After nearly 10 years of business on First Avenue, Forget Me Not is closing its doors for good.
For six years, the store operated as Step This Way, and was owned by Janice Peters – who also owns the Ladysmith Health Food Store. Her daughter, Janine Peters managed the store during that time, then made the decision to buy it four-years ago and rename it as Forget Me Not.
“I made the decision for a couple of reasons, but the number one reason is that it was my grandmother’s favourite flower,” Peters said.
Peters transformed the store, and added more shoe lines. They began with natural fibered clothing, and focused on products that were either Canadian-made or fair-trade products. Peters said she made that decision for care of the earth, and care for customers.
Business has improved steadily every year Forget Me Not has been open. Peters said she has a lot of people ask her if she’s closing the store for economic reasons, and she wants everyone to know that she’s not. She’s closing the store because she feels now is the right time to do so.
“It’s been a wonderful experience raising our children in this community. They grew up at Transfer Beach, and in and out of the businesses. It’s been so good for them,” Peters said. “I feel like it’s a good time for me to shift out of the heavy time consumption, and energy consumption that a small business takes while I’m still enjoying it.”
Peters has worked in retail for 30 years. She said her next plan is to take a break. She’s headed to spend some time on a family farm in Alberta and make plans for her next adventure.
During her time at Forget Me Not, Peters said she recieved incredible support from her fellow downtown business owners, the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, and her customers.
“The customers made the store,” Peters said. “It wouldn’t have been open without them. The support you’ve given me has also cared for my family.”
There is no confirmation on what kind of business may replace Forget Me Not, but Peters did say that a business has already lined up to move in to the Forget Me Not space.
Forget Me Not is having a 25 – 50 percent off sale. May 30 is the final day of business for Forget Me Not. Credits and gift cards will be honoured right up until the last day of business.
The business is close temporarily on March 18, 2020 as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 and will reopen when conditions are safe to do so.
