Paige Hardy elevates her business to an art.
As owner and operator of Clothesline Consignment in downtown Cloverdale, she uses an artist’s eye to carefully curate a shop that is in a constant state of change.
“We need to keep evolving to stay current and appealing to the eye,” said Hardy.
It’s what makes her business, now in its thirteenth year, so successful.
Hardy, who grew up in South Surrey, has always had a love for Cloverdale. As a child, she’d often come to Cloverdale to spend her afternoons, and she remembers her birthday parties at the Clova Cinema fondly.
So when it was time to open up her own shop, the long-loved location made sense.
“I really like the neighbourhood, small-town feel of Cloverdale,” she said. “Yet, we’re still so close to the big city.”
“I’ve watched the neighbourhood grow,” she said. “In the last three years, it’s really turned around. The businesses are all filled and Cloverdale has a lot to offer now.”
“I love that most of the businesses are owned by local people, and, in particular women,” she said.
“Not only do we all own these businesses, but the majority of us live in the area and we support each other,” she said.
Hardy said the business community of Cloverdale is just that: a community.
“It’s almost like we’re an extended family,” said Hardy. “It’s about supporting your neighbour in different ways.”
Hardy has always had a personable approach to business. She’s a natural people person, and enjoys interacting with every one who walks through the doors of her boutique.
Her first venture into entrepreneurism was operating a bed and breakfast out of her home when her children were young.
“It was a great opportunity to work from home and be with the kids full time,” she said. “We got to meet people from all over the world and the kids were able to learn about many different cultures and get to know many different people.”
She laughs. “It was a real family affair. We would serve the guests breakfast, and my little kids would carry the coffee pot and the basket of muffins.”
Years later, when her children were older and going to school full time, Hardy decided to open a business outside of her home.
“I knew I wanted to own my own business, to be my own boss and be accountable to myself,” she said.
A consignment store was a perfect combination of business, fashion and serving the environment by giving items new owners and second lives.
Her store also became a way for her to give back to her community.
Hardy’s commitment to supporting others doesn’t stop at referring customers to other local shops or shopping in Cloverdale herself.
She also participates in a donation initative for local women’s shelters, through which her store makes significant contributes.
Because Hardy is adamant on constantly refreshing her collection in order to stay current and offer new choices, every item in her store has a three month shelf life.
If it hasn’t sold after that period, the person who consigned it can either collect their item or Hardy will provide them with the option of donating it to a local women’s shelter.
Many of them do.
A company comes by to pick up the donations and Hardy estimates the truck collects about 20 full garbage bags of shoes, purses, clothing and other items every month.
“From there, it goes right to the ladies who need it,” said Hardy.
Clothesline Consignment also supports local sports and theatre groups, such as the Langley Blaze and the Cloverdale Spurs.
Hardy also serves as a director for the Cloverdale Arts and Entertainment Association, the not-for-profit organization that brings events such as Ladies Night or Market Days to the town centre.
Hardy is excited about the upcoming Market Days, set for May 27, June 24 and Sept. 16. Last year the event brought about 2,000 people to Cloverdale town centre.
This year, in partnership with the Surrey Art Council, and through City of Surrey and Cloverdale BIA grants, Market Days will bring entertainment to downtown Cloverdale, including singers, dancers and even Tae Kwon Do demonstrations.
“It should generate a bigger and different crowd than previous years,” said Hardy. “Market Days is about exposure and marketing, but mostly it’s about bringing people into Cloverdale to let them know what we have in our own backyard.”
“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” she said. “It’s a great event for people to get involved in because it incorporates family, local talent, artisans, businesses: local people.”