'Life happens for you, not to you': Waterloo entreprenuer launches online clothing store after pandemic layoff
Kelsey Hellyer from Waterloo Region started an online business after being laid off from her retail job due to the pandemic.
“It’s crazy. At the time I was like, 'this is the worst thing that could ever happen,'” said Kelsey Hellyer, founder of Closet from Hell.
Looking back, she now believes getting laid off was one of the best things that could have happened as it motivated her to take her passion for fashion to the next level.
“Life happens for you, not to you. So just switch your thinking,” Hellyer said.
At first, she used her online platform to sell clothes out of her own closet but she has since expanded the business and now outsources from vintage warehouses.
“I’ll bleach dye or tie-dye pieces especially if there’s holes or marks on it,” said Hellyer.
She started her business in January of this year and it is already doing well.
“I’m projected to do about $150,000 by the end of the year,” the 30-year-old entrepreneur said.
Her warehouse is her basement and she works by herself, hand packaging every item with a personalized note to the customer.
“She was able to personally deliver the items to my house and during COVID, it was porch drop-offs,” said regular customer Ana Freitas.
Hellyer said she enjoys meeting her customers at local pop-ups.
“Supporting local is a big deal to me and also supporting girl bosses that are creating their own brand,” said Freitas.
Before Closet from Hell, Hellyer worked in fashion retail for almost a decade.
“I learned what sells and what doesn’t, even down to what colours people buy more,” said Hellyer.
Closet from Hell uses the site Shopify.
In an emailed statement to CTV News, Shopify officials said new store creations on the platform increased by 96 per cent in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic.
"One of the best things to come out of the pandemic was the seismic shift towards entrepreneurship. This happened globally, but was especially pronounced in Canada. We saw thousands of Canadians looking to achieve financial independence by starting and successfully running their own business during the pandemic," said Ian Black, Managing Director of Canada at Shopify.
Hellyer said her goal is to open a brick-and-mortar store in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.