This week’s Business Spotlight shines on BAGSY, located at 4734 on Ross Street. We caught up with owner Aimee Hartnoll to hear more about the community she’s created around her new and gently used clothing store and find out what Bagsy is all about:

What is your business?

Bagsy! It means “dibs” in England, so if you “bagsy” something it basically means you’ve called dibs. So that’s kind of how it started. I was selling my own clothes on [Facebook] Marketplace and I realized I was doing really well—I have a little bit of a clothes problem!—so that’s how it started and then it kind of just morphed into this space where I buy and sell clothes. Probably 80% of them are gently used and the rest are new. It’s not just retail, I’m not sure if you’ve seen on Facebook, but it’s such a community. I love women and supporting women and having that connection—I have a mum’s group as well in Red Deer that I do. So anyway, its just about connection. I don’t need to fit into this norm of what stores need to look like so now I’m just opening on a Wednesday evening and everything else is online. Wednesday evenings is like the social event. I call it the Bagsy Collective. So, people can come in pick up and try on the items they’ve Bagsy’d online. I’ve coordinated it with the Downtown Market too, so hopefully people are going to go to the Market, grab an ice cream and then come over here! So that’s kind of my plan going forward, but I don’t want it to be just about sales so I’m going to make sure that we’re having an evening where women can socialize—because people know each other from the [Facebook] lives! They’re like ‘Oh, you’re Mary!’ You know, and then they meet and its great, it’s fun!

When did you open?

I was selling things on Market place for a while last year, and I was asked by Once Again Consignment store to come in and do her online marketing because she had to shut down for Covid. So, I moved into her store selling her things from April to September. And then I moved upstairs here [4734 on Ross Street] in October and then I moved downstairs May 1^st. It’s just growing!

What would you say makes your business unique?

It’s just the fact that it’s so person-centered. I don’t have just one style, because I know there’s not just one type of woman, you know, everyone’s different, unique, quirky. When people come in, because I do shopping parties too, you book them separately, there not during the public hours. People come in here,  they come in with their friends, and then I follow them around the store, basically, seeing what items they’re picking up and then I add to it. I’ll see something hanging there, and I’ll think this will go really nicely, and I’ll gently nudge people out of their comfort zone. So, the other day, someone came in and she only wore office clothes or jeans and a t-shirt. So, I got her a vintage skirt out and a little off the should top and she’s like “Hmm, I’ll try it.”—not really loving the idea—and she put it on and ended up loving it! I feel like it’s kind of giving ladies that way to express themselves and feel good and comfortable. I’m not going to put you in something that you’re not interested in or doesn’t suit your personality. I kind of just want everyone to be able to enjoy those good pieces. Regardless of brand, all my dresses are between 16 and 20 dollars. All my jeans are 12 dollars, regardless of brand. I sell lots of Lulu items and everything generally is under 20$. I buy low and I sell low!

What are some products and services that you offer?

Products are the clothing, accessories, shoes and active wear as well now. Services include the personal shopping experience. So when you come in for a shopping party—I’ve just announced this—and people bring their friends in, if their group collectively spends 100$ then the host will get 10% off; 200 dollars, 20% discount. So, it’s kind of a fun thing, more of a social thing. People can bring in snacks and teas and coffee and just have this as a fun little place to socialize!

Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?

I find it very central, for a start. I also find it has that European feel to it down here. In England we don’t have big malls, we have “high streets”, and you walk from one place to another. So, I really like that about it. There’s so many little places and I feel like it’s a real community down here, people come and join together. I have to say though, some of my clients weren’t very happy about coming downtown. Some didn’t want to come to Bagsy but I just felt good about it. I feel like those clients are gradually coming back and I’ve made even more friends and clients just by being down here!

What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?

I feel like it’s the hub of Red Deer. We’ve got the Christmas lights down here, the parade, but again, it’s the people! There’s just so many different businesses here; things you wouldn’t necessarily find in a mall. There’s a lot more down here. The parks are just such a nice place to sit and enjoy, whereas, if you’re in a mall or a plaza you’re not going to get that.

Finish this sentence: I love Downtown Red Deer because…

I don’t know how to finish that in just one sentence! I love the amount of people and just the diversity. Because there’s so much down here, there is so many different people from so many different walks of life that walk by or pop in. And again, you wouldn’t necessarily get that in other places—you park outside a mall, you go in and come out again—you have like typical mall-goers, maybe. Whereas here I just find you kind of get everyone! I’m just excited about being here, I’m excited to be part of the community and get to know more people and discover businesses down here!

Get in touch with Bagsy to book a personalized shopping party or join the Facebook Live fun! You can follow them here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BAGSYRedDeer/