Episode 1. Allyson - Dancing Moose Gifts

At just the age of 22, Allyson Menzies started her journey into small-business ownership on Dawson’s Front Street with Dancing Moose Gifts. 10 years later, Allyson is still welcoming tourists and locals alike with her Yukon-forward mentality, drive for authentic souvenirs, and all the while keeping the Klondike in style.

Explore Allyson’s story with Klondike Cornerstones, a new podcast from @dawsoncitychamberofcommerce. Discover the story first-hand about what it takes to run a successful small business in the Klondike by listening to the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of some of Dawson’s iconic businesses and the people behind them.

Transcript

Melissa 0:04

Hi, welcome to the first episode of the Dawson City Chamber of Commerce podcast, Klondike Cornerstones, where we get to dig deep one-on-one interview style with some of Dawson's most successful entrepreneurs and small business owners. Here at Klondike Cornerstones, it's all about highlighting the challenges and the triumphs that can go into doing business here in Martin Yukon. I'm your host, Melissa, and I will take you along in exploring the underbelly of what it takes to not only live in Dawson City, but also how others have navigated in such a unique environment. Dawson City is a place known for its history, incredible wilderness, and honestly, it is also home to some of the most colorful characters of the north. And you know that they're gonna bring their stories. So for our first episode, we are sitting here down with chamber member Allison Menzies of Dancing Moose Gifts. Welcome, Allison. Okay, I'm sitting here with the owner of Dawson City's dancing moves, Allison Menzies. Hi Allison. Hi Melissa. Hi, welcome. Welcome to our podcast. Welcome to the Dawson City Chamber of Commerce podcast. Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, it's really exciting that you're here and that we get to talk all things business. Um, as some people may know or may not not know, how young were you when you got this business? I purchased it when I was 22. Wow.

Allyson 1:28

How does it feel now? Like this is my 10th summer. Yeah. Um, it feels really good, but it definitely has morphed a lot in the last 10 years. Yeah. And definitely I've grown up a lot in the last 10 years.

Melissa 1:42

Yeah, like maybe let's start from the beginning. Let's start a little chronologically here for you. How do you like, how do you get into a business like this? Like, what kind of made you decide, like, okay, this is something I can get into?

Allyson 1:55

When I was 18, I was spending my first winter in Dawson, and Diana Andrew, the previous owner of Dancing Moose, um she came and found me and asked if I wanted to work for her. And so I did that winter for her, which turned into two more summers. Um, and she was really great. She showed me behind the scenes, um, she really let me have a view on the backside of her business in a way that I don't think many owners would really share with the 18, 19-year-old.

Melissa 2:31

Yeah, she was kind of a bit of a mentor to totally, yeah. Um Did you express interest from like when she started, or was she kind of just like siphoning through, like she just kind of took it upon herself to Yeah, I think that um if I remember correctly, some of it just naturally progressed to taking on a bigger part of a role um just in my everyday sales associate position.

Allyson 2:58

Um, but at one point I did express interest of oh, I think maybe I could do this and I'd like to do this, and she supported that idea and continued to show me the backside. At one point, when I was in university in BC, she sent me to a trade show to go buy for her with her credit card. Um and so that was a great inside of the kind of the back side of things, and then I guess three or four years into that, um, we decided to go for it. Just went for it. Yeah, we I sought out financing and she supported me the whole way, and yeah, it was great.

Melissa 3:36

Yeah, absolutely. Like it's so nice to have that mentorship in the community for you to like bounce off of. And do you find that like was it a like it probably was a decent transition working from her previously into becoming, but then now you've kind of created your own. Do you want to like maybe describe like how it was kind of once you got it and then how you've kind of changed into it?

Allyson 3:58

Yeah, the one thing I really remember that stuck out was that first year I was expecting these really hard challenges and this huge learning curve. And I don't want to say I was disappointed, but um she really prepped me for exactly what was gonna happen, exactly what I needed to know. Yeah, um, which was great. And you know, that's so valuable, I think, when you're starting out. Um, so really these surprises and you know, business adventures I was excited to have kind of just that first year. It was like, oh, I got this. Okay, I know exactly what I'm getting into. Yeah, she really prepped you a little bit for that. I've done this before, but it was definitely, I remember one of the parts I was most excited about was making it my own. The first year we painted it purple. Yeah.

