Simple Pleasures

Brigitte Schilds was already a long-time fan of Simple Pleasures when the opportunity to purchase the business became available. It didn't take long to decide that it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. She and partner Andrew Ho took over ownership in 2015, along with The Northern Toybox which they also purchased from the same owners. The two stores are side by side and share a common warehouse in the back where most days you'll find one or the other (or both) hard at work.

Brigitte has had a very positive experience with her new venture into business. "I have very good mentors," she says. The previous owners remained involved with the shop to help Brigitte and Andrew make a smooth transition. Brigitte also notes that both she and Andrew grew up in homes with entrepreneurial, business-minded parents where they learned a lot about what business ownership is like. Brigitte also notes that the store had a very strong, positive reputation in the community thanks to the hard work of the previous owners which has helped to make the transition efficient and seamless. Brigitte looks forward to continuing to provide the same kind of personalized, insightful service and quality products that helped to build the store in the first place.

Brigitte and Andrew are very involved in the community, particularly in the music and arts scene. Andrew is a musician who also taught music for many years before taking over the business. The couple attend almost every concert in town and Andrew still performs regularly at various community events and forums. Another of the couple's favourite free-time passions is cooking, something that is even more fun now for Brigitte since she has access to so many wonderful cooking tools and gadgets through her store.