Home is Here: Embracing Community and Comfort in Summerside
A BizVoice interview with Lokki, Jennifer, Alice and Jessica
Meet Lokki, Jennifer, Alice and Jessica
“Every order we receive feels like an event. We text each other and do a happy dance every time we see an online order! We cannot overstate the giddiness and joy we feel when someone asks us to assemble a gift box for themself or someone else.”
1. What is your names and name of the business?
We are Lokki, Jennifer, Alice and Jessica and the owners of Home is Here.
2. How long has your business been operating, and how long has it been operating in the Greater Summerside area?
We opened in November 2023 in the historic Holman’s building on Water Street.
3. What inspired you to start this business, and what made you choose your location?
Short answer? It was the right place at the right time.
Longer answer: we heard the shop in this location was selling or closing its doors. Growing up in Summerside, Water Street was lined with small businesses like ours – they are such an asset to making a city feel vibrant and we wanted to keep a store like this downtown. Additionally, a physical storefront where you can hold and interact with the products and the people who own and operate it feels special, especially with the ubiquity of online shopping and after two long years of COVID.
We are a home and lifestyle store. We carry a curated selection of home goods, cards, jewelry, women’s clothing, baby, beauty and bath products. From product selection to customer interactions, our values of community care, eco-conscious practices and intentional living guide us. We want to create an environment where folks feel welcome to browse and take their time getting to know the products. Many of our goods have interesting stories that we would love to share next time you are in the shop, or send us a DM!
When we first opened, people familiar with downtown Summerside were surprised and delighted to find a similar store in the space.
However, people have sought us out since we had our grand opening in April. Although we opened in November, we waited for warmer weather to throw a grand opening party. It was so encouraging and energizing to have so many people come out and celebrate with us. We feel immense gratitude to be embarking on this brand-new venture surrounded by so much support and love.
6. What do you love most about being a business owner in the Greater Summerside area?
Working together! Jessica and Lokki lived away for a long time and we couldn’t be luckier getting to run a shop like this together.
Getting to know the community one person at a time through meeting new people and reconnecting with folks we’ve known our whole lives growing up here. Helping them choose things that bring joy and delight to their friends, families, homes and lifestyles.
7. Are there any specific challenges or advantages to running a business in the Greater Summerside area?
We all have other jobs besides the store, so balancing our pre-existing roles and obligations and being new business owners is a steep learning curve for all of us! Building our community presence using social media is also a persistent and demanding task to navigate.
However, building relationships with other local businesses and entrepreneurs and finding ways to collaborate and support each other has been a joyful and enriching experience!
8. Any exciting upcoming project or initiative that your business is working on?
We have started offering personalized gift boxes where individuals or businesses can give us a budget and we will select, package beautifully and even send their gift to the recipient. We love helping people communicate through gifts and this is an area we would really like to grow and develop.
We find it’s a really helpful service for individuals who want to send a care package or gift to show they are thinking of someone but may not have the time to assemble and package the items.
Businesses such as real estate or renovation companies find that thoughtful gestures such as a thank-you gift go a long way in building a rapport, reputation and repeat business in their industry.
9. Can you share a success story or a memorable experience related to your business in the Greater Summerside area?
Every order we receive feels like an event. We text each other and do a happy dance every time we see an online order! We cannot overstate the giddiness and joy we feel when someone asks us to assemble a gift box for themself or someone else.
10. Can you share a success story or a memorable experience related to your business in the Greater Summerside area?
Choose community over competition. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other businesses and business owners. Entrepreneurs are excellent cheerleaders and generally want to share their knowledge.
Check out Home is Here:
@homeishere.pei | homeisherepei.ca
250 Water St. Suite 103
Summerside, PE
C1N 1B6
