Calli Duncan (left) and Brianne Sheppard recently opened their first retail store, Far and Wide, in downtown Kamloops last week.

Image Credit: Stacey Krolow

KAMLOOPS - Two years ago, longtime friends Brianne Sheppard and Calli Duncan had an idea to give adults a chance at discovering their more creative side, now the pair is taking on another venture, and want other women to do the same.

The pair started a series of workshop classes called Makeshift Kamloops back in 2016. At the time, the workshop classes were a side project for both women who had full-time jobs in digital marketing and human resources.

The high school acquaintances had always talked about opening a retail store that worked in conjunction with their workshops, and knew if they wanted to start a second business together, they would have to make it their number one priority.

Earlier this month, they did just that and officially opened their first store in downtown Kamloops called "Far and Wide". The new downtown boutique offers local products and items from across Canada and gives shoppers the opportunity to meet the makers of their purchases through workshops.

The two women have worked together for two years.

Image Credit: Stacey Krolow

The two Kamloops women say making the decision to start a business wasn’t easy. Duncan says leaving her full-time job to open a store in downtown Kamloops felt like jumping off a cliff.

“It’s been a big change in pace,” she says. “We self-funded this new retail store, so you know, to leave secure jobs and put your money into starting a business...it’s definitely been a big adjustment.”

And it wasn’t just a financial challenge, Duncan says.

“I think we discovered it’s definitely harder for women to start a business. You’re kind of putting yourself before other people and you’re putting your priorities front and center.”

The co-owner of "Far and Wide" says in her experience of studying business and recently launching her own start-up, she’s found that sometimes women — especially mothers — can be hesitant to start a business.

"Brianne is a mom of two young boys and there were days they had to hang out here while we were setting up, it certainly wasn’t the most fun thing they could have been doing,” Duncan says. “You can almost feel guilty as a woman (because) you always want to put other people first.”

Duncan says being part of a local accelerated start-up program helped them stay on track and have people to go to when they had questions.

“You kind of feel like a deer in headlights sometimes,” Duncan says. “It was great to have people checking in on you and a great way to stick to the business plan and move forward.”

Above everything else, Duncan says the reward of being her own boss is something that outweighs all their worries.

“It’s incredibly rewarding, it’s very empowering and you just feel like a badass,” she says. “I’ve never had this (feeling) from any other job before.”

"Far and Wide" is located at 167 4 Ave. in downtown Kamloops and is open Tuesday to Saturday until 6 p.m. 

For more information on the new boutique, it's owners or products, go here.

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