Melissa 4:45

A bit of an iconic color to you. Yeah, as you're sitting in your like purple adjacent store.

Allyson 4:50

Yeah, it we laugh about the paint colors in here because it's been three different colors over the 10 years and definitely grown with me. But at 22, a purple store was all I wanted, and I was so excited to make this space my own. Um and you did it, yeah.

Melissa 5:07

I think yeah, and you never like you've been in this spot the whole time. Like, yeah, you're under the like umbrella of Maximilian's adjacent beside Marianne owning the building. And like I that's such like a great community-oriented, like women in business kind of associates to say.

Allyson 5:28

This is the best spot. It's a great spot. I love my neighbors. It was awesome having Uda next door for so long. And um yeah, it's it's been great. Very happy.

Melissa 5:41

How would you like like somebody walking into your store? What do you want them to kind of expect when they walk in?

Allyson 5:48

Um, I want to be different. I think the space has changed a lot in the 10 years, and definitely the formula I was going for when I bought the business has changed drastically, and I think COVID and those years definitely played a huge part in that. Um, but I am really proud that when people come in, I can say a good half of the room is sourced in the Yukon and it's Yukon made products and it's different and um not your everyday maybe souvenir you take home. Um, and the other half of the store is definitely more like fashion and ladies' accessories, but I spend a lot of time trying to curate some interesting, fun, quality items.

Melissa 6:35

So yeah. How have you found that in like because you're you've been now going, like you said, 10 years? That's a lot of like progression, that's a lot of evolving. Like, do you find like now when you reflect back at like what you had in your store when you started, are you you must be pretty proud of like how it's kind of ended up? Like you've you're a staple to the front street.

Allyson 6:57

Oh I appreciate that. Um, yeah, you know what? I really now when I look back on this journey with I guess the lens of being in business 10 years, I'm proud of myself, how I pivoted in those 20, 20, 21, 22 years. And yeah, I'm proud of the space and how it's morphed, and it's fun to keep it different. Like, I do think that um a big part of my customer base is local and summer people and definitely Yukoners, so it's a good challenge for me to keep things fresh and new. Um, but it's also great to keep the be loyal to the made in Yukon stuff that I buy every year and have that available for other customers or tourists who are, you know, first timers.

Melissa 7:43

Yeah, absolutely. Like you really kind of put yourself out there to really get localized products. Are you finding that you're reaching out to artists and like makers, or do you find that they kind of come towards you, or is it a bit of a back and forth?

Allyson 7:57

I think it's a little bit of both. There's definitely people in here that I have chased after because I think their products are amazing and I love to carry it. Um, some have definitely come to me too. Um, but yeah, everything in here that is made in the Yukon is awesome, and I'm so proud to be able to showcase it and sell it to people. It's pretty special when you get emails um from people in you know all across the world, like a photo of the painting they bought in your store like a year later saying thank you or in their living room. Yeah, I don't know, it's like cool, I'm kind of a part of your memory. Um, but it's cool that this space is able to kind of connect artists and tourists.

Melissa 8:38

Yeah, how do you find like motivation to kind of keep it going? Because like you are you are your own businesswoman. Like there are times like in the winter you are more or less closed besides like Christmas hours, but do you find like every every year when you unlock that door that you're just like let's go? Like, let's do it.

Allyson 8:57

Yeah, I definitely April is kind of the month I think I get excited about what's coming. I spend a lot of time in the winter sourcing new products and you know, even testing new products. Um, yeah, I think it's as yeah, I'm closed. Um, the storefront's closed, you know, half a year, but I'm going 12. Yeah. You're constantly on the mind. Yeah, which is like, I'm not complaining, it's great. Um, but yeah, there's a lot of that behind the scenes stuff that I think the momentum keeps you motivated.

