Shanda Jerrett could barely wait for Vancouver's infamous yearly rains to begin. While locals got in a last few holes of golf under grey skies or ran the Grouse Grind before its trails got too mucky, she was overseeing the final details for a brand new, unique retail store - Vancouver's first wet weather boutique.
Originally from Australia, where she had experienced a five-year drought and strict water-rationing measures, the wet weather started to affect Jerrett during her second winter on the West Coast. She put on some colourful rubber boots, black with pink swirls, to cheer herself up - and ended up with a business idea.
"I would always see people with a scowl on their face, trudging through their day, carrying their black umbrella," she says. "When I wore my boots, it was almost like a ray of sunshine hit them. I wore them everywhere and people commented all the time. I would be stopped and asked questions like where did I get them, how do I find them, and that kind of stuff. So from there it was like, 'There's something in this.' "
Jerrett, a jack-of-all-trades former restaurateur and interior designer, hit full speed, and nine months after her idea, Gumdrops opened its doors to customers last month. The store's name comes from an Australian candy (and is a combination of the words gumboots and raindrops) and carries supplies for everyone from kids to man's best friend.
Jerrett's hard work paid off. Within days of the opening-night party, the store had sold out of several items and she was surprised at having to replenish stock so quickly.
Popular styles include Zeyner nylon backpacks ($225) and laptop bags ($325) with embroidered flames and chrome skulls on the handles for men, women's rock 'n' roll tattoo-patterned gumboots by Chooka for $95, and dinosaur and fireman boots at $37 for kids. Even on a dry day, customers often walk out wearing their purchases.
Jerrett expects that new shipments of Doc Marten-inspired boots with lacing up the front by Danish designer Ilse Jacobsen, and umbrellas that attach onto the handle of a child's stroller will be immediate bestsellers as well.
Customer Sonja Reichert talked about the store on her first visit, as she debated between a more practical pair of black and white patterned boots and a colourful pink striped pair.
"I'm surprised a store like this hasn't existed yet," Reichert said. "It's really perfect timing and it's perfect for Vancouver. I was thinking maybe I'll get the practical ones first and later on decide to get some fun colourful ones. I'll start with the basics and then build up my wardrobe." (She bought the black-and-white ones, and threw in an umbrella for good measure.)
Designing the store herself helped Jerrett infuse the bright and welcoming boutique with personality and thoughtful touches. Angled mirrors on the floor give the customers a better view of their footwear, while a low side of the puddle-shaped ottoman allows younger customers to perch comfortably, whether trying on boots or playing with the toys.
Future plans include having Gumdrops' own products in store and then spreading business even further.
"I'm looking at branding," Jerrett says, "And then I would like to go forward and have a store in every rainy city. I just want to spread the fun."
