The Laker (April 2013)
Goose Island Fashions still open for business
By Heather Laura Clarke
Over the last 23 years, Shelley McDonald has made a name for herself by helping local ladies develop and embrace their own personal style.
With a talent for incorporating trends with classic pieces, McDonald opened Goose Island Country Store in Fall River back in 1999. She moved to a larger space in Bedford in 2002, and Goose Island Fashions and Interiors flourished for more than 10 years in its new location. But McDonald recently decided not to renew her lease, due to increasing rent and overhead costs.
Instead, she’s opened up a chic studio in her Waverley home -- where she’ll continue to work with clients on a more personalized level.
“I didn’t want to close completely, because I have so many good and faithful customers that love shopping with me,” says McDonald. “This is way I can continue to provide the clothes and footwear they enjoyed at the store -- except now we’re in a more intimate atmosphere where we can relax, have a coffee, and put together different looks.”
In a cheerful hot pink and lime green studio with huge windows, McDonald has beautiful displays of her customers’ favourite clothing, shoes, jewellery, and bath/body products.
“I carry unique products and lines that aren’t always easy to find in the Maritimes, like Parkhurt sweaters, Vex Collection, Alegria Shoes, Simon Chang jeans, Orly collection, and Mode de Vie pants,” says McDonald.
She’s also still carrying her popular assortment of gifts and home accessories -- like Pouchee purse organizers, Jellybean rugs, and Lampe Berger scent diffusers -- and provides free gift-wrapping.
McDonald says it’s her personalized service and intuitive wardrobe consulting that keep her clients coming back for more. She also works as a palliative care nurse, so she is making herself available to studio clients by scheduling appointments and posting “drop-in” times on her Facebook page.
“My clients were sad to see the Bedford store close, but now they’re so happy that I’m still here for them,” says McDonald. “It’s a great feeling to still be open for business.”