Melissa 9:29

Yeah, that's fair. And then like hearing, like you said, people sending you your photos, like photos of the things that they buy, like that's such like a like, are there any like specific stories or like things that people have done that like kind of remind you, like, oh yeah, like this is what I this is why I do it.

Allyson 9:45

When I worked for Diana, I think one of the first things that really attracted me to the position and maybe wanting to work in retail in a tourist space is that you were helping, um, or not helping, but you were part of people taking home a memory of a bucketless trip or something exciting. Like it really is the people who come through these doors. It's amazing the conversations you have. I think it's a fair statement that everyone who has worked here for me over the years has kind of been surprised by how how fun and just interesting it is because you meet people really from everywhere. But mm the thing that really blows my mind, I guess, is that I get like last winter alone, I had three separate people from Europe email me and ask to ship them a baseball cap because it was their favorite and they lost it on a train, and it's like wow, that's they wanted you know the they went out of their way to replace it, which is a something that they liked in the first place. The shipping's three times as much as the baseball cap, but um yeah, they just Dawson was special to them and yeah, it's really quite I find it mind-boggling, but it's it's cool to be a part of people's experiences.

Melissa 11:03

Yeah, do you find like speaking on like that they're so enamored by like the Dawson scene? I guess you could say, like, do you find that like having this kind of business in your business mentality like really works into Dawson? Like, how do you find that like Dawson has kind of influenced your stylings?

Allyson 11:22

I've only ever worked retail one other place. Actually, that's a lie. I've worked retail two other places, um, once in Nova Scotia and once in BC. And Dawson definitely when people are here on vacation, it's a very different attitude than your everyday person just coming in. So it's a really fun atmosphere, just in the sense of when people are coming in, they're usually in a good mood. And so I want to create a space where we're building off of that good mood, I guess.

Melissa 11:51

I think the colors in here help. You have like a very like joyful, yeah, joyful vibe in here, I guess you could say.

Allyson 11:58

I think maybe the the nature of Dawson has influenced me in a way to be mindful that this is a really unique place, and so I want to create a unique experience for people, and um we also live in such a great community where it's great when locals come in and I hope they have a unique experience and yeah, and you're kind of like juggling because you're right on the forefront, like you are on Front Street, but you kind of have to juggle this like tourist catering while also trying to keep local interest.

Melissa 12:27

Like, do you find that that can be a challenge sometimes, or do you find that like it kind of comes naturally?

Allyson 12:32

I think it was a challenge for sure. I think after we started to see tourists come again after we had not had them for a few years, but now I feel pretty good in what I've got going and it's natural, I guess. Yeah, I mean 10 years is a gig.

Melissa 12:50

Yeah, you gotta fall into a rhythm and yeah, probably helping with Diana in the beginning kind of made you even see the rhythm before you even started.

Allyson 12:59

Totally. I think it was I'm trying to think of the math now. It was probably five years I worked with her. That experience and seeing, you know, what worked, what didn't work is all knowledge that was so valuable.

Melissa 13:11

Yeah, so you've been 15 years under the dancing moose name then, I guess, in in the grand scheme of math.

Allyson 13:17

Yeah, I close to that. I think I started in 2013. Yeah, and you kept the name. I did.

Melissa 13:24

Yeah, you you just loved it, like it was something that you wanted to keep going. But it's kind of has its own legacy already, so yeah.

Allyson 13:31

I definitely did maybe think at some point I would change it just to make it my own, but I'm always pleased. It's definitely more than once a day you see someone come in and go, Oh, I saw the dancing moose on the sign, and I just had to come see what it was. Yeah, yeah, and it leaves a little bit of a curiosity. A little bit of mystery.

Melissa 13:50

What do you mean it's a dancing moose?

Allyson 13:51

Yeah, and I'm definitely proud of you know how I started and my time with Diana, so it's great to keep just have that to kind of keep us bonded too.

