Launching her own storefront

St. Vital

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This article was published 06/03/2024 (793 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In-person shopping is slowly increasing to pre-pandemic levels. Let’s face it – ordering clothing online is a gamble that doesn’t always pay off. Many of us have one or two pairs of pants, shoes or shirts that looked great onscreen but not so fabulous when we unpacked them.

St. Vital women’s clothing retailer Leanne Ryan believes there’s no real substitute for browsing through racks of clothes, feeling their texture, then selecting a few pieces to try on. This first-hand experience is what she offers customers at Must Have Pockets, located at Unit F – 1510 St. Mary’s Rd.

While she also accommodates online shopping through the store’s website, Ryan feels she can support customers in her store when choosing clothing items matching their lifestyle and building on their fashion style.

“I’m not a big online shopper. I was frustrated about what was out there for women,” she said. “I really feel like there was a gap.”

She said that good, quality everyday wear and stylish, plus-size women’s clothing seems to be harder to find.

Ryan has a long background in retail business.

“I had my first exposure to the buying world at Gord’s Ski & Cycle,” she said. It was there that she learned the importance of quality and functionality. She said she enjoyed the process of ordering stock, receiving it, then offering it to consumers – from start to finish.

She gained experience in merchandising and training during seven years spent at Cabela’s. This was followed by a position with the Dufresne Group.

“It was a great learning experience,” she said. “But I discovered I missed clothing and missed working directly with customers.”

When she decided to start her own business, she sought out training and resources available through the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba.

“They were a great resource and so supportive of the vision I had,” Ryan said.

“I really want to create a safe space for women to come here and shop,” she said, adding that she selects her stock with a focus on mature women who are in the workforce or retired.

After looking at retail space available in other parts of Winnipeg, she found her current location in St. Vital. Located in a strip mall with other retailers, it offers visibility and parking. She opened last September.

“People are getting to know me. There’s still a lot of new traffic coming in the door,” she said.

Ryan said she’s listening to her customers regarding their needs and believes the best advertising is word-of-mouth.

She offers clothing made by Canadian and international manufacturers, with a focus on basic pieces that can be matched with other pieces to build a wardrobe. On her website, she provides advice on how to determine your personal style, assess your current wardrobe, decide what pieces you should buy, and lists local non-profits that accept clothing donations.

As shoppers now look for winter holiday wear and forward to spring, Ryan is adding to her stock and invites people to see the new pieces.

“Just come in and try things on.”