Brett McGarry / NNSL photo
Kristine Bourque, founder and owner of Just Furs, is looking to sell her business sometime this year so she can retire.
“It’s been a good business to run but I am looking to retire later this year,” she said.
The business, which she has been running in its current location in Old Town since 2002, would come for sale with her current fur inventory at cost, access to the building currently being used, but more importantly, access to Bourques contacts and suppliers in the business.
With all these resources available to a potential buyer, Bourque describes this opportunity as a turn-key business.
“I’ve discussed the sale with all my contacts and they’re all willing to work with whoever buys,” she said. “Generally 95 per cent of my suppliers only sell fur to me in town so there is great access to fur products.”
She said she is looking to sell as early as September of this year. If she found the right buyer, they would be picking up the fur shop right during busy season.
“Business is picking up now and it will only get busier until next spring,” Bourque said. “For years I’ve been selling to repeat customers but I sell to a lot of tourists and visitors during the winter.”
Bourque said the ideal buyer would have a love for furs and would be extremely hardworking.
“I’d love to see it go to someone from the North or Indigenous,” she said.
Bourque added though, she would ultimately sell to the first person with the right offer.
Once retired, Bourque plans enjoying some time with family and friends.
“I’ll be staying here in Yellowknife,” she said. “I have a home here, but I’d like to be able to visit with my kids and do some traveling to the east. I wouldn’t mind a warm vacation either.”
Bourque also said she will be volunteering with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, an organization close to her heart.
“Making people happy when they buy something for the shop has always been satisfying and I love the business, but it’s time to move on.”