Melissa 14:00

Yeah, and then so do you find that like the name kind of helps with a little bit of like a promotional side of it, or do you do extra stuff for promotion? Like, are you super into social media, or do you find that like being a part of like local brochures and things like that have helped along the way, or do you think more proximity?

Allyson 14:19

I think a lot of my foot traffic comes from you know, window displays, yeah, people passing by. I do think that when Diana had the store, she was doing pop-ups in Whitehorse, yeah, and she created quite the buzz in Whitehorse, and so I definitely built off that. She had like a Facebook page already started, so there was a little bit of a Whitehorse following. Yeah. Um, and I definitely, yeah, kind of built off of that. And now last year was kind of the first year we really gave the social media a go, and this year I'm committed to it because it does do its thing.

Melissa 14:59

As much as people kind of don't want to be a part of it sometimes, it does it does seem to help and get your voice out there, yeah.

Allyson 15:06

You see results, so yeah. Um, yeah, it's great to have that, but definitely putting more time and energy into creating some quality content instead of just me snapping a picture.

Melissa 15:16

Do you reflect back and like think about like, yeah, like 10 years ago you were at this spot, but now you're you're so far advanced, like you you're running the run, you're going for it.

Allyson 15:25

Um yeah, before you presented me these interview questions, I'm not sure I really looked back on the 10 years with a with this type of lens, but yeah, it's come a really long way. Yeah, and that's pretty cool. That's pretty freaking cool.

Melissa 15:40

Yeah, which means like you've also gone like through a variety of staff, and like do you find that because like it's so much seasonal work here in Dawson, like that's kind of what we're known for, is that like our population booms in the summer because we get so much seasonal workers. Do you find it's like a fickle beast, as you may say, of like getting like hiring and retaining staff?

Allyson 16:04

Um, I have been so lucky that every person who has worked here has been great and wonderful to spend my days with. It definitely is a challenge. Like this spring, for example, I felt like I wasn't sure how the staffing was gonna end up, who was gonna be here, if like it didn't feel like a lot of resumes were even coming in, so that's a challenge. Um, a lot of people are looking for staff accommodation.

Melissa 16:33

Yeah, that's something being a small store, it's so hard to like you it realistically, it wouldn't make sense for you to have housing.

Allyson 16:42

Yeah, so at this point, yeah, I think that is maybe a little bit of a hurdle, but yeah, I have been so lucky. I really think it you're as as great as who's in the store, and I've been so lucky the last ten years. I really have. And it's I mean, even I have helped you for a few days here and there.

Melissa 16:58

It was kind of a fun little game. It is you know, we get the people walking in through the door, they're just so happy to like be able to shop for things.

Allyson 17:06

Yeah, my first employee ever was a family friend, and she was here for four or five years. Yeah, and having that stability every summer was also a game changer, and then yes, I've just been so lucky.

Melissa 17:20

Yeah, do you think that probably helped you like be able to branch off to other things, not having to stress maybe in the beginning on your staffing?

Allyson 17:28

Definitely, and I think just having someone in here that you trust, you know, is such a huge um game changer. Having very little experience of you know, hiring and managing people when I look back on that first, you know, summer or two and having such a strong, reliable yeah, it was amazing. And I I wish I could go back and thank her every day because I I don't say I took her for granted, but like, you know, she helped you a lot.

Melissa 17:56

Yeah, but I will never it's kind of something that you also did for Diana that you like kind of kept that going, and then having kind of your own mentorship or having your own kind of staffing like that. Yeah. Definitely I can see how that definitely has helped you in a long run of like being able to, yeah, kind of expand your stock or expand your creative ideas and expanding what's within the store.

Allyson 18:22

There's so much kind of behind the scenes that it's great to have someone who is you know solid, holding down the fort in the showroom and and happy being here doing it. It's it's such a game changer to have someone who genuinely wants to be here, which is great. It's so fun.

Melissa 18:39

Yeah, because then you're and you're just having fun during work and then it doesn't even feel like work anymore.

Allyson 18:43

100%.

unknown 18:44

Yeah.

