When you set foot in one of downtown Edmonton’s newest retailers, Good Goods Co., you’re being given the opportunity to shop with a purpose: for the love of people and love of the planet.
In fact, opportunity for the environmentally conscious consumer is the origin story of Good Goods Co., owned by Nina Karpoff and Aga Wajda-Plytta. It all started in 2019 as a refill market which brought numerous sellers under one roof.
“We were involved in trying to create synergy, trying to build a collective,” said Karpoff.
The ladies created that collective online and after many years, many pivots and iterations of their original idea, they wanted to bring a brick-and-mortar experience downtown. They opened their store at 10250-106 St. in March, as part of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association’s Retail Attraction Program.
“Businesses have figured out how to do online really well, but now the customer wants the experience back,” said Wajda-Plytta. “They want to see the product in person and say, ‘oh cool, it’s a 3D printed product, maybe I wouldn’t have noticed that in a photo online.’”
While they want to see the whites of people’s eyes, what hasn’t changed is their desire to create a community.
“I think the problem with small business is it’s too much to be anything by yourself,” said Karpoff. “You have a lot to shoulder, all the different roles in a company, plus growth, plus being seen. But as a collective you’re more likely to be able to build that synergy.”
The entrepreneurs selected a space with plenty of room and now it’s time to find like-minded small business owners to join the team.
“If you have 15 businesses in here, okay awesome, one internet bill,” said Karpoff. “If you have 15 businesses in here, then one rent is shared by all. And you do your part to make sure that your community comes to the space, and I’ll do my part bringing people who didn’t know you existed. They’re gonna shop from you and your people are gonna shop from me.”
“Even if it’s not retail you’re launching,” said Wajda-Plytta. “If it’s a new brand or a new product and you want to test to see what resonates with people. Maybe you’re online only and you want physical presence we invite you here. We have no issue with people coming and going, that’s kind of the beauty of it, it can be rotational.”
The Edmonton Downtown Business Association, along with the province and the city, awarded six retailers grant money and reduced start-up costs to open stores in the downtown core. Good Goods Co. is one of four stores stores announced as part of the program. Coffee shop and retailer OBJ3CTS just opened on Jasper Ave. and 104 St., as well as modern furniture, lighting and design company La Belle Arti which is now open on 106 St. The Growlery Beer Co. is getting set to open another location in the Mercer Warehouse.
The final two retailers will be announced soon and are projected to open in October.
“We’re hoping that the next three will open loud and proud and have huge parties so we can support them, and they can support us,” said Karpoff.
“We have this vision of people saying ‘oh there’s six retailers downtown, I’d like to hit up all six,’” adds Wajda-Plytta.