Storekeeper finds balance, happiness

By Afrika Nieves-Bentley

“If you get a job doing something you really like you’ll never work another day in your life.”

This simple philosophy has been Deborah Simic’s inspiration for almost a year. Simic is the owner of The Nook, a gift and used book store in downtown Bowmanville, Ontario. She is one of many women who have decided to manage their own businesses. Not only is Simic financially independent, but she loves her work.

At Simic’s store, everything, other than the books, is hand made. From clocks to quilts to the jewelry her daughter Samantha crafts, Simic has a strict “locally made” policy. This helps build relationships within the community, something that is essential to The Nook.

“The best feeling is when people come in and they’re regulars. I have a ‘pull up a chair’ attitude. Customers come in and I can recommend books they’d like because I’ve read about three quarters of the books in my store. I give people free quilting advice, and we have coffee together,” explained Simic.

Coffee is especially important in countries such as Peru, where hundreds of women have jobs cultivating and processing the beans. In many cases, large corporations take advantage and underpay their employees. Working in a co-operative allows women to control their own income, and therefore their lives, receiving wages that lift them from poverty.

Rose Turner runs The Coffee Table, also in Bowmanville, with these women in mind. The Coffee Table supports a coffee growing co-operative in Peru run solely by women. Turner’s store also sells certified Fair Trade tea and chocolate. Turner believes that supporting socially responsible companies is essential to running a good business.

“It’s important for us to do our part to support women who want to be independent. And it’s just better for us.”

Afrika Nieves-Bentley is a grade 11 student in Bowmanville, Ontario. She feels empowered through writing. This article was published on thestar.com on April 11, 2007.

Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.