This year, we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary! Knit Pickers PEI is a retail teaching studio that carries only Canadian made knitting and weaving supplies and natural fibres. I offer hands-on workshops, tutorials and “Ewe Love to Knit” nights – in person and on-line. But – as we look back over our 20 years, there sure have been a lot of twists and turns on our path to where we are today!
Back in 2002, I was employed full-time but something was definitely missing. It was a job where I worked in isolation with very little social interaction. I was toying with the idea of opening up a business where I could sell my knitwear and tartans. I spotted an ad for Avonlea Village. When I visited their website, I saw that, in addition to actors recreating the story of Anne of Green Gables, they had music shows, horse and buggy rides, a working barn and a wood carver. I contacted them and asked if they would like a village weaver on Sundays – for free. I wanted to test market my goods. Their response was “Free? C’mon down!” The wood carver was not in on Sundays so I set up in front of his little shed for the 2002 summer season.
I had so much fun meeting folks from all over the world. At the end of the season, Wayne Bernard who ran the barn popped over and said I should audition for a role in 2003. I laughed and said “I don’t act!” Well, as fate would have it, my full-time job ended in the spring of 2003 – just about the time that the ad for auditions appeared. One of the characters they were looking for was Rachel Lynde – the busybody gossip. I auditioned and was offered the role! I asked if I could continue marketing my knitwear and tartans as well (Rachel was known as an exceptional knitter). That year, I set up in an outdoor courtyard (weather permitting).
In 2004, I participated in my first wholesale shows in Charlottetown and Halifax. Great workshops were offered for novices to the wholesale world – a fantastic learning opportunity! At Avonlea, the wood carver was not returning, so I was offered his shed – perfect, since I wouldn’t need to tear down every night. That same year, I started the process of registering my business– Knit Pickers by Margaret McEachern, commonly known as Knit Pickers PEI.
On a trip to Walt Disney World that Christmas, I visited the Canadian Pavilion at Epcot. There was a cute little shop but there was very little that was intrinsically and recognisably Canadian (aside from the Anne of Green Gables books). I introduced myself and described my business. There appeared to be some interest and they suggested that I send a sample when I get back home. I did so. A couple of months later, I tried to follow up only to discover that the shop was no longer in existence. Trying to get hold of a live person at WDW when you don’t have a contact name was futile – so I thought that door was closed.
Imagine my surprise when, later that summer, WDW called to ask if I would design red and white maple leaf knitwear. They wanted huge quantities in time for Christmas. The hardest thing I ever had to do was to say “no” – I couldn’t meet their quantities by that deadline but I did let them know what I could provide. They agreed! That fall was spent knee-deep in red and white wool but I got the order out (and learned a fair bit about exporting, too).
In 2007, ACOA and WDW collaborated to open the “Atlantic Canada Kiosk” at Epcot during Christmas. I participated as a guest artisan.
In January of 2012, an international contest was announced to design the MacEachern tartan. A gentleman in Australia by the name of Andrew MacEachern is a genetic researcher. Through his work, he discovered that the MacEachern family was older than the MacDonalds, although we were now known as a sept of Clan MacDonald. The MacEacherns had come close to being wiped out during the Highland clearances and came under the protection of the MacDonald clan. Andrew contacted the Court of Lord Lyon in Scotland and received approval for the family to have its own tartan, in a step to once again being recognised as a distinct clan. I submitted my design in February. On July 31st, 2012, it was announced that my design was chosen! It was such an incredible honour. The wearing of a tartan represents freedom of speech, freedom to practice your religious beliefs, freedom to own land and care for your family. It is also a way to honour one’s ancestors who sacrificed so much to provide us with the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy today. The tartan was officially registered in Scotland on January 16th, 2013. Since then, I have woven countless pieces of tartan for MacEacherns worldwide!
2014 ended my time at Avonlea. They would no longer have actors; the new format was a summer venue for shops and restaurants only. I considered the Village venue – the Artisan Studio had grown from my open-air display in 2003 to a bustling operation promoting the work of sixteen Island artisans. We had also created the “Avonlea Young Artisans Society”, supporting the work of budding artisans still in grade school. However, the season was incredibly short – open only from mid-June to early September. So I opted for a studio on my rural property, transforming an old shed into a welcoming retail space.
My time at the Village taught me an immense amount about the retail business, the importance of local goods, and how much visitors enjoyed trying their hand at a unique experience. I transitioned from mainly selling my own knitted and woven goods to sharing my love of fibre arts. In setting up the home-based studio, I decided that I would only carry goods (wool, knitting needles, etc) made in Canada, ideally made in the Maritimes where possible. I developed a number of hands-on workshops and “Authentic PEI Experiences” that are offered from May through December. These experiences involve workshops in collaboration with other small rural Island businesses like sheep farms and seafood restaurants. We also host a weekly “Ewe Love to Knit” night every Tuesday evening year-round – in person and online during the testy winter months.
As we move into our third decade in business, we are embarking on a brand new venture. We are creating wool pellets for use in your garden as a replacement for traditional fertilizers and mulch! These wool pellets are created from waste wool that would otherwise end up in landfill. Sheep farmers have a new source of income for all of their hard work and gardeners will have an eco-friendly, organic product that adds nutrients to their gardens with no danger of chemical run-off into our waterways, that reduces the need to water by an average of 25% and that repels slugs and other pests!
I’m often asked “What advice would I give to someone wanting to start up?” First and foremost, know that a small player can successfully play in the big leagues! Don’t be afraid to explain your limitations. Honesty is far better than broken promises. If you must have a second income stream during the early years, so be it.
Versatility is key. I created and maintain my own webstore. I write a monthly blog and a monthly newsletter and post regularly on social media. I design patterns and create video tutorials for my YouTube channel. Networking is also critical. I was a founding Board member with the Glenaladale Heritage Estate – a historical venue that celebrates not only our Scottish ancestors and culture but also our significant connections to the Mi’kmaq, Irish, Acadian and English. I currently serve as President of Central Coastal Tourism Partnership.
Some folks might say I’ve been lucky. Perhaps so. But luck comes about as a result of a lot of hard work, creative thinking, courage, determination and perseverance. Don’t operate on the premise that “it’s good enough”. You have to want to be exceptional! Just because you might live in a small community or in a small province, just because you might be setting up on a shoestring – just because you are small doesn’t mean you can’t be mighty!
My thanks to everyone for their support over these last 20 years – and here’s to the next 20!!!
RSS Feed