Owning a small business has always come with unique challenges but lately, it has felt a lot more complicated. With mass produced pieces everywhere, fast fashion stealing art from small brands, exploiting workers and causing catastrophic damage to the environment, while we all struggle to keep up with the ever-changing and dreaded algorithm and technology convincing us that we must seek out instant gratification anywhere and everywhere at any cost, it can all feel very, very grim. You might wonder what motivates small business owners to keep pouring ourselves into our craft, our art, our businesses. The answer for us is actually quite simple- it’s our community, our wonderful and supportive Ånde family (and of course my real family), that keeps me going in these tricky-to-navigate times. The absolute joy I receive from watching you interact with the pieces that were so thoughtfully made and carefully considered, the rich and inspiring conversations we share daily online and in real life and the endless customers-turned-friends I have made, make every little (and big) bump worth it. This community pushes me to keep moving forward and keeps me inspired.
Another form of community that has been essential to me on the wild journey of entrepreneurship, are the friendships and connections I have made with other business owners, entrepreneurs and women who are working to make change in their game and forging their own paths. Chrys Nguyen, owner of Tiny’s General Store, is one of those people for me. I first met Chrys many many years ago when she was working as a buyer at our mutual friend’s menswear store Lost and Found in Toronto. As soon as I met Chrys, I was drawn in by her warmth and genuine kindness and knew she was someone who was going to inspire me. Years later, when we both opened our own stores around the same time, I couldn’t wait to reconnect! Below is a little piece from a conversation we shared recently and I hope you find some inspiration, humour and all the good feelings from it. Most of all, I hope you find people in your life who light you up, who cheer you on, who make you want to keep going even when it’s hard and who inspire you endlessly to follow your visions. Oh, and don’t forget to support small businesses, our communities depend on it! Enjoy!
xo Kiersten Hatnanaka, owner & founder
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Hey Chrys, I can’t wait to chat with you today and I am so excited for our community to get to know you a little bit. Why don’t you start by telling us about yourself!
Hi, my name is Chrys Nguyen and I live in the Annex in Toronto with my husband and two stepsons. I was in menswear for 13 years, 9 of them being at Lost & Found as their buyer but I now own and run a café general store called Tiny's in our neighbourhood. The transition from curating a menswear shop and working in fashion retail was monumental in preparing me with the tools to open my own shop. I went from working in a very male dominated industry to moving into a household of all testosterone- I'm either a masochist or paying my dues from a past life ha!
Oh my god, I resonate with that as a mom of two boys living with a husband and a male dog! Do you have any routines - morning or night rituals, skin care etc - that help you stay sane or set you up for a good day?
I turned 40 this year, and I’ve learned that less is more. I'm very low maintenance when it comes to skin care, the biggest thing for me is staying hydrated, not only on martinis, but good ol' h2O. I chug a glass of water every morning to get the system going and am on a regimen of very homely and basic over the counter drugstore products and use whatever soap happens to be by the bathroom sink to wash my face (my mother is rolling in her grave when I say this). Also, the simple washcloth changed my life. The best exfoliator around.
I mean, it is definitely working for you, I really love the simplicity and a martini is often essential- you have to come to Stratford soon and I will take you to the Starlight where they have the best freezer martini of all time!
I finally had the chance to check out your beautiful spot a couple months ago when Kellen and I had a childless romp around Toronto and was blown away by your curation, the overall vibe you’ve created and of course, the coffee and pastries were so so good! Can you tell us about the beginning of Tiny’s and a little about how you came up with the name?
Seeing that Lost & Found is the best menswear shop in Toronto (this may or may not be a blatant plug for my favourite people), I felt I had reached my pinnacle in local men's fashion and I had recently moved in with my partner and his kids in 2020, and a cute little retail shop became available in our neighbourhood. I kept humming and hawing about it with my husband and one day he told me to just call the number in the window and find out what the space is all about. I spoke with the landlord and it all made sense to pursue creating something sweet and special for our community. Tiny's was named after our family cat that we had lost a year prior - he was not a fan of car rides and jumped out of our truck coming back from the countryside and we just couldn't find him again, even after canvassing over 1000 posters. His spirit now lives on through the shop.
It is so inspiring that you just went for it and took that leap! I honestly think sometimes it’s the only way. Also, the branding of the shop is so good with the little homage to Tiny the cat, I love that it is named after him. What a good dedication! Was there anything specific that really inspired you to open a general store? Was it something you were personally longing for in your community?
I realized that I really missed my daily interactions with customers, albeit being an introvert, and wanted to build something nice for the community that we live in. A lot of my nostalgia and childhood memories of living in the city was of my mother picking me up from daycare and the both of us stopping by a corner store to grab a treat or a candy. As I get older, these are the simple moments that stand out and that I cherish most from my childhood. I wanted to recreate that for the families in Seaton Village/Annex.
That’s really beautiful. What has been your favourite thing so far about owning Tiny’s?
My favourite part about owning Tiny's has been exactly that, the small joys. Just being able to make a stranger smile or laugh is such a powerful thing in my opinion.
It really is the human connections that make owning a small business worth it. I know it has been a difficult year for a lot of businesses, my store included, and I wonder what has been the most challenging part for you so far?
In all honesty, the most challenging part of owning my own business has been my landlord. Toronto landlords can be ruthless and not very supportive. I'm very lucky because we live in a community of such nice people and they are my saving grace.
I am sorry you have had to deal with all the landlord stuff, it is such a bummer to hear about the rent situation in Toronto but I’m so happy you have such a strong community behind you, which I am not surprised about at all. Where do you find yourself drawing the most inspiration from these days?
I draw the most inspiration from my stepsons and my husband. I never really knew or understood how much having and being a family unit gives me so much more grace and understanding. It can be trying, however, the blessings far outweigh all the yelling and constant cleaning that happens in the household ha!
Yes, the constant cleaning is something I really didn’t understand until having my two kids. It can feel like it's never ending! When I first met you, I was immediately drawn to your warmth and kindness and also, of course, your impeccable style. The way you put outfits together always looks so effortlessly cool and I’m curious how you would describe your personal style and to hear how it has evolved over time.
I only realize now that I draw a lot of my personal style from my mother and how she dressed me and carefully sewed dresses for me for picture days and special occasions. When all of my classmates in the 80s were wearing fuschia and teal sweat suits from Northern Getaway, my sweet mother was dressing me in denim, corduroy and cargo pants and I still dress the same way pretty much, just more refined.
I love that! Do you have a current go-to summer uniform?
I love a loose pair of vintage jorts, a classic white tank and my Margiela tabi ballet flats.
So good, and those Margiela’s are currently on my wish list! Thank you so much Chrys for taking the time to talk with me today. It has been so nice to connect and is always such a delight to chat with you! Before I let you go, is there a piece of advice you would give to someone who is starting a business or pursuing a creative endeavour? Any life lessons or words of wisdom you could share with our community?
Always work hard and be a lifelong learner. Every life or professional experience, good or bad, adds knowledge and value to your skills set. Don't be afraid to fail and don't be afraid to ask. If you don't ask, you'll never know. But most of all, be kind. Within reason, of course.
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You can find Tiny’s General Store at 80 Barton Avenue in Toronto and give them a follow on instagram @the_tinygeneral. You will not be disappointed, it is such a special community spot and you’ll feel like an instant regular!
And, since we mentioned them so many times you should also visit Lost and Found at 12 Ossington Avenue in Toronto or check them out online shoplostfound.com it really is the best menswear store around.
In photos _ Chrys wears the Short Verona Dress in Blue and White Stripe from Toit Volant in xs