Westshore Town Centre general manager Elyse Norgaard-Kituri knows just how much can be riding on the success of a business.
Originally from Merritt, B.C., sheB次元官网网址檚 spent a number of years working with her family. B次元官网网址淚 have been involved in entrepreneurship for as long as I can remember.B次元官网网址� When she was little, Norgaard-Kituri and her cousins would pick strawberries for 10 cents a pound on her grandparentsB次元官网网址� farm. They would then use the money they earned to buy pop to sell at music festivals. Unfortunately, they were unable to make their margins and lost all of their money doing that. B次元官网网址淚t was a good lesson in failure,B次元官网网址� Norgaard-Kituri said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 better to fail early and small.B次元官网网址�
Later on, she spent several years working for a construction company her grandfather had started and was the third generation in the family to do so. B次元官网网址淚 feel so fortunate I had that experience B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 no better way to learn the value of hard work when your entire family depends on it.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 an attitude she took with her through her post-secondary journey. While taking biology courses at the University of Victoria and working on a bachelor of science degree, Norgaard-Kituri added a few business classes to the mix and that eventually led her on a path to her Masters of Business Administration.
While in school she started working in retail and eventually landed at . Now, sheB次元官网网址檚 been the GM for roughly three years and has experienced a number of changes at the shopping centre.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen a broadening of the demographic here,B次元官网网址� she noted. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the main shift weB次元官网网址檝e seen.B次元官网网址�
There has also been a resurgence in local entrepreneurs looking for space. Norgaard-Kituri also noted theyB次元官网网址檙e seeing a lot of family-run businesses and roughly 60 per cent of the centreB次元官网网址檚 tenant businesses are owned or managed by women. B次元官网网址淭he industry overall has been really strong B次元官网网址� Things are looking very positive.B次元官网网址�
With all of the growth in Langford and on the West Shore, a lot more young families are finding homes in the community and are utilizing the shopping centre more. To help cater to their needs, Norgaard-Kituri noted there has been a number of changes geared towards families such as the children play area and special programming including the Family Festival that celebrated its third year back in February. New washroom facilities that recently opened also feature a dedicated family restroom.
That was something clients were really asking for, Norgaard-Kituri noted. And recognizing the unique needs of young families is something sheB次元官网网址檚 a lot more familiar with lately as she has her own one-year-old daughter at home.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 let me understand my customers a bit more,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh.
Juggling a new addition to the family and her career has been a learning experience. Norgaard-Kituri decided to split her leave with her husband so she only took 20 weeks. B次元官网网址淚t was tougher than I thought,B次元官网网址� she said, adding it also gave her husband a better understanding as well.
But after coming back to work, he was able to bring in their daughter for her lunch break while he was on leave. That was a nice break in her day, she noted, and allowed them to spend more time together.