Melissa 18:45

Um speaking of which, work and a lot of work, you have mentioned and we have already repeatedly mentioned I've been at this game for 15 years. What's another five? What do you feel like is maybe the future direction of Dancing Moose? Kind of continuing and maintaining down that course?

Allyson 19:02

I definitely am continuing and planning to maintain for you know the foreseeable future. Yeah. I have some schemes and dreams I've been working on, and I hope they will come to life next summer. Um we'll keep the people on their toes. Yeah. We won't be able to do that. I'm not ready to share yet, but we have been working on some things this last um winter, so I'm feeling really excited and motivated. I think that I'm just at a time in my life where I'm ready for something new, but I'm still really loving and enjoying this space.

Melissa 19:41

Trying to figure out maybe what's with the next step within the space and carry on. And which is something great that most business people should kind of be aware of is like, what's the next step? What's the next further path that we can take realistically, especially in a small town like this? Like, what would you say to somebody that was like, I want to open a souvenir store up in Dawson? What would you do you have any words of advice that you would I would say just go for it.

Allyson 20:07

Yeah. When I look back on, you know, 22-year-old Allison, there was no doubt in my mind that I couldn't do this. Like there was no fear. I remember thinking, now's the time because if I fail, I still have so much time ahead of me. And as I've gotten older, and I've guessed I've had more, you know, to lose, I had nothing to lose at 22. Yeah. Um, you evaluate risk differently. And I think I've definitely spent maybe a few years ready to kind of you know take on something new or add something new, but I've just been a bit hesitant or you know, wanting it to be perfect. And I think if you have an idea and you believe in yourself, you should go for it. Absolutely.

Melissa 20:50

Yeah, really like just go for it.

Allyson 20:52

Yeah, take a chance because if I think if you're willing to pivot and you know critically think and and go for it, then you'll be successful.

Melissa 21:02

Yeah, even in the world of Dawson, you can still open up your own business. And like it we're kind of a small business central up here. We have no chain stores, so yeah, it's something that kind of becomes unique for us, is that we have everybody is a small business owner.

Allyson 21:18

I think there's a lot of circumstances or dynamics that make business in Dawson challenging, but in that same breath, I think it's a really great place to jump in.

Melissa 21:28

Yeah. What do you think anybody needs like any specific qualities to kind of make it in Dawson? Is there like comparative to like say like a downtown store in Vancouver? Like, do you find that like if there's anything that you kind of have to like go with a brain of salt in terms of like maybe everybody's just on Yukon time or like Yeah, maybe that.

Allyson 21:48

And maybe I'm guilty of that one too a little bit. I think you really have to be willing to pivot and get creative. Yeah, we're a creative town, absolutely. I think that's maybe the quality that would really help a person.

Melissa 22:03

Yeah. A little bit of creativity and humor and flexibility.

Allyson 22:08

Exactly.

Melissa 22:08

You could say. Well, anyways, Allison. Thank you so much for joining us today. I don't want to talk too far into the future because it seems like you're scheming and dealing, and I want the people of Dawson to stay on their toes. Yeah, stay in their toes. And just kind of enjoy. Like I like hearing this behind the scenes since I've known you, you've been you've been in this business, so it's really cool to hear the back part of it because I have been into your back room, but I haven't I haven't heard your full story until it's really nice to hear, and thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate it. Thank you, Allison, for sitting with us here today on Clondic Cornerstones. Clonic Cornerstones also wouldn't be here without the help of our amazing production crew. We've got John Music with Sound Engineering, Sam Connolly with our intro music, and Justin Hobbs with Edmund Support. And I, your host, Melissa Nuff. We put out new interviews every two weeks. Listen to wherever you get your podcasts, or if you want to get the first listen, catch it on CDFYT Radio 106.9 FM or CFYT.ca Wednesdays at 8 p.m. And to keep you up to date with our features, check us out on Facebook or Instagram at Dawson City Chamber of Commerce or at visitdaws. Tune in next time where we interview Jesse Cook from Klonic Experience. Thank you for listening to Klonic Cornerstones.