. They take a special interest
• Wear hand silk-screened trouser socks with a pair of heels to show off your ankles. • Thigh-highs are hot with shorts for a flirty, slightly edgy look. • Men can put a spring in their step and jazz up their wardrobe with patterns and bright colours
in small, family-run suppliers across Canada and the U.S. that align with their vision of community and social responsibility. One of their top-selling brands is Sweet Marcel, a designer that prides itself in being globally inspired. They also have a sense of humour. Their men’s line is called Stinky Marcel (sorry guys!) “Sweet Marcel sourced a mill in Turkey that employs women in an area where jobs are not readily available,” explains McMahon. Customers purchasing these stylish socks will find their conscience just as comfortable as their toes. Another favourite brand is QT Feet. These brightly coloured socks are made from regenerated cotton “When we were starting our business this was the first one we chose,” says McMahon. “It is probably our biggest selling sock. They last forever and people love them!” QT Feet also has an infant line, which Dennis says is very popular. “People keep coming back for more, thankful to find a sock that stays on their baby’s feet.” The bright colours and soft texture of the sock make them both fun and comfortable.
Please drop into our office while enjoying the incredible downtown shopping and services.
Sunday Dennis and Jason McMahon show off their socks in their new store in Downtown Courtenay. PHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK “We are a really creative, community-based store,” says Dennis as she shares her vision. In addition to monthly open mikes to raise money for charity, Sock Soiree will be hosting fun events throughout the year. Customers who want to learn how to tye-dye their thigh-high will be able to purchase a white pair of socks and learn how to tye-dye their socks in fun, informative workshops. “We already have so many return customers which we are very happy about,” Dennis says, explaining that she wants the
store to be more than just a retail space. Sock Soiree is a family-run business with three generations working together to ensure success. Dennis’s daughter was in helping out over Christmas and her mother comes over from Quadra Island to help manage the store when she goes on vacation. As a small business owner she knows firsthand the importance of finding a work-family balance and she is enjoying the strong sense of community that is building in the downtown core.
simply outstanding
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Don McRae, MLA D Comox Valley
Constituency Office 437 5th St., Courtenay BC V9N 1J7 Phone: (250) 703-2422 Fax: (250) 703-2425 Email: don.mcrae.mla@leg.bc.ca Monday to Friday, 9AM - 4PM
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